“Right.” Slater frowned down at her, and she smiled back, her eyes twinkling. “So do we know anyone who speaks Russian?”
“We had a client who did. What was his name, River? The one who wanted to fuck you?” Madden nudged River, but River’s face turned flinty, which made Madden laugh.
“We will not be involving clients in this,” he said bluntly as he leaned back in his chair and regarded the woman carefully.
“Your surname is Demchenko, right?” I said, instantly regretting it when River turned those angry eyes on me.
“And? Because I have a Russian last name, I must know Russian?”
“No! That’s not what I meant.” I winced, ignoring Slater’s cough, which sounded suspiciously like laughter.Traitor.“I just meant that maybe you know someone who does?”
“Because of my last name?” He rose, running his palms down his black suit that made his legs look longer than usual. His handsomeness always seemed to stun me, even if he appeared ready to rip someone’s head off at any given time. He combed a hand through his short dark hair and sighed. “My father.”
“Your father?” Slater waved a hand, encouraging him to continue. At least he did it. I had a feeling if I tried to push, River would have glared at me again.
“He speaks Russian. My grandfather immigrated to Pennsylvania during the Cold War to escape the Soviet Union. There’s a large Russian population in Erie. It has the same weather as Odessa, so a lot of people like it there. Anyway, Grandpa spoke fluent Russian, and my father learned it. He’d be able to translate for us.”
“You never learned?” Madden asked, head cocked. “I learned the basics of a few languages in school, love Italian, but I’m not really fluent in anything.”
“My father and I were never on the best terms, even when I was a child,” River said stiffly. “The most I know how to say isdedushka,babushka, andya tebya lyublyu, which I regularly said to my grandparents.”
The way the Russian words slid off his tongue made me shiver. I’d never been interested in learning foreign languages, but River spoke with a confidence I found insanely attractive.
“They mean grandfather, grandmother, and I love you.” River glanced at me as he said the last one, mouth pressed in a thin line. “We could call my father tomorrow and ask him to translate for us.”
“What will we do with her tonight?” Madden asked, glancing down at her.
“We take her to a motel and keep an eye on her.” Slater stroked his chin in thought. “Since River’s father will translate for us, I’ll take her there and keep an eye on her for the night.”
“I’ll help,” Madden said quickly, earning a raised eyebrow from his person.
I shook my head. “Sounds like a plan. She doesn’t seem to want to get away.”
“Maybe she really can’t understand us?” Madden narrowed his eyes at her.
“If that was the case, she’d be scared right now. Xander took off, leaving her alone, and now four men surround her and there’s not an ounce of fear on her face.” I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Either she speaks English and doesn’t want to make it easy on us, or she thinks we’re someone we’re not.”
“Either way, we’ll get answers. Tomorrow.” Slater held out his hand to the woman and she stared at it for a moment before taking it and rising. She said something in Russian, her words fast and fluent as she waved at her carry-on beside her. Slater shook his head, his stare settling on River.
River snorted. “I don’t know what she said. Unless it’s I love you, which it wasn’t, I can’t help.”
“All right, Slater and Madden will take her to a motel room. We’ll assemble again tomorrow,” I said, encouraging everyone to move.
Slater grabbed the woman’s luggage, while Madden directed her toward the exit. I watched them carefully, and when they started walking, River and I followed behind. We were so close our shoulders touched, and I smiled at him.
“You did good tonight, Lamb.”
River visibly shivered, and I mentally high-fived myself for the beautiful reaction I pulled from him. He sent me a nonchalant look, but it was hard to miss the heat behind his eyes. “Hmm. You too.”
I shook my head. “I’m getting old. I couldn’t keep up with the little prick.”
He let out a short chuckle that startled me. I wasn’t used to River laughing, and it sounded good, natural. “I wouldn’t have been able to, either. We’re not young men anymore.”
“No, we’re not.”
A phone chimed and River tugged his out of his suit jacket. I watched as he stopped abruptly, and I did the same. “It’s Vic.” That’s all he said before he answered it.
I walked over to Slater and Madden, who’d stopped as well, the lady standing between them. “You take her to the motel. River and I might have another lead. We’ll let you know what happens.”
