Neo holds the door open. My body brushes past his to enter the apartment, and goose bumps erupt across my skin. I stop in the middle of the living room space. The apartment is fully furnished; everything I could possibly need tobe comfortable is here. It’s also extremely fancy, like way out of any budget I could ever dream of affording.
“Are you sure this is a package apartment?” I ask Neo.
His lips tip up at one side. “I’m sure,” he says. “But if you don’t like it, there’s always themoving in with meoption.”
“I like it. It’s just… a lot.”
“There’re two bedrooms down there, bathrooms in each. Everything else is pretty self-explanatory.” Neo walks into the combined living-dining area, and then into the kitchen. “The fridge is empty. I’m going to have some groceries delivered for you. In the meantime, I’m ordering dinner. Feel like Chinese?”
“You don’t have to get me food,” I tell him.
“I want to.” He’s already tapping away on his phone. “Do you have any allergies I should know about?”
I shake my head.
“Okay. Food will be here in about thirty. Give me your phone so I can input my number.” He holds out a hand.
“I don’t have a phone,” I shrug.
“What do you mean you don’t have a phone?” Neo frowns and then presses a button on his own device before bringing it to his ear. “Aleksi, get a phone and bring it up to Caitlyn’s apartment for me.” He disconnects the call without listening to the response.
“Does he just always do whatever you tell him to?” I ask.
“Yes,” Neo replies.
“Okay. What exactly will I be doing? For this job?”
“Boring office shit: answering phones, making sure my schedule is organized, checking emails.”
“The Bratva gets emails?” I raise a brow at him.
Don’t get me wrong… I’m not an idiot. I know how stupid it is to befriend a criminal, especially one as high up in the underworld as what Neo and his family seem to be. But I’m out of options. He says Henry has already found me. I don’t have thefunds to run anywhere else. If I want to survive, which I do, my best bet is to stay here. Besides, this building is secure. Even if Henry knew I was here, he can’t just waltz in.
Neo smiles. “We have just as many legitimate businesses. That’s the side you’ll be working on. I’m not pulling you into the underworld, Caitlyn.”
The thought of this man pulling me anywhere isn’t unappealing. My cheeks heat at the thought.
Neo steps towards me. He cups the back of my neck. My face tilts upwards, and before I can stop it, his lips are on mine. I moan into his kiss.
What the hell is that?When his tongue swipes along my mouth, seeking entrance, I grant it.
A knock at the door has him pulling away with a groan. “I’m going to kill whoever that is,” he says. “I’ve been waiting all fucking day to do that.”
I smile. “You probably shouldn’t get blood on my floors. It’s not easy to clean.” I’m not kidding either. I know all too well how hard it is to scrub blood off white floors.
“I’d never make you clean up my mess,solnishko. We have cleaners for that.” He smirks down at me and then moves to the door when another round of knocking bangs out through the apartment.
What am I doing?I was just kissing him. My new boss. The man who is helping me in a way no one else ever has. Shit, I need to put space between us. But when he turns and looks at me, my stomach does that stupid butterfly thing again.
Neo shuts the door and then walks back, handing me a phone. “Here. My number has already been added to the contacts and so has Aleksi’s. If you need anything, call me. If for some reason you can’t reach me, call Aleksi.”
“You’re leaving?” The panic is starting to build up again.
“I need to. If I stay, I’m going to have you spread out naked on the bed within five minutes. I don’t think you’re ready for that. So, I’m going to go and give you space,” Neo tells me.
I wrap my arms around his waist. My face squishes against his chest. “Thank you for helping me. I don’t know how, but I will find a way to repay you,” I say.
Neo holds on to me tight.Damn, the man is a good hugger.His lips press against the top of my head. “You don’t need to repay me, Caitlyn. Call me if you need anything.”
