Thinking about it, the list was quite long: the fact that he had no business talking to Mira when I was who he was interested in; the truth about who I really was, my digital alter ego, and my childhood traumas; but most of all, this unwanted attraction that made me want to lean into his touch even as I plotted his demise.
Instead, I met his gaze with practiced defiance, letting him see only what I wanted him to see—the fierce sister protecting her twin. It was a role I’d played my whole life. The fact that my heart raced for entirely different reasons now was irrelevant.
His body remained a solid wall of heat, trapping me against the counter. The small bathroom suddenly felt even tinier, every breath bringing his scent deeper into my lungs. But I refused to show how his proximity affected me. I’d learned since childhood to hide my feelings, to maintain composure—just another form of combat.
I shifted slightly, testing his reaction. His pupils dilated—dark rings expanding to swallow the pale blue of his irises.Interesting. I filed that information away, adding it to my mental dossier on Ivan Zotov. Every weakness was a potential advantage.
“You still haven’t answered my question,” he said, voice rougher than before. “What are you hiding?”
I let my shoulders drop slightly, allowing vulnerability to seep into my posture—a calculated risk—showing weakness could backfire, but it could also lower his guard. “I just want to protect her,” I whispered, letting my voice tremble just enough. “You don’t know what it’s like…”
His expression softened fractionally. I felt his thumb brush against my neck again, this time deliberately. “What what’s like?”
“Having a twin.” I glanced up through my lashes, noting how he looked at me, how his posture softened slightly. “Caring for someone more than you care for yourself.”
The words were true, which made them more effective. The best lies were wrapped in truth—another lesson learned early. I let my body relax further as if his presence was making me feel safe enough to open up.
His other hand moved to my waist, steadying me when I swayed slightly closer. “God, you’re good,” he murmured.
His fingers flexed against my waist. “Tell me about your sister. You two seem…unusually close.”
I forced a laugh though my heart hammered against my ribs. What was it he wanted to know? Was he fishing for something specific? “What’s unusual about being close toyour twin?” Keep it light, deflect with sass or humor. Do not answer questions. I’d perfected this dance long ago.
“Most twins I know don’t track others’ movements like prey animals watching for predators.” His eyes narrowed, cataloging my reaction. “They don’t throw themselves between their sister and every perceived threat, either.”
“Clearly, you know some shitty twins, then.” I shrugged, careful to keep my expression neutral despite the warning bells ringing in my head. He was observant and thoughtful; I’d give him that. “And clearly, you know some oblivious people, as well. Besides, how many twins have you met in your line of work? Professional kidnapper doesn’t seem like a job with great networking opportunities. Or is kidnapping twins your special expertise?”
He traced small circles on my hip with his thumb, probably meant to be soothing. It wasn’t. “You’re deflecting.”
“And you’re prying.” I matched his steady gaze. “What do you want to know? That we’re perfect mirrors? That we finish each other’s sentences? Share clothes? Have twin telepathy?” I infused my voice with sarcasm, hopefully making it clear I wasn’t interested in telling him shit. Not about me or Mira. But he wasn’t dumb. So which lies would he believe?
The corner of his mouth twitched—barely noticeable unless you were looking for it and as close to him as I currently was.
“You’re not as alike as you pretend to be,” he murmured, more to himself than targeted at me.
Ice slid down my spine. Did he suspect something already? Did he know I was the one his boss was really after?Maybe I should come clean. At least it would be safer for Mira.
Fuck.
I never intended my little stunt of pretending to be her to put her in danger. But coming clean now would take away the one advantage I had, and I couldn’t give that up just yet. I forced myself to roll my eyes. “Wow, twins can be different people? Revolutionary insight there, Sherlock.”
“See? That sass—your sister doesn’t have it.” His eyes locked onto mine, searching, thinking, hopefully not remembering that situation in the garden of La Dimora.
“She’s quieter, more reserved. You’re…”
“A pain in your ass?” I offered sweetly while my mind raced. He was right about Mira being the quieter one but wrong about which twin he was talking to. The irony would have been funny if it wasn’t so dangerous.
“It was you I met in the garden, not your sister, right?”
Shit. What should I do now?
His question about the garden hung between us, but Zotov didn’t wait for my answer. Instead, his expression shifted, becoming more calculating.
“Why is my boss so interested in your sister?” His thumb traced another circle on my hip, the gesture at odds with his probing question.
I forced a casual shrug though my pulse quickened. Maybe now was the time to ask him some questions or at least get some reactions out of him. “Maybe your boss, Mr. Grey, has terrible taste in women.”
Zotov’s head snapped slightly back, and he zeroed in on me even more…if that was even possible with just inches between us, and the muscle in his jaw ticked.
