"Coffee?" Lev asks, rolling out of bed casually. It's like he feels nothing, or maybe to him it's easier to switch off emotionally. But I manage to croak an answer for him.
"Please."
I watch him pull on a pair of pants, my eyes tracing the tattoos that cover his arms and chest, the muscles that shift beneath his skin as he moves. He catches me looking and smirks, and I feel heat rise to my cheeks as I grab the sheet and pull it up to cover myself as he struts out confidently.
He just fucked me. He had his fingers in my ass and I'm embarrassed that he looks at me naked? My God, I'm so stupid. Why did I let him do that to me? What is wrong with me? How am I such a weak woman to let physical sensations rule my life?
By the time I've found my clothes and made myself presentable, the smell of fresh coffee is drifting through the townhouse. I follow it to the kitchen, where Lev's leaning against the counter with a mug in his hand and another waiting on the counter for me.
"We need to talk about tonight," he says as I pick up the mug and wrap my hands around its warmth.
"What's tonight?" He switches so easily from screwing me to business. I wonder if he even has a heart in that chest.
"Another outing—a Gravitch club on the east side of the city." He takes a sip of his coffee, watching me over the rim. "We need to keep pushing, keep making sure the Veches notice Ana has resurfaced. The bank was a good start, but we need more visibility."
I'm not sure what to think about all of this. I agreed to comply with him to save those women, but my business is on the line the longer I ignore it. My clients won't know what happened to me or why I haven't shown up to my appointments. And what about my rent or bills? Who's taking care of my life while I'm here being paraded around?
But the taste of him is still on my lips, and I'm finding it hard to focus. The memory of his hands on my skin is imprinted there like a brand. I can't even think about anything else. But I force myself to focus and try to get my head in the game. I'm sure I'll have tons of time for self-loathing and obsessing later when he locks me up again.
"What exactly will I have to do there?"
"Same as before. Just act like Ana. Stay close to me. Let people see your face and draw their own conclusions." He sets down his mug and crosses the kitchen toward me, stopping close enough that I have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. "You did well at the bank. Better than I expected. Tonight will be easier because you'll have me right beside you the whole time."
"And after tonight?"
"One step at a time." He reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear then curls his fingers around my neck and kisses me hard. The kiss is lingering, and I taste my moisture on his lips still, salty and pungent. And when he tangles his hand in my hair, angling my head backward, I let a soft moan come out. Lev lingers and then lets me go, saying, "Focus on tonight. We'll worry about the rest later."
I take a sip of coffee to hide the confusion I'm feeling, the tangle of emotions I don't know how to name. An hour ago, I wokeup in this man's bed without any memory of how I got there. And now I'm standing in his kitchen wearing yesterday's dirty gown with the evidence of our encounter still sticky between my thighs.
My life has become something I don't recognize.
But when Lev looks at me with those dark eyes, when his hand brushes against my cheek with that unexpected gentleness, I feel like I'm leaning heavily toward not wanting the same life anymore.
It terrifies me.
11
LEV
The Mariinsky Theatre is everything I remember from the last time I attended an event here—grand chandeliers dripping crystal, gilded moldings on every archway, velvet curtains the color of blood, and an old-world elegance that makes me feel like I’m stepping back in time. The charity dinner has drawn every power player in St. Petersburg, and the main hall is thick with politicians, businessmen, and people who want to be seen rubbing shoulders with both.
I guide Vivika through the crowd with my hand on the small of her back, nodding to acquaintances and ignoring the curious glances that follow us. She's stunning tonight in a floor-length black gown that clings to her curves and leaves her shoulders bare. Her dark hair is swept up to reveal the elegant line of her neck. She looks like she belongs here.
She looks like Ana Veche.
"Mr. Gravitch." A server approaches with a tray of champagne flutes, and I take two, handing one to Vivika. "Enjoying theevening?" His eyes flick up to Vivika's face and he looks puzzled for a moment, as if he recognizes her but won't allude to it.
"Very much," I tell him, letting my gaze sweep the room hoping to spot anyone in this crowd who can play gopher for me without my asking. Someone who knows Ana and Yaros and has a propensity toward gossip.
The server's eyes widen almost imperceptibly before he schools his expression into a professional smile as he says, "Ms. Veche, please let me know if there's anything you need." And the hook is set. Already one fish on the line believing Vivika is really Ana. So far, so good.
I wave him off as we continue deeper into the room to select a table. The waiter disappears into the crowd, and I know that within minutes every server in this place will be whispering the name to each other. By tomorrow morning, the information will have spread to exactly the ears I want it to reach. The Mariinsky Theatre is neutral ground, frequented by every family in the city, and that's precisely why Dimitri chose it for tonight's outing.
"You're doing so well," I tell Vivika quietly so she's the only one who can hear it, and it reminds me of the praise I lavished on her this morning in bed. God, I can't wait to have that again. "But relax your shoulders. Ana never looked tense, even when she was surrounded by enemies."
Vivika adjusts her posture, letting the tension drain from her upper body. "Better?"
"Better." I take a sip of champagne, my eyes still scanning the room. "Remember, we're associates discussing business—nothing more, nothing less. If anyone approaches us, let me do the talking. You just have to look like you belong here."
