Bogdan reaches into his jacket, taking out his wallet and throwing $100 on the table.
“She’s right. Time to move.” He places his hand on my upper arm, which finally gets me to tear my eyes away from Peter. “Stay close to me.”
Is this the man who’s been trying to kill me? Would he do something like that here? If he’s the one who ordered those hits, that means he doesn’t have any qualms about pulling something horrific in public.
I turn my eyes back to Peter. One of his men is speaking to the hostess. Peter locks eyes with me again, a small, knowing smile spreading across his face.
“Up,” Bogdan says. “Up and out of here.” He rises, moving over and angling me out of the booth.
“Come on,” Angie says.
Angie and Bogdan flank me, Bogdan taking the side closest to Peter and his men, blocking me with his body as much as possible. I try to stare forward and focus on the door, but I can feel Peter’s eyes tracking my movement. It’s like the world is narrowed to nothing but his gaze and the sound of my pulse in my ears.
We keep moving, Bogdan’s hand wrapped around my arm, steadying me. Soon, we’re close.
“Peter,” Angie says primly, nodding at him.
Another smile spreads across Peter’s face, this one slow and dreadful. “Angela,” he replies. “Leaving so soon? I saw you here and thought how lovely it would be to have a late lunch with my future daughter-in-law and her… friends.”
“She’s not feeling well,” Angie replies without missing a beat. “Sorry to be rude, but we need to go.”
“Think nothing of it,” Peter says.
Bogdan’s still leading me, his touch keeping me grounded. “Just keep walking.”
We step outside into the brittle winter air. It’s already getting dark. I have no idea what time it is. My legs feel boneless, adrenaline rushing through my veins.
Bogdan scans the street. “Car’s two blocks up. Come on.”
I speak through gasps of air. “That was him.”
“And now he’s seen you.”
I glance over my shoulder to see Angie hurrying out of the restaurant, catching up to us with quick steps.
“Such a creep,” she says to my shoulder as she catches up to me.
We’re soon at the car. Bogdan opens the door for Angie and me. I feel safer the instant the doors are shut and locked, Bogdan pulling out onto the busy street.
“It’s okay,” Angie says. “You did great.”
Then it occurs to me, what Peter said.
“Wait.” I flick my eyes up at Angie. “Future daughter-in-law?”
“Yep. Surprise!”
CHAPTER 29
GABBY
“Smile,” Sasha says. “You’re the reason this is happening.”
The ballroom at the Raddison Royal gleams like nothing I’ve seen before—crystal chandeliers, black marble floors, a jazz trio playing something sultry. Even the air smells expensive.
We’re at a Bratva event dressed up as a corporate celebration. A cocktail party to honor the upcoming Orlov-Morozov merger, as the invitations had said.
So many months of hard work are finally paying off. I’m still in shock from Sasha informing me the other day that Johan had accepted the offer. Had my off-the-clock diplomacy with Angie paid off? Hard to say. But I’m still proud, all the same.
