"Expecting someone?" she asks, and there's an edge of fear in her voice that makes my protective instincts roar to life.
"No." I shove my chair back, pushing to my feet. "Go to the bedroom. Now."
"Kazimir—"
"Now, Svetlana."
There’s another knock, harder this time. More insistent.
She gets up instantly, her face pale, and I wait until she's disappeared down the hallway before I move to the door. I check the peephole first, and my blood turns to ice.
Ilya is standing outside.
Fuck. Fuck.
I take a breath, force my expression into something neutral, and open the door.
"Ilya." I keep my body in the doorway, blocking his view of the apartment. "What are you doing here?"
He looks on edge, stressed. "We need to talk. Can I come in?"
I try not to flinch. "Now's not a good time."
His eyes narrow. "Make it a good time. This is important."
Every instinct I have is screaming at me to shut the door in his face. To tell him to fuck off and come back later. But that would set off so many alarm bells that he’d know immediately that something is very, very wrong. I’ve never spoken to Ilya like that, never been so insubordinate. I’ve ribbed him a little at times, given him a direct answer or advice on others, but I’ve never told my very lethal boss to fuck off, or shoved a door shut in his face.
Now isn’t the time to start.
I step back, seeing the table set for two, a woman’s cardigan thrown over the arm of the couch. My mind is racing to come up with an explanation. I don’t think Ilya will barge into my bedroom, but if he did…
“Holy shit.” The smallest smirk tilts Ilya’s lips. “Did you let a woman spend the night, Kaz?”
Of course. There’s the answer. I force myself to smile, looking sheepish, shrugging as if it’s no big deal. “She was hot, what can I say? I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“But making breakfast?” Ilya chuckles. “And she left something here?” He strides toward the couch, fingering the sleeve of the cardigan, and I hope to God he doesn’t remember what Svetlana’s skin smells like, that unique scent that’s only hers.
And then, with that thought, a possessive fury roars through me that I hold back with a force of effort that feels almost painful. The reminder that she was once Ilya’s, that he’s buried his nose in her hair, ran his hands over her body, had his cock inside of her…
My jaw clenches. I feel like an animal, wanting to throw another male out of his territory. No woman has ever made me feel like this before, and I need to get myself under fucking control, or I’m dead.
“I can be a gentleman.” I force a chuckle. “After the thing she did with her mouth last night, I thought it was only right to feed it before she left for work.”
Ilya snorts. “Spoken exactly like a gentleman.” He drops the cardigan, and I feel a flicker of relief mingle with the tornado of anger still swirling inside of me.
“What’s so urgent?” My voice is tight. “It must not be that bad if you’re casting around theories about my love life.”
Ilya frowns. “I tried calling you, and you didn’t answer. We have an issue down at the docks. Shipment theft. I have some men keeping the situation under control for now, but you’re my enforcer, Kazimir. I need you to find out what’s been going on.”
Even as I nod and reach for my jacket, I feel a wave of exhaustion washing over me. I’m not a man who enjoys inflictingpain by nature. Seeing what happened to Svetlana and having her in my life has only dulled that edge. And now, the thought of having to leave her here so that I can go and pry answers out of men stupid enough to cross the most powerful man in Boston makes me feel so tired that for a moment, I nearly sink into the chair behind me.
“Alright then, I’ll be right behind you.” I shrug on my leather jacket, and Ilya narrows his eyes at me briefly, but nods.
“Don’t be more than five minutes behind,” he says sharply, and then strides out. I already have my phone out before the door is fully closed, texting Artem to tell him to come and watch the apartment, and to get there within five minutes if he can. I can’t leave Svetlana alone; her sweet behavior is a farce, I’m fairly sure of it, and if I leave the apartment unguarded she’ll take advantage of it.
I go to the guest room and open it without knocking. Svetlana is nowhere to be seen, and I step into the room, clearing my throat.
“He’s gone for now.”
