Neither of us blinks.
The clock on my wall ticks. "You insisted on coming back with us," I remind her.
"And this—" she motions down at herself, the tight blue airline skirt clinging to her hips—"this is your idea of laying low? I look like a rejected extra from a B-rated spy movie."
Maksim snickers from his spot leaning against the wall, arms crossed casually over his chest. "You're welcome."
Her glare swings to me. Eyes blazing.
I can’t help but grin.Angry Clara looks damn fine.
“You said you wanted a disguise. The uniform does the job. Nobody suspected a thing." I answer.
“Nobodysuspected a thing because the fucking jet is yours, Leonid. So is the bloody private airport,” Clara fires back, glaring atme.
Maksim shrugs, all nonchalance. “You’ll never know—enemy eyes could be anywhere.” He gestures vaguely around the room, as if Aleksei himself might pop out from behind the vault door.
Clara narrows her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
“No,” Maksim says, his grin widening, “I’m thorough.”
“Enough,” I let out a heavy sigh, my breath exiting through pursed lips.
MudakMaksim is enjoying this too much, and Clara’s pacing like a caged tiger isn’t helping my patience. “You made it back. That’s what matters.”
She stops mid-step, spinning to face me. “What’s the plan?” she demands, cocking her hip as she folds her arms across her chest.
I exhale slowly, leaning back “The plan is for you to stay out of it.”
She rolls my eyes, “Unless you plan to chain me up.”
Maksim coughs, covering his mouth with his hand. His shoulders shake with barely-contained laughter as he moves toward the chair in front of my desk and drops into it.
I don’t bother with a glare; he wouldn’t take it seriously anyway. Instead, I focus on Clara. “Think about Elijah,”I tell her, “He needs at least one parent alive.”
She presses her lips into a hard line, her shoulders tensing. For a second, I think I’ve gotten through to her, but then she takes a step forward and waves me off like I’ve just suggested she sit down and knit. “Elijah’s fine,” she says, pacing now. “He’s got Pam, he’s practically a snow bunny already, and he made me promise to let him show me his ski tricks when we get back.”
“Relax. We’ll be fine. They’ll be too busy looking the other way to notice.”
Blyat. This woman could argue with a brick and still think she’s winning.
I exhale sharply, dragging a hand down my face before glancing over at Maksim. He’s leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, watching the exchange like it’s the best entertainment he’s had all week. His grin widens when our eyes meet, and he gives me a little shrug, like –Pretty sure she’s carrying your balls around like marbles.
If I didn’t need him alive, I’d shoot him.
My phone buzzes on the desk, breaking the tension. I glance at the screen—a message from Viktor. Another update about Elijah attempting the bunny slope. The boy’s determination mirrors his mother’s.Stubbornness must be genetic.
“Moya upryamaya devochka,” I mutter, my stubborn girl.
Maksim snorts. “You’re getting soft, boss.”
“Shut up before I skin you alive you,mudak,” I snap in Russian.
Maksim raises his hands in mock surrender, but the grin stays firmly in place. “Relax, boss. Just saying. She’s already proven herself.”
Maksim unfolds himself from his chair, stretching. "I think we could all use a drink after that flight." He doesn't wait for my response, just heads to the cabinet where I keep the good whiskey.
Clara pushes back from the desk. "Why don't you trust me, Leonid?"
