“Who?” I try for casual. Fail spectacularly.
“The brooding Russian who’s been living in your head rent-free since pasta day.”
“I don’t—”
“He’s with Ray,” Lev continues, leaning back in his chair. “Business. Won’t be back until tonight.”
Ray. The name means nothing to me. I just nod, shoving down the stupid curl of disappointment in my gut.
“Right. Okay. Good.” I set the plates in the sink, run water I don’t need. “Actually, speaking of tonight… I need to go shopping. For tomorrow. The gala.”
Boris glances up. “Shopping?”
“Jasper’s helping me. Dress, shoes, the whole…” I wave a hand. “Whatever you wear when you’re bait at a fancy party.”
Lev and Boris exchange a look.
Dima stands, pushing back from the table. “Let’s go.”
I blink. “What?”
“Shopping,” he says simply. “We go with you.”
28
Mary
The heat outside is brutal. Vegas at mid-morning, 104 degrees, the kind of heat that makes you question why anyone lives here voluntarily.
I push through the door of NOIR, and the cold air hits me immediately. The AC is cranked so high I actually shiver. After thirty seconds outside, it feels like heaven.
NOIR is all white marble and gold fixtures. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors everywhere. The kind of place where you’re afraid to touch anything. The massive black letters spellingNOIRglow on the back wall, backlit and dramatic.
Jasper is in the center, steaming a gown. Blond hair perfect, black silk shirt rolled at the sleeves. He looks up when the door chimes.
Sees me.
Smiles.
Then sees Dima, Lev, and Boris filing in behind me.
His smile freezes.
”Did you bring your own security,” he says slowly, “or are we under new management?”
I want to disappear into the floor.
“They’re just… coming along,” I manage.
Lev grins and heads straight for the champagne display. “Shopping is dangerous. We protect.”
Jasper blinks. “From what, a rogue sequin?”
“You’d be surprised,” Boris mutters.
Dima doesn’t say anything. Just stands there, hands clasped in front of him, scanning the room like he’s expecting an ambush.
Jasper takes a long sip of his champagne.
