Oh, yay. More testosterone fun.
“You know who the Russian really is.” It’s not a question.
I keep my eyes on Keke and the people nearest her. “Liev Kovalyov. Pretty sure you were introduced.”
I swear I hear his teeth grind. “I meant, what kind ofanimalhe is.”
That gets my attention, and I give him an icy glare. “Liev told me the last time the two of you met it didn’t end well. I’m not interested in anything you have to say about him.”
“Didn’t end well!” He practically spits. “He killed my friends.” He reaches up swiftly to pull his comm from his ear.
My eyes go to Etienne, several feet away. His jaw works as he glares at Anton.
“You were on opposite security details.” I keep my voice calm, not letting him see how his words throw me. “I’m guessing something went wrong. Liev isn’t a cold-blooded killer.”
Anton leans close, and hisses in my face. “You don’t knowanythingabout him.”
His phone buzzes and when he glances down his face drains of color. Without another word to me, he heads for the exit.
I glance at Etienne, who is watching his operative with narrowed eyes, lips moving quickly as he touches his earpiece. If he’s calling Anton back, the man is ignoring him.
I press my lips tightly together and refocus on Keke.
Liev and I are going to have a little chat tonight.
For a few moments, I think all the excitement is over, but the universe has other ideas.
“Sera?”
My whole body jerks. I recognize the voice even though it’s been years since I’ve heard it.
Tyler Taggert, Aaron’s younger brother, is standing only a few feet away. Tyler looks a lot like his brother, and the resemblance twists my stomach before I can hide it.
He hesitates, hands shoved in his pockets. “I wasn’t sure it was you,” he says. “I almost didn’t come over.”
“You probably shouldn’t have. I’m working.” I turn my head back to watch the crowd.
“I can see that.” He glances at Keke. “You… uh… You look good. My mom said she ran into you a while back—at a coffee shop? She told me you looked… better.”
I give an incredulous stare
He winces. “Sorry, that came out wrong.”
“You shouldn’t be talking to me at all. Your parents are suing me.”
He nods, chewing the inside of his cheek. “I know. They’re desperate.”
I cross my arms across my chest, staying silent, my eyes back on Keke though I’m not really seeing her. I need to focus.
“It’s just…”
He sighs, a sound so weary I give in. My old anger and resentment at his enabling his brother is at war with the look on his face.
“Tyler, I can’t help you. I don’t want to think about Aaron, talk about Aaron…” I deliberately pull my hair back to expose my skin.
Even though I put on makeup for the event, standing this close, the acid burn scars are easily visible. “You covered for him. Your whole family hid behind your money and let him get away with this.”
Tyler's eyes fill with remorse. “I’m so sorry. At the time…” His head falls, and when he looks up again, he looks desperate. “Look, I’m going to be honest with you. My parents would kill me if they knew I was talking to you, but this is too important.”
