Instead of letting him finish that sentence, I give a sharp command to Hades, and Zakhar curses, laughter cut off when Hades hits him square in the knees, sending him toppling to the floor, and giving a warning growl.
I hear Alonzo let out a mocking laugh. I don’t even bother looking back at him as I stalk away. I need space, and I need to find Ilya or break into his office to get back to figuring out what I’m missing.
Being around Alonzo right now is a bad idea. I’m feeling far too vulnerable, and I don’t trust myself right now to not do or say something I’m going to regret later.
Alonzo Cattaneo acting like a caveman over me is everything I would have dreamed of happening just a few weeks ago. Now,it pisses me off because it’s a reminder of what could have been and what I’ll never have.
Just another reason to hate my father and Timur Belov even more. And while I don’t hate him, it’s another reason to push Alonzo as far away as possible.
25
ALONZO
“A piece of advice,man, but if you’re going to get back in her good graces, you’re going to have to be smarter than you’re being right now,” Zakhar offers as he climbs back to his feet and brushes himself off casually. Like he wasn’t just taken out by a giant dog that would happily take him apart at one simple command by his mistress.
I can’t tell if I want to knock him down again or punch him for thinking he can tell me shit about my relationship with Rori. And I don’t need his advice anyway. Rori and I will figure this out.
I won’t accept any other option.
“Fuck off.” I shut her door quickly, intent on catching up with her. I said I was going to have this out with her tonight, and I damn well will. All this other bullshit is just a temporary distraction.
Zakhar sighs and I hear him following me. “See, I hear that said to me daily, and I don’t listen to them either. Look, just lether cool off, because right now she’s liable to shoot you and set the dog on you. Again.”
I keep walking. Rori can do whatever the hell she wants, it’s not going to push me away.
“Jesus, you Italians are as stubborn as we are,” Zakhar huffs. He lets out a sharp whistle, and I turn my head to glare at him, but he just grins. Did he just try to signal me like a fucking dog?
If I had the time, I’d beat his ass.
When I reach the end of the hallway, I automatically head for the stairs that will lead to the lower level, but I stop when I see the wolf waiting for me at the top of the stairs, watching me with a look that I can’t quite tell if it’s a warning or just inquisitive.
I turn to glare at Zakhar. I guess I know why he whistled before. Asshole. He smirks at me and says something in Russian to the damn wolf, who sits, like she’s ready to play guard. “Looks like you’re fucked going that way, man.”
I really want to punch him in the face. I’d probably get a thank you from Ilya too. If he thinks this is going to stop me, he’s wrong.
“Fucker is going to get himself punched in the fucking mouth,” a voice gripes coming down the hall behind us. I glance behind Zakhar to see Oleg storming toward us, face twisted in irritation. When his eyes connect with mine, he sneers. “Why didn’t you punch the whining asshole harder?”
“Next time I’ll knock him the hell out.”
“Should have done it this time. He bitched at me about you and allowing you to stay.” Oleg glances around me and sees Freya at the top of the stairs. He arches a brow at Zakhar expectantly.
“Lover boy here is insistent on following the hot assassin when she’s ready to send her dog after him or shoot him in the nuts. Just saving him from that horrible fate.”
“I’d have thought you’d want his giant ass out of your way and you’d have a shot with her.” The wicked grin he gives Zakhar makes me want to punch him out too. What is it with these Russian dicks?
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I wish Alessio was here to run interference. He’d at least handle all their bullshit while I got shit done.
“Both of you get the hell out of my way.” I seethe.
“If he has a death wish, just let him do it,” Oleg tells Zakhar. “Not like we need him anyway. They’ll see him coming a mile away, and send the fucking animals after him for a buffet.” Zakhar snorts out a laugh.
I’m out of patience. There has to be another way downstairs. No self-respecting criminal only has one entrance and exit to a lower level. I stalk toward the other hallway, ignoring their continuous laughter as they follow me, only to stop short when I hear Zakhar let out a sharp curse, followed by a rapid course of Russian. I turn and see the wolf quickly moving out of the way as a teenage girl stalks up the stairs, her own Russian spilling out of her in a tone that even I can recognize.
A pissed off teenager is not someone you want to be on the bad side of. Especially not when she gets right in Zakhar’s space, spitting out whatever venom’s been brewing, making the giant Russian and the man behind him both wince, and ease back. I want to laugh, but right now, the distraction is exactly what I need to head to the end of the hallway and find the narrow back stairway leading downstairs.
I pass groups of men, all careful to talk in Russian as soon as they sense me, but I don’t pay them any attention. My only objective is to find Rori.
The halls are simpler to navigate than Nico’s house, but I find no sign of her. I try to tamp down my annoyance, but finally, I make my way to Ilya’s office to check the last place she could bebefore I figure out a way to get outside and check the grounds. Maybe she took Hades for a walk.
