Nope. I wasn’t doing it.
He might have something planned in the basement. I nibbled my lower lip for a moment.
I sighed.
I was doing it.
Blyad.
??????
Runa was nowhere to be found, which meant she was in his office with him. I turned toward the kitchen for breakfast to find Bogdan blocking my path.
“Please can you forgive me for striking you in Turkey? I misread the Pakhan’s command,” he said, lowering his eyes.“It was my oversight.”
“Do you assault women often, Bogdan?” I asked, walking around him.
Olya had a pot of tea on the table and greeted me with a smile before getting a plate ready. Bogdan followed me in.
“Nyet. We mainly deal with men,” he mumbled as I poured my tea.
“Hm,” I hummed.“Would you like some tea?”
He eyed the pot, swallowed, and shook his head. I don’t know how I kept my laughter from bubbling out.
“Stop toying with my men.”
Vadim’s voice from the doorway. Runa spotted me and began to clap her tiny hands, squirming in her father’s grip.
“Nyet. Let your mama eat,” he murmured, raising her high before settling her onto Bogdan’s shoulders.
She began to inspect his hair with the focused concentration of a monkey grooming a fellow family member while Bogdan held her steady.
“Don’t drop her,” Vadim said. Dry as dust.
I was missing something.
“Tea?” I asked Vadim.
He eyed the pot. Then my cup.
“Sure.”
He must have heard the rumours.
I poured him a cup and slid it toward him as he sat down.
“It’s my special blend.”
Olya snorted behind us.
Bogdan left with Runa.
Vadim lifted the cup and took a long sip. The challenge was in his eyes. Olya brought my breakfast. The scent of salmon and fresh herbs rose from the egg bake—warm, savoury, filling the kitchen air.
“Thank you,” I said, lifting my napkin.
“Did you put on everything I left out for you?” Vadim asked, lowering his cup.
