“Their names but not yours?” I chuckle, retracting his hand before he can squeeze it again.
“Correct.”
Message received.
“Well, as warm of a welcome as this is,” I say, looking between all of them. “I was planning to go to my hotel to settle in. Are you just here to see that I’ve arrived alone, or?—”
“We take you to hotel,” Mikhail grunts. His voice is deeper and comes out with a thicker accent than either of his brothers. He almost reminds me of Anatoly.
“I’m flattered you went through the trouble,” I say, obviously teasing. “I could have just called an Uber, or rented a car.”
“You’re not old enough to rent a car,” Lev points out grumpily.
“I’m Matteo Moretti,” I return, lifting my chin. “I don’t have to be twenty-five to get a car. If they refused me, I could always just buy one.”
Or steal one.
Lev huffs. “Or steal one.”
Well, that was freaky.
“Stealing? In your neck of the woods?” I ask, sounding scandalized. “I would never.”
“I’m sure,” he drawls sarcastically.
“Is this all you brought?” Anton asks, nodding down to my plain black duffle.
Nodding, I confirm, “I don’t need much for a weekend.”
“You armed?”
“Always, Sir,” I answer honestly. “Is that a problem?”
“No,” he replies at the same time Lev says, “Yes.”
I lift a brow, expecting clarification.
Anton eyes me and shakes his head slowly. “Don’t let Anya see it. It makes her nervous.”
“Won’t be a problem,” I assure him. “It’s only going to be visible if we somehow end up under attack.”
“We won’t be.”
I sure hope that’s true.
“I don’t have the patience for any more small talk. Let’s go,” Lev mutters, turning on his heels toward the passenger side door.
Neither of his brothers seem to object to whatever grumpy hurry he’s in, so I take their cue and pick up my bag, following as they get into the vehicle. Mikhail is the designated driver, and it seems that Anton will be sitting in the back with me. It shouldn’t be surprising, bosses aren’t meant to drive or be in the front since it’s easier to be gunned down when the windshield is all that’s standing in the way of the whole front of your body.
The SUV jerks to a start as soon as my door shuts behind me, and I try not to be surprised by the abruptness of it. Drumming my fingers on my jean-covered knees, I discreetly look around the small space. Leather seats, not a crumb in sight, and cold air that smells like new car. I’d almost guess that it’s brand new, but they likely just have staff keeping it clean—like we do.
For several minutes, nothing happens. The car is in complete silence, not even the radio or music playing to fill the air. It’s unsettling, so of course, I try to remedy that.
“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” I pipe up, trying to sound cheerful.
“You didn’t have to come,” Lev replies snappishly, looking over his shoulder to hit me with a sneer.
“I mean, I did,” I disagree lightly. “My dad asked me to come here. It wasn’t just to meet up with Anya.”
