"In the other room." I tighten my grip slightly. "Now."
She lets me lead her into the living room, but I can feel her tension. The second we're out of earshot, she yanks her arm free.
"What was that?" Her voice is quiet but angry.
"What was what?" I gesture with my arms, tossing them upward. "You're serving drinks, not participating in my strategy meetings."
"Why not?" She steps closer like she's challenging me. Her eyes search my face as she lets her shoulders relax. "I have ideas too."
"This isn't your world," I explain, letting the edge fall off my words. "These men have been doing this for decades. You don't just walk in and start making suggestions."
"So I'm supposed to stand there quietly and pour coffee?" Her eyes flash with anger, and I see what she's saying, but this is about keeping her safe, not controlling her or assigning value to her. "Is that all I'm good for?"
"I didn't say that." I run my hand through my hair. "But you're recovering from being kidnapped and nearly killed. You should be resting, not getting involved in planning a war."
"Those assholes took me," she says, louder now. "They killed Rurik and they wanted to use me as bait to murder you. And you think I'm just going to sit quietly while you plan how to deal with them?"
"Yes," I growl. "That's exactly what I think you're going to do. This is too dangerous and you're not trained for it." She's trying my patience. I don't like the idea of her getting involved and putting herself in harm's way again. I almost lost her once.
"I don't need training to have good ideas." She's right in my face now, pressing a finger into my chest. "And I'm not a child who needs to be protected from adult conversations."
"You're not a child, but you're also not a soldier." I match her intensity, though I keep my hands to myself. "So go back to the bedroom and let us handle this."
Her hand comes up, and I don’t try to block the blow as she smacks me right across the face. It's a well-placed strike and it sends her message.
"I'm not your object. I'm not some possession you get to order around and protect like a piece of property. I'm your partner, and if you want me in your bed willingly, then I want equal access to this conversation." Her nostrils flare, her chest heaves, and I grit my teeth as I realize she's never backing down.
"I don't like it," I tell her, but her hand splays on my chest and she sighs.
"Dimitri, I know you want to keep me safe. But you can't lock me away every time things get dangerous. That's not how partnerships work."
I open my mouth to respond but nothing comes out. She's right, and I hate it.
"Do you want to hear my idea or not?" She crosses her arms and waits.
"Yes," we hear, and we both turn to see Yuri listening to us. "Let's hear it."
I'm still angry, but listening to her doesn't mean doing what she says. And until I hear her plan, I won't know if I can even think about going along with it. But if it humors her to have a listen, we can. I glower at her hopeful expression but nod my approval.
"The reason they want me is two-fold." She's already thought this through completely. "They want to use me to draw you out for an ambush. And they want me dead because I went to the police and I'm the only witness who can identify them. Right?"
"I know all that." I lean against the wall. "What's your point?" I'm so annoyed right now, I can't keep the negativity out of my tone as she turns to my brother.
"My point is we can use that against them." She brings her hand to her mouth and chews her nails. "What if we set up a meeting with the investigators? Make it public knowledge that I'm going to give another statement?"
"That would make you an even bigger target." I shake my head. "Absolutely not."
"Let me finish." She stops chewing her nails and faces me. "We let it slip through the casino staff. I can talk to my coworkers, make it seem like gossip. Word will get back to whoever their mole is, and the Kozlovs will know exactly where I'll be and when."
"You want to use yourself as bait?" Yuri asks.
"No. Not happening—" I snarl, but Tatiana interrupts me and talks over me.
"Do you have men on the police force? People you trust who wear the uniform?" Her eyebrows rise in expectation as Yuri answers her.
"Yes, a few."
"So it's not real investigators who will show up, then." Her eyes light up like she's solving a puzzle. "It's your men dressed as police along with your inside guys. And while the Kozlovs are focused on coming after me at this fake meeting—bringing their strongest men—you coordinate strategic attacks on all their known locations and territories at the same time."
