“I don’t know,” I mutter, handing his phone back and wiping at the dampness on my cheeks with the back of my hand.
Matvei stares at me for a moment, frowning. “For what it’s worth, in my opinion, he’s an idiot who let a good thing go.”
Oddly enough, his comment does make me feel better. It also makes me blush a little bit, dammit. “Thanks.”
Matvei leans closer, his eyes capturing mine again. “Think about it. You know what Samson is like. How do you think it’s going to affect him when you show up on my arm? You know he hates me; it will drive him insane when he sees you’ve chosen me, more or less. Play my queen at his wedding. Let him watch while I touch you in ways he never dared. Help me burn down everything he’s built up.”
It’s not difficult to imagine.
The guy whose charisma got past my defenses is nothing if not full of himself. He may not want me, but I know he wouldn’t want anyone else to have me, either, especially the half-brother he despises so much. I can see it now—the anger on Samson’s face when he sees me as his brother’s guest, Matvei affectionate and treating me like his queen.
I’ve never been the revenge type. But Samson is awful and he deserves it. Hell, I deserve it. I know Kelly would enthusiastically agree, even if she wouldn’t entirely agree with the means by which I’m going about it.
“How much danger would I be in?”
“None whatsoever. You have my word.”
Now it’s my turn to raise a brow at the mob boss.
Matvei nods in acknowledgment at my unvoiced question. “I suppose there is always a slight chance of danger when you are with me. However, the security will be far better than whatever rent-a-cop your boss pays for.”
“I suppose so—” I start to say, then realize I never told Matvei where I work or what I do. “You did a background check on me,” I accuse.
Matvei shrugs, clearly not at all repentant. “As you said, I invite danger. I can never be too careful with those I come across.”
“And what did you find out about me? I deserve at least that much if you’re going to go behind my back.”
He grins at my glare. “I learned enough to wonder why you’re so afraid of being with me when you’ve had to fend off abusive partners of clients who represent far more danger to you than I do.”
I highly doubt that.I think it but don’t say it. I don’t want to poke the bear sitting across the table from me, no matter how genteel he looks in a three-piece suit with diamond cufflinks.
Matvei has one final card up his sleeve. “I know you want to open your own law firm so you can help more people. Do this, and I’ll invest in a practice of your own.”
That does it.
“Okay.” I’m not sure why I’m agreeing to this stupid scheme, except that I’m in Prague and still furious with Samson for dumping me like he did. “I’ll do it, but it’s just one night.Nothing else. You have to promise me. Just one single night and then you invest in my practice. No loans, no money from the mob, no silent partners. Money I don’t have to pay back in dollars or favors for you.”
I draw on the woman inside me I use to confront abusers, not the one who’s been a hot mess on vacation. I don’t back down from Matvei’s tiger-like stare.
“Just one night,” he agrees solemnly. A small curve pulls at a corner of his mouth. “Although I’d like to have you for a few more nights while we’re still here.”
“I want a contract,” I tell him, ignoring the comment for the moment. “Ironclad.”
“My computer is upstairs. What do you say to coming up and authoring the contract?”
I know I should say no, but my traitor body is two steps ahead. I nod once and say, “Okay.”
Matvei’s room is exactly what I expected it to be—an enormous suite—much nicer than my own. I make short work of the contract, stipulating everything I can think of to ensure a single night and nothing more. I refuse to be in debt to the Russian mob. I hand Matvei the document, still warm from the printer.
“Do you want to have your lawyers look it over first? I’m fine if you want to wait to sign it.”
He takes the papers from my hand. “No need.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I trust you.”
I’m pretty sure the only reason he trusts me is because he knows he can make me disappear and thus render the contract null and void.
