Or at least I hope it’s good-natured as I adjust to our blossoming ‘friendship.’ I slide my cup towards her, gesturing for a refill. I need just a little more fortification.
I take it as a good sign when Katarina pours me a shot without batting an eyelid. I knock back the vodka and feel the burn at the back of my throat as I slam my cup back down on the table.
“Katarina, as your friend, it’s my duty to point out that what you did to Rory was just awful,” I tell her. “No, it was worse than that. It was utterly and completely reprehensible.”
Katarina scowls. “As myfriend, aren’t you supposed to be supportive and only say nice things about me?”
“You haven’t had many friends, have you?"
I say it as a joke, but it immediately backfires. “None that were allowed to survive.”
I’m unsure if it’s the friendships or the friends who weren’t allowed to survive, but what is clear is that Katarina hasn’t had many positive influences in her life.
I pull back my shoulders. “Friends are supportive, yes,” I agree. “But good friends challenge you to do better andthensupport you to get there. I have a feeling your world is divided into two groups of people. The ones who use you, and those you use. But if that’s all you’re ever looking for, that’s all you’ll ever see.”
“So tell me, Grace. What do you see in people?”
“There are the ones who offer their help for no better reward than to improve someone else’slife.”
“Like the Griffins?” she says, attempting to sound dismissive, but I think she means it.
For a moment, she puts me to shame. I hadn’t considered the Griffins, I don’t know them well enough. Hunter still scares me, and the other brothers sound just as intimidating, but maybe I should open my eyes a little more.
“I was thinking of people like Duke who quietly make sacrifices to protect others,” I reply. “Or people who might be flawed, but are still worth getting to know,” I say, shocked that Katarina is now included in that number. “People to share dreams with, or experiences…”
“Or bodily fluids,” she says, checking her watch again.
When she slides out of the booth, my heart sinks a little. I’m wondering if she heard anything I said, but as she straightens up, she considers her next words.
“I’m willing to accept that Rory’s accident was a mistake, but everyone’s overreacting. It was just a little bump.” Her explanation doesn’t cut it and one look from me has her rolling her eyes. “Fine, it was wrong. The Moncriefs have been generous and patient, and I saw that as a weakness and took advantage.” Her brow creases. I know she’s not going to change her world view overnight, but she’s trying. “I’ve been pushing Duke too hard. I am sorry for that.”
“It’s a start,” I say, feeling like a kindergarten teacher asking a child to play nice.
Katarina must think so too because she tuts. “Goodbye, Grace.”
“Wait. What about me? What should I do?”
She glares at me like I’m stupid. “Go put that man out of his damn misery.”
Chapter 21
Duke
Ipour a finger of whiskey into each glass, knowing I’m being watched.
“The general consensus is the crash was a warning,” Rory says, accepting his drink awkwardly with his left hand. His right remains in a sling, his cuts are still healing and the bruising on his face has deepened since yesterday. I hate to think how much worse it could have been despite Katarina’s assurances.
“A warning that wasn’t directed at him,” Calder clarifies, scrutinizing my face for a reaction. “And since you’re the one who raced off, it’s safe to assume you understood the message it was meant to convey. Care to share?”
I circle back to my desk. “I left so I could speak to Max about improving security, that’s all.”
“Did you speak to Katarina too?” he asks, then answers for me. “Let me guess, she knew about Rory’s accident before it happened.”
Even though I’m not wearing a tie, my unbuttoned collar feels tight and I have to resist tugging it.
“I don’t care what threats the Bratva make,” Rory sayswhen I fail to give an answer. “We can deal with it as long as we know what we’re up against. Ash and I had a long talk. Katarina’s used up all the chances we’ve given her. It’s time to call off the engagement. We just need to agree the timing so we can prepare for the fallout.”
I’m pretty sure we couldn’t prepare for how hard Vasili would hit. They don’t know about Fitz, and my reason for not telling them still stands. It would start a war. “Believe it or not, Katarina and I know what we’re doing,” I insist. “It’s taken a while, but we’re working as a team now.” Even as I say it, I’m not sure I believe it, but she’s still the best chance I have of getting Fitz back safely. “So whatever you’ve agreed with Ash, undo it. For my sake.”
