Konstantin nods without hesitation. “Of course. Emilia and I will be happy to have him.”
Aleksei leans in with a crooked smile. “I’m available too.”
I snicker. “You’re too busy ignoring your wife to babysit my son.”
His smirk twitches like he’s going to laugh. Then it dies, and the Russian he mutters under his breath sounds a lot like he’s deciding how many different ways he could kill me without Konstantin getting annoyed.
Anton doesn’t offer, and he never would. He hasn’t offered to watch Lev once, and it isn’t his fault. He changed after our father smashed a glass bottle over his head and left him bleeding on the floor when he was only nine. When he woke up hours later, whatever made him human was gone.
In its place was exactly what our father wanted most: a weapon who doesn’t feel. A killer with no conscience. Someone he could use in whatever way he wanted—and that’s exactly what he did.
The elevator opens to the garage, and Aleksei falls in step beside me with that grin he gets when he’s about to start running his mouth.
“So, where are you off to tonight? A date?”
I shoot him a look that should shut him up, but it only makes his smile widen. He knows how to get to me and I, of course, know how to hit him right back.
His eyes sharpen with interest. “Is it the homeless girl? You taking her somewhere nice? Somewhere with chairs that don’t smell like grease?”
“Shut up.” I’m already moving toward my car. “I have things to handle.”
Aleksei chuckles under his breath. “Sure, you do. Try talking to her for once. Maybe get her some roses.”
“Worry about your own lady problems,” I tell him. “Last I checked, you’ve got a wife you’re pretending doesn’t exist because you’re scared she might throw you off a bridge.”
His face goes flat. “Edi na khuy.”Go fuck yourself.
A faint smile touches my lips.
Konstantin drops a palm to my shoulder. “Do what you need to do. Lev will be fine.”
I nod, knowing it’s easier than trying to explain something I don’t even understand myself.
Why does Sloane matter to me?
We split without another word, engines roaring one by one as we peel out of the garage.
By the time I hit the road, Sloane is already there in my head, lodged there where I can’t shake her loose. The way her cheeks go pink when she catches my eye. The way she walks around in those worn-out sneakers that I want to replace.
But she isn’t mine, and what I have to do tonight is not a date.
It’s worse. It’s necessity.
SLOANE
It’s past ten when I step out of the diner, the neon sign buzzing behind me as I cross the lot and unlock my car. I slide into thedriver’s seat, give the lot a quick scan out of habit, then start the engine.
My piece-of-crap Volkswagen coughs to life, which is still a minor miracle. It’s the only car I’ve ever had, and the last time it broke down years ago, the mechanic fixed it for free. God knows why.
At first, I thought he was going to ask me out or something, but he just did it. Said to consider it a goodwill gesture and to pass it on. I did. Bought a woman’s coffee the next day even though I only had a twenty to my name. Still, it felt like the right thing to do. Don’t need the universe giving me any more middle fingers. I’ve had quite enough to last a lifetime.
I pull out of the lot, easing onto the road and letting the building disappear behind me. I don’t even know where I’m going next. Somewhere dark enough to park without the cops spotting me in the back.
The road stretches out in front of me, familiar turns rolling by as my thoughts drift to my new promotion. If Camille finds out about it, she’ll demand more money. And I’ll have to give it to her because I don’t get to argue when she’s holding everything I love hostage.
A stop sign comes up and I slow, turning right—and suddenly, headlights turn with me. The vehicle maintains a safe distance, but I still check to make sure it isn’t following me.
My grip tightens on the wheel as I keep going, forcing my speed to stay even. When I turn left this time, the headlights continue to stay in my rearview.
