“That’s why you ran him down?”
“It wasn’t intentional.So, I’ve pissed off a mafia boss.That’s good to know.Well, seeing as I’m now fucked, I might as well know who you are.”She started to lift herself up in the bed, and he saw the pinch of her mouth as she didn’t complain.
“Alexey Baranov,” he said, holding his hand out.
“Jane Adams, but I have a feeling you already knew that, didn’t you?”
He smirked.
“Baranov,” she said.“If I’m dealing with mafia, that makes you Bratva, right?”
He nodded.
“My luck has truly run out,” she said.“Not that I had any to begin with.So, what is the plan, you intend to hand me over to Vincent?Make some kind of deal?”
“You think I would just hand you over?”
“It’s business, right?People die, mistakes are made.You want him to stop hitting at your men.You stop hitting at his.”
“His only son died.”
“Yeah, and I bet he’s got plenty more he can push into that line.”She rolled her eyes.“I’m sure he’s got a ton of kids that can stake a claim.”She wrinkled her nose.
“I’m not handing you over.”
“You’re not?”Jane asked.
“No, you helped save me, and that is what I’m going to do for you.”
“Save me?”
He nodded.
“But you don’t even know me.”
“And you think I need to know you in order to help you?”he asked.
“I don’t know what you need to do, but right now, you’re not making a lot of sense.”She rubbed at her temples.“I’m no one.”
“That’s true, but you’re also the same woman who helped me out, and I’m not going to forget it.”
“You don’t have to do this,” Jane said.
Alexey got to his feet.“You know, a lot of women would be grateful, and bowing down at my feet, begging me to help them.”
“I’m not most women.”
“I’ve come to realize that.You’ve got a bad attitude, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t.I just understand the way the world works, and I know it’s fucking shit,” she said.“It doesn’t make life easy for girls like me.”
He looked at her and could see she believed that.
“Life hasn’t been good to you, has it?”
“I was left at a church when I was just a few days old.At least, that was what the nuns assumed.All my life, I’ve been told I’m not good enough.”She pointed at her face.“This is never going to turn heads or get any kind of attention.Trust me, I’m not an idiot.”
Alexey smiled.“So, don’t you think you should just thank me for helping you?After all, that is what normal people would do.”He winked at her.“I’m going to get you some food.”
