Page 28 of Until Death or Defeat

Alone.

With Artem.

In his bedroom.

I need another drink.

I see Lyra looking like she’s dying down a bit, so I smile and take her hand. “Let’s get another drink!” I shout to her, and she nods, following wherever I lead her.

We take a seat at the tall bar stools, and I get the bartender’s attention. “Two shots of...” I say, trying to thinkbut my mind is blank from being drunk I can’t even pick something.

“Anything,” I end up saying, and the bartender nods. He pours us some random clear alcohol in two shot glasses and she and I smile at each other as we cheers and down it.

Holy—what the hell was that? Disgusting. Her and I make a face at each other and laugh, pushing the glasses far away.

“Sooo . . . have you seen Roman at all this week?”

She immediately blushes when I ask that. “Am I obvious?”

I nod with a laugh, and she puts her face in her hand.

“No, it’s cute. Have you always liked him, or?”

She nods and has a soft smile on her face now. She tells me how she’s had a crush on him since she was in elementary school, although I was surprised because she’s five years younger than me, so he must be like seven years older than her.

“So? Have you ever told him?”

She shakes her head, sinking into her chair again. “He doesn’t see me that way, I don’t think.”

I frown. “How can he not see you that way?” She isn’t convinced, but this girl doesn’t realize how attractive she is. But I guess I can understand growing up around someone else’s family might cause something like that.

“I bet he would if you made him,” I suggest and her eyes widen.

“But how?”

“You know, dress a little sexy around him, a smile here, a soft shoulder touch there. Guys are easy, Lyra.” I chuckle but her face drains of color, and she stands up straight. I’m about to ask her what’s wrong, until I feel a strong hand on my shoulder.

“Yeah? Tell me more about how you seduce men,solnishko.”

I turn and I can almost see the rage burning in his eyes. Well, that ruined my drunk for sure.

“Lyra, go outside. There’s a car that will take you home.”

I abruptly stand from the bar stool, shaking off his hand from my shoulder. “We aren’t leaving, we’re having a good time.”

“Yes, you are. You’re drunk in a bar with a bunch of strangers; do you not care about your safety? What about your friends?”

I furrow my brows, crossing my arms. “Normal people go to clubs all the time, Artem, nothing happens to them.”

“Youare not a normal person.Youare a mafia heiress, and tomorrow you will be the wife of apakhan. Do you even understand?”

I roll my eyes. “Well, tonight, I’m just me, and I want to enjoy my last night single.”

He narrows his eyes. “Yeah? And you think I’ll let you go fuck some man the night before you become mine?”

Oops. Forgot I said that on the phone.

“Jesus Artem, I was fucking with you, I don’t just spread my legs to anyone but I’m sure gladyouthink that I would,” I say annoyed, rolling my eyes. I’m thankful that at some point Lyra left us to this conversation, because I don’t want her to think I’m insane.