I can’t help but laugh. It’s not a simple, chuckle either. It’s a hardy, heavy laugh that nearly bends me over. “Share? What makes you think she’d even want you?”
“She wants me,” he says flatly. “There’s no doubt in my mind about that. It’s you that’s stopping her from acting on it.”
I nod. “Ah, so in your grand plan, you’re going to what… you’re going to tell her she’s got a green light to fuck us both?” I scoff. “She’s not exactly in the fucking kind of mood. She hasn’t been in years. She—”
“Maybe not with you.”
I regret saying anything. Seriously, why did I tell him that?
“Not with anyone. She’s totally messed up after Max. You should know what that asshole did to her better than anyone.”
He lets out a sigh and turns toward me. “Don’t forget who you work for, Ryan.”
I bite the inside of my cheek and wipe the smile off my face. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying, we leave it up to Everleigh.”
“We leave what up to Everleigh. Get the fuck out.”
“Tell me… what are you going to do when Gedeon comes looking for her? When he realizes that I didn’t do what he asked me to? Who is he going to blame? Who is he going to kill, Ryan?” He’s growling out the words as he steps closer. “I asked you to watch her, not fall in fucking love with her.”
“I’m not sure that’s in my control. Obviously, you can see that.”
He backs off. “I’ll be back tonight, and we can sort this out with Everleigh. I wanted to do the right thing and give you a heads up first.”
“Wait a fucking second. You’re not coming back tonight. There’s nothing to discuss. She’s not for sale, we already talked about tha—”
“Are you afraid of what she’ll choose?”
The truth, probably. I saw the way she looked at him last night.
He steps out the front door and toward his truck parked at the far end of the parking lot. “Tell her I’m coming. I don’t want to surprise her.”
I let out a heavy sigh and stare up at the popcorn ceiling, my heart in my throat as I wonder for the millionth time, why I ever went to work for the Russian fucking mafia.
Chapter Eleven
Everleigh
I spend the rest of the afternoon shopping and trying to convince myself that Viktor isn’t a toxic weirdo. The handsome looks help. I imagine if he were five foot one with a limp and no hair, I’d be at the police station right now. Once I assure myself of how insane I am, I’m left aimlessly walking through the parking lot with a tall cup of macchiato and a throb between my legs that won’t subside. At one point, I thought about coming home to Ryan and begging him to fuck it out of me, but that doesn’t seem fair. Not when it’s Viktor’s words that have me all worked up in the first place. Then again, that’s not fully true either. I wouldn’t even be in that headspace if it weren’t for Ryan comforting me, holding me close, whispering all the confidence building praise I need to build myself back up. It’s a combination between the two of them.
I scoff at myself and shake my head as I arrive home. Combination or not, it doesn’t matter. Two men at once isn’t a thing and sexual pleasure is more than dirty words and comfort.Isn’t it?
When I step inside, Ryan is on the sofa staring blankly ahead. If he had a fish, I’d be afraid she was dead.
“Everything okay?”
He nods and stands, wrapping me in his arms with fire. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I say with worry under my tone. “I was only gone for the day. Did something happen?”
He looks toward me, his large hand resting over top my face, his gaze on mine with care and concern. “You know how much I love you, right? How much I’ve loved you for years now.”
I nod, my stomach twisted in knots. “And I love you too. There’s no question. What’s wrong, Ryan… you’re scaring me.”
He shakes his head and turns away. “Did you see Viktor today?”
My heart stops and a rush of heat blankets over my face. How does he know I saw Viktor? I should admit to the kiss. Then again, it was a kiss I’d give my grandma or any other stranger who’d helped me out. It wasn’t a tongue down his throat, make out fest. It was a peck on the cheek.
