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She turns slowly and cocks her head to one side. “It’s all in the report.”
“The report?” I’m confused and her eyes flash as she hisses, “The intrusive interrogation that maniac Katerina made me endure today. You even have my fucking shoe size and the date of my last period, so I’m almost positive you know everything about my life.” She adds a rough. “Asshole.” And then turns away.
I resist the urge to smile and hiss, “It’s standard induction procedure when I take on a new employee.”
“Employee?” She rolls her eyes. “I wasn’t aware I had applied for the job.”
“The minute you drew a weapon in the crowd and attempted to murder a man in broad daylight, signed your name on the application.”
She turns slowly and rolls her eyes. “And now let’s get back to the real world. You kidnapped me and are holding me hostage and there are several reasons why you will spend many years in prison over this unless you let me go and we’ll say nothing more about it. One crime doesn’t cancel another out and you’re doing exactly that now.”
“So, you don’t want justice for your sister, then? You disappoint me, Lilli.”
Her eyes widen and all the animosity leaves her face as she gasps, “Justice. What do you mean?”
“I’ll tell you over dinner.”
I jerk my head in the direction of the intimate table for two that has been set against the window.
“Come. The chef has prepared an indulgent meal to celebrate our agreement.”
“Please tell me it’s a burger and fries and not any of that healthy rubbish.” She moans, and it makes me laugh.
“I can’t promise you that, but you will love it. I am sure about that.”
She rolls her eyes as she takes her seat and glares at the jug of water on the table.
“It’s at times like this I really wish I drank alcohol.”
It makes me chuckle. “Times like this?”
I take my seat opposite her, and she huffs. “The thing is, Mikhail. I never asked you to rescue me from myself. I didn’t want to be your prisoner, and I doubt I want your job. The trouble is, I am struggling with it all and I really need to get my mind under control, so yes, a burger would be the best option for me right now to remind me of something normal in my life, not to mention the fact that I’m fucking starving.”
She sounds so upset it causes the protector in me to stand to attention and I snap my fingers, summoning the hovering waiter from the shadows and as he scurries across to the table, I say evenly, “Please send out for one of every item on the menu from the nearest burger joint.”
“Mikhail!” Her gasp of surprise brings a smile to my lips and as I catch her eyes, the way they are softening and glittering with emotion is like a sucker punch to my heart. I can’t look away as she whispers, “Thank you.”
The candlelight catches the sparkle in her eyes, and she whispers, “I’m overwhelmed. You did that for me.”
I reach across the table and lace my fingers with hers and whisper, “Right in this moment when I gaze into your eyes, I would do anything for you Lilli flower.”
Her eyes widen. “What did you call me?”
“Lilli flower.” I ease my thumb over her hand, caressing her soft skin and her eyes spill the tears that have built up behind them and she whispers, “Only Reggie ever called me that.”
She wipes away the tears with her other hand and I watch my broken angel reveal another jagged piece of her soul.
“Tell me what happened after Reggie died? What happened to you?”
I must know. It’s a burning need inside me that I can’t shake. I must know the full horror of her situation before I work out what I’m going to do about it.
CHAPTER 22
LILLI
Iam overwhelmed by him. The strong, violent, crude talking, smooth criminal with the dangerous eyes and soft smile. The man who lights a trail of fire in my soul and no matter how hard I try, I can’t put it out. It’s burning me up and consuming me and I am trying so hard to hate the man and I almost think I’m there and then he does something so sweet, I fall right back under his spell.
He called me Lilli flower. It brought back so many memories that are all clambering to break me first.
