He rolls his eyes. “Let me in.”
I retreat a step. “What the fuck are you doing here, Ilya?”
He smiles at me. “Democrazy.”
I frown but Victoria gasps. “You!”
Whipping around to stare at her, I demand, “Who?” In fact… “What?”
“That’s the officer who helped me at the station!” She stacks her hands on her hips. “And who judged me for hiring Rachel Laker as my attorney!”
“He can’t be! I’ve seen Officer Niven’s file.”
“About that…” Ilya, who I swear would have been in glee club if we were raised in the US, presents her with a formal bow. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Victoria. Officially.” His eyes beam rainbows as he graces her with a smile that always snatched him all the pussy. Except, he never wants it. “I was disappointed you didn’t contact someone Russian.”
“Why the fuck were you borrowing a cop’s identity and hanging out in a police precinct in Buttfuck, New York anyway?” I snarl, pissed that this is all news to meandthat he’s making moon eyes at my wife.
He taps his nose. “That’s above your paygrade.”
“Stop teasing him,” Nikolai signs.
“Is Nikolai deaf?” Victoria inquires.
“Nonverbal,” I correct.
“When he chooses to be. That little wife of his has reaped a miracle. He still sounds like he chews on glass for fun, but at least he’ll talk.” Ilya elbows Nikolai—one of the few men on this planet who’d get away with that without losing the limb.
I’m not entirely sure what their relationship entails.
I never have been.
I do know that, once upon a time, I used to be jealous of it.
Annoyed by the memory, I shut the door behind the two men.
Victoria takes the cue. “Would anyone like some refreshment?”
I’m so used to her being a little shit around me that the sudden leap into hostessing takes me aback.
Nikolai grates out, well, it sounds like he grates out, but he’s being polite: “Water will be fine. Thank you.”
“Do you have vodka?”
Her lips twitch when Ilya bats his lashes. “Of course I do.”
When I punch him in the arm, he smirks. Victoria doesn’t notice though. As she moves toward the kitchen, she jumps when Nikolai steps into her path.
“Meita.” He stuns me with the word as he gently grasps her hand in his. “It is a pleasure to meet you at long last.”
Eyes cast down, she greets, “It’s a pleasure to meet you too,sencis.”
“You can call me Niko. That’s what family does.”
“I don’t call you Niko,” Ilya complains.
“Take the hint.”
I snort as Ilya pounds his chest with his fist twice. “That hurts,Niko.”
