Tempted to text him and demand another, wondering if he’d make the return trip as hedidtell me to message him if I needed to… instead I set about brewing two espressos, finding comfort in grabbing the container from the fridge, from using the coffee measurer I have—a gift from Inessa that has an enamel Jesus on it which says, “I saw that.”
“You had something to see last night.” My thumb smoothes over the relief because she bought it to make me laugh.
I force one.
Spoiler: it doesn’t do shit.
But, thinking of my sister calms me some.
“She’ll visit me in Montenegro. I think. Eoghan will purchase a coastal property and?—”
The doorbell buzzes.
I jerk in surprise, sending coffee beans careering across the marble counter.
My hands ball into fists and I fight the urge to scream.
I fight it.
I fight it?—
I SCREAM.
Just to let out this goddamn internal tension that’s driving me crazy.
A banging sounds at the door and Wynter, terrified, shouts, “Oh, my god, Victoria! VICTORIA!”
The situation devolves quickly after that.
A Russian and an Irish guard come barging through the door, I assume Irish first because Conor would only give a code to them. Guns in one hand, knives in another, they immediately scope out the place until I yell, “I screamed because I dropped coffee beans everywhere!”
When they both look at me like I’m crazy, I scowl at them and shoo them out.
“Come in, Wynter,” I beckon.
“Sorry,” she rasps. “Maybe I overreacted?”
“I think I did too.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Been a long night, huh?”
When my phone rings, I see it’s Brennan. I cut it. My phone rings again. Maxim this time.
“You have two sets of guards,” Wynter comments, peering through the window that frames the door.
“Yeah. Just give me two secs?”
“Sure.”
“Kitchen’s down the hall.”
Because I can think of no faster way to accommodate both men before they send in their guards again, I start a group call.
“I’m fine. Had a little issue with the coffee. Your guards are trigger happy.”
“They shot you?” Maxim shouts.
“What? No. Jesus. I only meant they were quick to react.”
“You’re okay?”
