Page 47 of Lord of Passion

"Because I'm not Lara Croft, and I don't go running around brandishing my Desert Eagle at every opportunity. My father taught me how to fire a gun when I was twelve. He always insisted that I practice. He thought that it was important I learned how to protect myself."

Vasilisa pushes over a plate with twoPirozhkifor me, perfect little pastries filled with sweetened cottage cheese and fruit. "I will tell you that I had to fight off a couple of the bodyguards to save these for you," she says, glaring pointedly at Timofey, who turns away, shoulders, hunched. "I am personally displeased that I did not get to witness your magnificent shooting last night since I was required to keep my eyes on the road."

"Well, Icertainly appreciate you not letting us crash into a giant ball of flame," I say. "I don't think I could have kept that SUV on four wheels. That was some badass stunt driving."

"Just think, Vasilisa," Alexsey says. "If this whole business as Nikandr'sVtoroydoesn't pay off, you've got a promising career in action movies."

I manage to wolf down one and a halfPirozhkiby the time Nikandr comes back in.

"Good morning," he says quietly, slipping his phone into his pocket. "Are you ready to go?"

I gaze sadly upon the abandoned half of myPirozhkias he leads me back into one of the Range Rovers from last night.

"Are we going in the opposite direction of the airfield?" I ask.

"Good sense of direction," Nikandr says, giving me a brief smile. "We had the jet moved to a private airfield owned by Melor Balabanov. Just in case whoever is targeting us found the jet's location."

"Oh, you mean one of atleasthalf a dozen groups that want you dead?" I ask.

"Now Caroline, don't underestimate yourself," Alexsey smiles at me fondly. "You're family now. That means they want you dead, too."

"Man, this honeymoon phase is just getting better and better," I mumble and I feel Nikandr's shoulders shake with silent laughter. Which reminds me, "How's your shoulder?" I murmur, "Are you in a lot of pain?"

"Not so much," he says and I'm fairly certain he's lying to me. The Morozov men may be billionaires, but from some of the stories Liria has told me, their youth was hard, and violent. They were expected to do things that would make a normal man wet himself. I'm guessing steeling yourself against pain goes in that category.

"If you'll let me, I can check it when we get on the jet," I say quietly. Alexsey is talking to one of his men and Nikandr glances down at me with a slight smile hovering on his perfectly shaped mouth.

"Are you trying to get my clothes off again, wife?"

"No!" I replied, stung. "This is from a purely professional perspective. I just want to make sure my stitches held."

"Oh, from only aprofessionalperspective," he murmurs. his eyes warm.

"What can I say? I'm a saint," I say haughtily. "I'm agiver."

He opens his mouth and I feel certain the next thing out of it is going to be filthy, so I clear my throat, nudging Alexsey. "How close are we to the airfield? I'd really like to call Liria before we take off. Is she doing okay? How are the twins?"

"Everyone at home is fine," Alexsey says. "Liria was understandably outraged about the attack last night. I know she's looking forward to seeing you and making sure there's no bullet holes on you that we missed."

"Yeah, she's like that," I agree.

The trip to the airfield is mercifully brief for which I am deeply grateful. There is a stress that comes with the bristling convoy surrounding us. Two cars filled with Morozov guards ahead of us, two more behind. When I look out the window and glance up, I spot a big drone flying just above us.

"Is that a drone? Is it ours?" I ask.

"Yes," Vasilisa says cheerfully. "It's armored. If we detect any threats, it will drop an incendiary charge. It burns the car and the people inside alive." She looks thoughtful. "It would've been very nice to have had a few of those last night."

I smile uneasily. She's smiling at me expectantly, so I say, "Yeah. Melt those cars right into the asphalt, huh?"

"Exactly!" she says.

My first moment of uncertainty hits when we get on the jet. It's a beautiful one. On the way to Moscow, I liked how they put the seats together. Instead of rows, there's two big leather chairs facing two more with a low coffee table between them. Thatmeant I could take the set of seats furthest from the one Nikandr was using. How do I navigate the seating arrangements now?

Alexsey sits down and nods at the seat across from him with a smile. "Take a seat, thePirozhkiyou had for breakfast weren't nearly enough. Once we're in the air, the flight attendant will make us something more substantial."

I perk up instantly. "Are there snacks?"

Nikandr sits next to me. "I did request additional menu items for the flight home," he says. "While the esteemed general manager of the Hotel Tsaritsa couldn't procure Cheetos for you, I did."