The shove hits my chest hard.
My boots slide backward across the floor, but my reflexes are faster than the surprise. My hand snaps out and locks around a thin wrist. I raise my right arm to block a punch while twisting hard. I use the momentum to slam the attacker back against the wall beside the door.
My pistol comes up between us.
Pain explodes in my side from the sudden movement, and I grit my teeth to keep from making a sound. My breath comes hard and ragged.
But I don't let go.
The body beneath my grip is lean, compact, and stronger than it should be. A chest rises and falls rapidly against mine.
A familiar scent fills my nose, and I immediately know it's a woman.
The streetlamp outside flickers. The light strobes through the window, cutting across the darkness in the room, and it illuminates her face.
It's those cold blue eyes, sharp cheekbones, and blonde hair pulled back tight.
The Russian.
The woman who stabbed me at Cornel's.
My heart slams against my ribs.
And now, she's here in Bogdan's house. At the exact same time as me.
Shock, fury, and something far more dangerous spiral through my chest. I press the barrel of my silencer between her breasts and push it against her sternum. I lean in, and my voice comes out low and rough to keep quiet.
"You."
Her lips curve into a careless half-smile. She doesn't even glance at the gun. She just keeps her eyes on me.
"Miss me already, Victor?"
The sound of my name in her accent hits different than I expected. Not like last time.
I shift my weight, grabbing her other wrist and pinning both wrists against the wall above her head while my other hand holds the gun in place.
The pain in my side screams, but I ignore it.
"I thought you might be dead," she says.
"And yet." I tilt my head and smile back at her. "Here I am. Still breathing. But you knew I wouldn't die. Not that easily. So why play games?"
She shrugs. "You don't like games? How's your side, by the way? I can tell it hurts."
"Thanks to you."
"You're welcome."
I lean closer. The heat from her body radiates against mine. Her pulse hammers beneath my fingers where I grip her wrists.
"Oh, don't look so upset, Victor. You survived."
I lick my lips and look down at her. "Because you wanted me to."
Her smile falters for a split second. It's so brief I almost miss it, but I catch the micro-expression before her mask slides back into place.
"Careful, Victor. Your ego's showing."
