Page 47 of Then We Shatter

“If Vasili’s on it,” I say, and I know he will be, “remember, he’s mine.”

“Not if I get to him first. Don’t make me fight you over this, Shorty.”

It reminds me of our first ever argument over who killed Oleg. She won, but only because I let her. Maybe I’d let her do it again. Then again, maybe I wouldn’t.

“He and Grigor have been on my list from the start,” she continues, “and–”

“Who’s Grigor?” I ask, cutting in before she can reel off more names. If there’s another guy sharing top billing with Vasili, I need to know why.

There’s a second or two before she decides to tell me. “Grigor Kruglov, my training camp commander. And before you jump in again, I don’t need you fighting all my battles. Forget the name.”

“Sure, I will.”

“Sure, I will is Killian-speak for I’ll ignore everything you’ve just said,” she points out. She’s not wrong. “I sometimes wonder why I tolerate you.”

“Please, Katarina, you more than tolerate me.” I more than tolerate her too. “Moving on,” I say quickly, not ready for that conversation. “Who else is on your list?”

“Eric Peterson, on the basis that anything that crawls from under a rock Vasili picks up is a guaranteed cockroach. I imagine he’s friends with plenty of other men who could also make my list. The ones my sestras were being trained to please.” She huffs when she adds, “And now I have to add Grace Hamel’s name and it’s all Duke’s fault.”

I’m still too sleepy to decide if now is the time to come clean and tell her what I know about Grace. I play for time. “What’s he done?”

“Ignored my threats. I’ve seriously lost my touch,” she complains. “All he had to do was keep his dick in his pants a little while longer, but when I went into his office today to pick up your package, she was there.”

My thickening cock threatens to derail our conversation. I’d told her to expect a delivery today, and I want to know if she’s used it yet. It was a low blow sending it to Duke’s office, but I wanted the bastard to know Katarina belongs to me, even if he doesn’t get to find out who I am.

I pull myself back into our current conversation. This is serious. Grace Hamel’s continued presence puts Katarina in danger. Killing her might be a little extreme, and it certainly wouldn’t go down well with the Moncriefs or the Griffins, but we do need to send a clearer message to Duke that he can’t fuck around right now. Fucking up is my job.

“Interestingly, I’ve seen her before,” Katarina tells me. “I’d spotted her that day you stalked me outside the restaurant. She ran away after seeing Duke with me, and he sent Max chasing after her. It’s more than just an office fling, Killian. They’re spending all their time locked away in his office.”

I hear a thump as Katarina adjusts her pillows and tries to get comfortable. It’s me she’s going to want to punch when she finds out what I’ve been keeping to myself.

“You only have to look at them to know there’s something going on,” she continues. “It’s a small miracle Danyl and Andrey didn’t notice too. They were standing right behind me, and if I hadn’t kissed Duke, it could have gotten very messy, very fast.”

“What the fuck?!” I cut in. “Duke kissed you?” Yes, I’m well aware she said she kissed him, but those words were never going to leave my mouth. I pull back the covers and leap out of bed. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”

“No, you’re not. Just like I’m not going to kill Grace.”

I grab my pants. “Maybe. Maybe not. But I am going to punch the bastard.” Katarina goes to respond, but I keep talking. “I’m not going to sit back and let that cunt touch you.”

“And what exactly will you say to him, Killian? Are you going to claim me now? Why don’t you tell my uncle and your father while you’re at it,” she snaps. “Now stop being a durak and get back in bed. I’m the one dealing with it. Not you.”

I drop down heavily on the bed so she can hear I’ve obeyed her. I hate that I don’t have a choice. “What’s your plan?”

“First, I need to find out exactly who I’m dealing with. Duke won’t tell me anything about Grace so I’ve asked my sestra to see what she can dig up. So far, all I know is she’s from Philadelphia and she’s got enough of a backbone to stand up to me.”

“She did?” I’m quietly impressed. Katarina had me on my knees.

Katarina sniffs. “Her hands were shaking, but she made it clear she was staking her claim on Duke.”

“Did your pair of goons overhear the exchange?”

“Grace was subtle. Danyl and Andrey don’t do subtle.”

Even so, I don’t like how close this came to ruining everything. I don’t care what history Duke has with Grace. Being separated from each other is a temporary blip as far as Duke’s concerned. Once Katarina’s been forced into exile, he gets the girl. I fucking don’t.

“I’m worried she might be a gold digger,” Katarina says. When I don’t answer, she adds, “It could explain why she’s so determined to sink her claws into him.”

I doubt it, not when Duke’s entire family are enamored by her.