Page 174 of Anton

“Maybe. But it seems your boyfriend is still up to no good.”

“He’s not my boyfriend. He hasn’t been for a long time. So why don’t you and your people leave me alone?” Her body goes rigid as a weary breath leaves her. “You’re scaring the shit out of my daughter.”

Every trace of humor disappears from Mikhail’s face. He closes the distance between them until he’s standing directly in front of her again.

“I didn’t know you had a child.”

“Yes. She’s four.”

His gaze searches her face, sharpening with suspicion. “Is she his?”

Aster straightens, refusing to shrink beneath his stare. “That is none of your business.”

Mikhail crosses his arms, every line of him turning harder. “Maybe. But when your boyfriend owes us half a million dollars, his debt becomes your problem too, vorobushek.” Little sparrow.

“Well, how the hell am I supposed to pay an ungodly amount of money when I can barely cover my rent?” Her hands fly out. “Would you like me to go whore myself out?”

His jaw locks. “How you find the money isn’t my concern. His debt is tied to you, so either you pay it or you work it off.”

We’ve definitely never had that arranged before…

Disgust flashes across her face, her pale gray eyes narrowing as she shoves him in the chest. “You’re vile.”

Mikhail catches her wrist and hauls her against him, leaving barely an inch between them. She glares up at him with enough fury to scorch, but he doesn’t loosen his hold.

“That isn’t what I meant.” His knuckles graze her trembling lips. “Although, now that you mention it…”

“I would never touch you.”

His mouth lowers beside hers, and whatever he murmurs brings a rush of color to her cheeks.

“Come on, brother. Don’t scare the poor woman away.” Arkady steps between them and drops a hand onto Mikhail’s shoulder. “Pay no attention to him. He left his manners back in Russia.”

Then he drapes an arm around Aster, and Mikhail’s entire body goes stiff.

“Come sit down and have a drink. My treat.”

She exhales, exhaustion cracking through it, as Arkady guides her toward the bar.

“So this is your Aster,” I say.

A muscle jumps in his cheek. “She’s not mine.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

He says nothing, his irritation fixed on Arkady’s arm around her. She mutters something under her breath, and Arkady laughs as he bends closer to answer.

“I can’t kill her,” Mikhail says.

I happen to know exactly what that feels like.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

THORA

TWO WEEKS LATER

“All right, Cider. Don’t get jealous.” I brush a hand down her face as the new horse I’m helping noses closer, while Cider makes it clear she’s offended that my attention has been divided. “Remember how much you needed me in the beginning? Now you have to share.”