Page 70 of Fractured Ties

Grisha was quick to follow behind the boss, but not before giving the two brothers a pointed look. He didn’t even bother to give Maya any of his attention.

Not that she minded.

The door slammed behind him.

Only then did Kolya soften his stance.

Only then did his shoulders drop.

Only then did he relax.

He didn’t turn around, though.

“Spasibo,” he murmured.

Konstantin’s head tipped up a bit, and he nodded once. “Don’t mention it, but you’re treading very thin ice, brat.”

“I know.”

“Be careful not to fall in.”

“Kind of hard for a man my size, no?”

Maya stiffened, and Konstantin smiled.

Had Kolya just made a joke?

A dry, dark humored, real joke?

“You’re so fucked,” Konstantin said.

“Certainly,” Kolya agreed and then gestured at the quiet man still pretending to shuffle papers in the corner as he had through the entire exchange. “Pay the doctor, yes?”

Konstantin nodded. “Will do.”

• • •

“And I fucking swear,” Kolya threatened, “if you as much as bring him back to me with even one goddamn hair gone, I will rip yours from your skull.”

The man in the hotel doorway nodded quickly.

“Don’t let them take him out of your sights.”

“I won’t, and—”

“I didn’t ask for you to talk,” Kolya snapped.

“Kolya, be nice,” Maya said quietly from deeper in the room. She was still trying to unload her bag and get her shoes off. They hadn’t even been there for more than five minutes, and already he was in one of his moods—threatening to kill people or do them harm. It was second nature for Kolya, she believed. That was just how the man communicated. “Let him take Sumerki to see the emergency vet.”

“I should take him,” Kolya said, not unkindly. And yet still, a heat lingered in his words. She could hear the struggle.

“Then, let me stay with …” Maya gestured at the man in the doorway with a furry, sleeping Sumerki in his arms. The pup was fine—maybe a little shook up over everything that had happened, but he wasn’t injured visibly. Didn’t matter; Kolya wanted him checked, too. “Whatever his name is there.”

“Anton,” the man said.

Maya smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

Kolya, on the other hand, scowled. “He’s not important, Maya.”