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“Where is here?”
“A secure building.”
“I’m not stupid and I’m not a child, Kirill. I’d appreciate if you wouldn’t treat me like one.”
“Fair enough,” I said, sighing as I pressed the button, waiting for the gate to slide out of the way. I’d purchased two condos in the high-rise years before, the building chosen because of its many layers of security, including that no one knew who owned the units in the building, our identities protected.
I couldn’t allow anyone to know who I was or where I resided. The cost was too high, my anonymity an asset to the Kozlov Empire. Bringing her here was risky, but I refused to drop her in one of the safehouses. She deserved better and I refused to allow her out of my sight.
Not only was I pissed off that she’d been taken, but I was also deeply troubled by the way she’d been handled. I would have understood had members of the Walsh family intervened, taking her against her will. This was something else entirely.
I knew enough about Rian to know he wasn’t typically into violence. Then again, things might have changed. As I pulled into one of my spaces, she leaned forward on the seat, glancing at two of the other vehicles.
“Are they yours?” she asked, her voice still trembling.
“Yes, they are.”
She gave me another look, the same curl appearing on her upper lip that I’d seen before. When she narrowed her eyes, her expression was unreadable, but I could swear she was laughing at me.
“And you live here. I mean really live here.”
“Yes, Candy. I do, at least a portion of the time.”
“You lied to me. You’re rich.”
“I make a decent living, nothing more, nothing less.”
“You make it sounded glorified.” She fisted her hand, moving as close to the door as possible.
“Nothing about what I do is glorified.” A part of me wanted to reach out and touch her. What good would that do at this point? She knew more than she was telling me. There were far too many red flags. “Why do you think I kill women?”
She shot me a look, her glare harsh. “Something I heard.”
From Rian, no doubt. “The acts I’ve been required to perform are brutal, but they are also selective. Whether or not this gives you any comfort, I’ve never harmed a woman before in my life. That is a line I refuse to cross.” Her eyes held no glimmer of belief, but she slowly lowered her gaze, issuing a single nod.
With that, she tried to get out the passenger door, yanking it several times.
Sighing, I eased onto the concrete, taking a glance around the private garage as I would any other location. Nowhere was completely safe, no matter how many men were on my detail, or the security measures installed. If I had a price on my head, the bastards would find a way to get to me.
The easiest way was through the people I cared about. I’d broken my rule, but for the first time in my life, something else mattered more to me than just business.
“Come on, Candy. Let’s get you settled.”
At least she didn’t fight me when I helped her out of the car, but her solid, hateful stare remained, her eyes now full of questions as well as venom. I led her to the private elevator, pulling the key card from my wallet. I’d ordered two of my men to stand guard in the parking garage until we arrived. They would remain close to the building, acting as my security detail.
I knew they likely appeared ominous to her, both wearing dark suits, their weapons in clear display. While she stared at them, she didn’t react other than shaking her head.
“Does it ever bother you being a killer?”
I’d expected the question, only not so soon. “It’s complicated, Candy. You don’t necessarily choose to become an enforcer with the Russian Bratva.”
“No freedom of choice. Why bother being in this country?” Her tone was accusatory, but oddly enough, she had a good point.
“Because everything here is more beautiful, including the women.”
“I don’t need bullshit any more than I need lies.” When the doors opened, she stepped inside, no longer shaking.
When I entered the cold steel box beside her, she stayed as far away from me as possible, never looking me in the eyes.
