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She’s on my heels as I head down the hall toward the spare room where I keep the extra weapons I’m going to need.
“Wait. Who’s Boris? I don’t need a babysitter.” She’s arguing with me while jogging to keep up with me. “What is that?” She stops short when I open the closet door, exposing the stand-up gun safe that takes up the whole space.
“My personal armory.” I spin the dial on the lock and quickly work the door open.
“What’s going on, Luka? Tell me now.” She has her hands balled into little fists at her sides.
“I’m going to work.”
“That’s not an answer.” Her voice raises. “You’re always not answering me. Tell me what the fuck is going on! Why do I need Boris to be here? Why are you pulling rifles and handguns out of a closet armory? Why the fuck do you even have a closet armory?”
I glance at her with a raised eyebrow.
Her face is pink with frustration. “Never mind, I know why you have one. But why are you arming yourself like you’re going to war?”
“I’m not going to war,” I say, putting back two weapons. Handguns will be sufficient for this trip, I think. Walking in with an AK-47 would warn the fuckers what’s coming.
“You’re still not answering me.” She fumes as I secure my holster.
“I am answering you, Avery. I’m giving you every answer I can give you. I’m going with Stepan to handle something. You will be here safe with Boris. Those are all the answers you need.”
“I want to know what’s really going on. Tell me what’s going on.” She follows me out of the room and back down the hall.
“I’ll be home by the time you go to bed.” It’s the best I can give her. I don’t want the blood I’m going to spill today to tarnish her innocence. The less she knows about me, about what I do, about what I’ve done to build the life I have, the better. I’m a monster. I know this, I accept it, but she doesn’t know just how evil I am. I couldn’t stand to see it in her eyes if she were to realize it.
“I’m going with you!” she yells and runs to the bedroom. Her bare feet barely make a sound against the tiles as she goes.
“You’re sure as fuck not,” I mutter to myself.
Stepan should be here in minutes. I grab my leather jacket and stuff my arms into the sleeves, covering up my holster.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I tell her when she hops back into the room, trying to wiggle her foot into a sandal.
“I’m going with you unless you tell me what’s going on.” She’s determined, but so am I.
My phone buzzes with a notification that Stepan is here.
“If I have to tie you to the chair, I will, Avery. You aren’t going anywhere until I get back tonight.” I grab her shoulders and line her eyes up with mine. “I need to know you’re safe while I take care of this issue. Promise me you’ll stay put.”
Tears fill her eyes as she looks up at me. Concern wrinkles her pretty forehead.
“You’ll come home?” The question is a whisper.
“I swear to you, Pchelka. I said forever, and I meant it. I’ll be home.” I kiss her, a strong, possessive kiss meant to make her melt beneath me. She presses her hands against my chest, and the warmth of her burns through my shirt.
“Nothing will keep me from coming home, nothing,” I say against her lips. A tear rolls onto our entangled lips as I break the kiss. “Be a good girl for me, yes?” I drag my thumb across her cheek and wipe away the tears.
She nods. “Yeah. I’ll just stay here.” She takes a step back from me, folding her arms over her stomach as the elevator doors slide open behind me.
“Boris is on his way.” Stepan jerks his thumb toward the man standing beside him. “Budimir will stay until Boris gets here.”
It takes me a moment, but slowly recognition hits. “Budimir!” I smack his shoulder. “It has been years, my old friend.” I speak in Russian because Budimir hasn’t been on American soil since he was a boy and never learned the language here.
“It has.” He nods with a grin. “I will keep your woman safe while you go with Stepan,” he vows with a curt nod of his head.
“She will either sit on the couch and read all afternoon, or she’ll try to get out of the penthouse. Let’s hope she gives you no trouble.”
He laughs. “She won’t. She’s safe here.”
