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“Who the fuck is this?” The Russian-accented voice was deep, cold and intimidating as hell. Any other time, it would have made me jerk to attention. But I was too deep.
Tanya took control, breaking the kiss and gently pushing me back. “No one,” she said. Her voice sounded a little shaky. “This is Gregori. He’s just muscle.”
I opened my eyes and straightened up, forcing my hands to let go of her. I turned and saw Konstantin glaring straight at us: I gave him a respectful nod. Behind him was a woman I assumed was his girlfriend. She was smirking as if we were cute.
I was dimly aware that my headache had gone. I put my hands behind my back and tried to look like a Russian thug. I was glad now that I’d stopped on the way to New York and grabbed a shower and some civilian clothes: dark jeans and a t-shirt.
“What’s the deal with this place?” asked Tanya, waving her hand at the hotel.
Konstantin started to stroll around the ballroom, running his hand over the marble columns, glancing up at the chandelier. “Is owned by rival, doesn’t want to sell to me.” His English was fractured with a heavy Russian accent. “Last night, scientist from department of health says he find deadly mold. Staff and guests evacuated. Hotel shut down. Owner losing a quarter-million a day. Will soon sell.” A smile touched his lips and he wagged a finger in the air. “Scientist no longer owes me gambling debt.” The smile faded. “Now tell me, why should I help a spy? Even a Russian one?”
“The Russian government hasn’t interfered with your…business in America,” Tanya told him, walking closer. “That could change. But I can make sure they stay off your back.”
Konstantin thought for a moment. “What do you want to know?”
“You were contacted by a New York stockbroker, Castor Barlow, a week ago. Why?”
Konstantin scowled. “He said he was working on some huge deal for someone. Offered to let me buy in.”
“Did you do it?” Tanya asked.
Konstantin snorted. “No. He was crazy, or a con man. Told me I could ten-times my money in a few days. I told him to fuck off.” He sighed. “Anything else?”
Tanya silently shook her head, her brow furrowed in thought.
Konstantin and his entourage moved towards the door. Tanya and I looked at each other, waiting.
Konstantin’s girlfriend was the last one through the door. She looked back over her shoulder at us, grinning.
The door closed.
I pulled out the gun that was tucked in the back of my pants. Tanya pulled out the one that was tucked in the back of her skirt. We got them pointed at each other at the same instant.
“I’m taking you in,” I growled.
“You are a stubborn fool!” she snapped. “You could have been killed! Just let me go!”
“Put your gun down,” I told her.
“Put your gun down!”
“You’re not going to kill me,” I growled.
“Why? Because I kissed you? What are you, a child?” Her face was flushed. “I was acting!”
“Didn’t feel like acting,” I told her. My eyes were locked on hers. “If you’d wanted me dead, you’d have let Konstantin kill me.”
She stared into my eyes. “You’re not going to kill me either.”
I couldn’t argue with that. I thought for a second. “I could shoot you in the leg.”
“I could shoot you in the leg!”
We stared at each other, panting. Then both of us cursed and tossed our guns down. We began to circle, ready to fight. “Fine,” I told her. “You asked for it. I’m not going to go easy on you.”
She cocked one eyebrow. “Who says I want you to go easy on me?”
I felt my face heat. She just couldn’t stop teasing…
I ran at her and tried to grab her waist. She twirled and kicked and I got a flash of stocking-clad leg as her boot swept towards my head. I ducked under it, rolled, and hit a table, which tilted. There was a huge, sticky whump. I ignored it and ran at her again.
She danced backwards across the wooden floor, nimble even in her high-heeled boots. I grabbed for her once, twice, and she ducked under my hands, landing quick little punches on my torso. But I was so fired up, I barely felt them. I grabbed again and managed to snag one of her wrists. I spun her around and yanked her hard against me, pulling her arm across her body to trap her there. The perfect curves of her ass grazed my cock and I could feel I was rock hard in my pants. I growled and grabbed for her other wrist.
She elbowed me in the stomach and I folded. She whirled me around, trying to break my grip on her wrist. But I wouldn’t let go and the two of us staggered into another table, which tipped. There was a sound like an avalanche made of glass.
