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Dmitri
“Who else has been here?” I stopped in the kitchen with her bags. A drawer hung open with items thrown on the counter. In the living room, it looked as though someone had turned the room upside down.
“No one,” she answered, her voice tight. I peered at her over my shoulder. She stood with her arms folded over her chest and her eyes aimed right at me. If she could shoot me with them, I think she would have.
“What happened in here?” I moved into the living room.
“I was looking for my charger.” She toed one of the cushions. “I didn’t find it.”
She pushed the newly dyed dark black hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. I preferred the soft chestnut coloring of her natural hair, but the black was a step up from the blonde mess I’d found her with at the bar. Her cheeks were still flushed, but her eyes were hard again when she looked up at me.
“We’ll get one for you.” I gestured toward the door. “Let’s go.”
“Wait,” she said. “Just.” She scrubbed her hands over her face. “What is going on? Why are you here?” Frustration seeped into her voice.
“Henry is home.” I’d been looking for her since she’d taken off two years ago. I’d found her a few months ago, but only when Henry made it known he was coming home did I get in my car and head to New York. Henry held grudges and being delayed two years gave him time to fester.
“I know. I saw the news,” she said. “But why are you here? You don’t work for Henry. You work for Dominik Staszek.”
“I do.” I gave a curt nod.
“So why would Dominik Staszek give a shit if I’m in New York?” She folded her arms over her chest. “I never spoke about what happened that night. And I never will. Why waste time on me?”
“First,” I put up a finger. “Watch your mouth.” Archaic, I know, but something about such vulgar words coming out of that sweet mouth of hers made my palm itch. “Second. I’m not here on Dominik’s order. Now, if there’s nothing else you need to get, let’s go.”
She huffed a little laugh. “Dominik didn’t send you? But you’re here, ruining my apartment with your ninja skills and spanking–.” Her mouth snapped shut. “Then why are you here?”
Because I was done waiting.
I’d waited, given her space for two fucking years telling myself to stay away from her. She didn’t need the danger that came attached to a man like me. But enough was enough. I’d kept my hands off her while she worked at the bar, tending to those pricks who liked to play cards in the back room. Babysitting them wasn’t usually my job, but once I noticed her being scheduled back there, I made it a point to be there.
She needed protecting then, and she needed it now. Even if she was too stubborn to admit it.
Catching her gaze, I lifted a shoulder. “Henry might still be holding a grudge. He spent two years away from Chicago because of that night. Until I know for sure he’s not gunning for you, you’re not safe.”
Her eyes widened.
“Why do you care?”
Because for the past two years, the image of Janusz ‘s blood splattered on her haunted me. The fear raging in her eyes consumed me. I barely slept until I knew she was safely out of Chicago. And once I found her, it still wasn’t enough to relax.
“You were innocent.” I shrug. It’s barely an answer. “And it’s my job.”
“What’s your job?”
“Finding people who don’t want to be found.” I pulled the door open. It wouldn’t close properly or lock again after I broke through it, but at least it was still on its hinges. “We need to go. I found you easily enough. He will, too.”
“It took you two years.” She grabbed her purse from the counter and slid it over her shoulder. She used snark to cover up her fear, but I could still see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice.
“Let’s go.” I motioned for her to go ahead of me. A trail of vanilla spice followed her as she passed me. Some things hadn’t changed since I’d seen her last. Every time the scent hit my senses over the past two years, I looked for the source, hoping for it to be her.
Once we were up on the sidewalk, I herded her to the car. I dropped the suitcases at the curb and opened the passenger door for her. When she was settled, I squatted down to her eye level.
“I’m going to put these in the trunk. If you so much as put a foot out of this car, it will be you traveling back there instead. Yes?”
She rolled her eyes. ”Yeah.”
Grabbing her chin, I thrust it back. “No eye-rolling. It’s for children, and you are no child.” From the curves I witnessed beneath those leggings of hers, there could be no dispute. She was all woman.
