AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Let’s go.”
Chapter31
Luka
Ihad tried my best to stick to work the first week Kate was working in the office. Offering her a job at the office was a terrible idea, and when I told Nik, he laughed in my face. But today, when I saw her in that skirt, any resolve I had built up devolved the moment she came into the office and sat down. Even with the stupid pen in her hair. I wanted to come around and undo her hair, letting her long locks hang down. Her hair is always pulled up, and I want to know her face with it falling all around her. I had to compose myself while she threw her lunch away.
Today I have shipments that I need to go over with Igor, therefore I need to get myself under control to do my job. An energy surges through me when Ivan opens the door for us. A warm rush of anticipation flickers through me when I think about sharing this with Kate.
The drive goes by in a blur, and Kate is unusually quiet. When we pull up to the warehouse, security surrounds the vehicle. Kate’s hands are shaking. Maybe she isn’t ready for this. What was I thinking bringing her here?
I place my palm over her knee and give it a gentle squeeze. She offers me a half smile, one she reserves for the average person, and it enrages me. I want more, to be more than average.
Climbing out of the car Kate examines her surroundings, as though she is getting her bearings.
“I used to volunteer down the road about five miles that way,” she says, her arms wave in a direction I don’t pay attention to. I’m stumbling over what she said.Volunteer?I make a mental note and tuck the information away.
“This way Kate.”
Four guards flank us as we approach the warehouse. This particular warehouse has a large roll up door with high security. Kate is eyeing the pad at the door.
“This is one of our most secure warehouses. We have strict identification and authentication processes. As you can see here, we have personal access cards combined with personal identification numbers for the men to enter.” I direct her attention, pointing to the security cameras in the building’s surroundings. “We have advanced security implemented. Cameras, motion detectors, and alarms all feed into a central security room within each warehouse.”
A guard scans his ID card and enters his PIN for us to enter. Kate’s mouth opens, gaping at the massive storage crates. Sounds echo off the high walls of the warehouse as my men are moving smaller crates, packaging shipments for transport, and taking inventory.
Igor approaches us, and a small thrill quickens my pulse as Kate steps closer to me. Igor’s large frame hand reaches out to shake mine. “Mr. Morozov.”
“Igor, this is Kate. She is working with Natallia at the office.”
Igor’s eyes scan over Kate in a curious but respectful way, and he extends a hand to her. She offers him a smile and takes his hand. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
Kate’s smile is wide, and her chin held high. My chest swells seeing her meet Igor without wavering. A deep-seated satisfaction takes root in having Kate here, almost as if she has always belonged. I smile a wide smile, and she blinks at me, shock overcoming her features. She looks back at Igor.
I think I broke her.
Chuckling, I place my hand on her back to guide her through the main bay of the warehouse.
As we walk through, I tell her about our process of obtaining weapons, usually from overseas, and that we often travel to Russia to meet with suppliers. I introduce her to several of my men working on the floor, many of whom I stare down when their eyes linger too long on Kate’s toned, bare legs.
We continue our tour. Mostly, it is me talking to her and explaining where the majority of the shipments are going. One of the reasons I wanted to show her this warehouse is for the state-of-the-art training and testing room.
“This training room is equipped with a biometric scanner that only allows higher-ranked men to enter.”
The retinal scanner chimes and a green light above the door illuminates as it automatically opens. Kate’s eyes go wide at the facility. Part of the room is partitioned into secure shooting lanes for private practice and product testing. We also have an area optimized to mimic various shooting scenarios that we may find ourselves in. The smell of gunpowder circulates through the air, and it smells of power and money.
I step back, allowing Kate to explore, watching her in the space I’ve poured my blood into.
“You know,” she says, “I’ve never fired a gun.”
I stare at her, and she laughs. It’s gut-wrenching how beautiful she is when she laughs.
“I know. You’d think after that night I’d upgrade from my pepper spray.”
I tuck my hands in my pockets to keep from grabbing her and pulling her into me.
That laugh. Her laugh.
It does something to me.
