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The inspector gave me a once-over but I didn’t miss the way he gripped the clipboard tighter. “You threatening me?”
“Tell me,” I crushed the citation in my fist and stepped forward, pleased to see his bony little Adam’s apple jump, “was this truly a follow-up inspection, or did you receive a phone call telling you to come here?”
He glared up at me, clicking his pen and tucking it into the side of his clipboard. “See you around.”
I didn’t move as he edged around me, hurrying away even faster as Valery approached quickly from the side.
“See him out,” I said, tipping my chin toward the retreating health inspector. “Get a plate while you’re at it.”
“On it, boss.”
“Believe me yet?” Marek glared at me. Shaking his head, he turned and stormed out of the barroom. The kitchen door slammed behind him in his angry wake, leaving me alone with a group of other employees pretending they didn’t witness the entire exchange.
There was no way I was going to let Sergei fireorkill him but convincing Marek of that was going to be as easy as convincing him of anything else.
Slipping my phone out of my pocket, I called Eduard. “I need you to dig.”
“Who or what am I digging into?”
“The police department, the fire department, and now the health inspector’s office. I will guarantee you one number called each of them. Start with the alderman’s office.”
“That Ken guy again?”
“No.Ouralderman. The one who is most certainly doing a favor for his friend in the other ward.”
“I’ll let you know what I find.”
Disconnecting, I turned to the blinking employees. “You have the night off,” I snapped, spinning on my heel and making my way to the manager’s office, not surprised to see the door was shut.
I knocked but there was no answer.
Knocking harder, I was about to open the door when someone cleared their throat behind me.
“He left,” Hayden announced as I turned around.
“Excuse me?”
“Marek,” Hayden said with a sneer and threw a glance toward the back door. “He just left. Kind of his thing if you haven’t noticed.”
I bit back a string of curses and pulled my phone out again.
“I don’t get it, Misha,” Hayden continued, folding his arms over his chest. “I’ve tried. And I just… What is it about him?”
“What is it about him or why isn’t it you?” I made sure to soften my tone, even though the question would hurt regardless. There was no point in playing games with Hayden. For all his faults, he wasn’t stupid. It didn’t matter that what happened between Marek and I had nothing to do with him personally, he would always assume it did and that he hadn’t measured up somehow.
“Both.” He winced and looked away.
“I wish I could tell you,” I replied and I meant it. I’d given up trying to figure out how things with Marek had gotten off course and how we ended up where we were, contenting myself with the fact it felt so right. I’d found a shred of happiness with him and there was no way I was going to let it go.
“He doesn’t deserve you.”
“I’m sure he would agree. But you’d both be wrong.” Inclining my head, I sidestepped him and backtracked through the kitchen to where I’d left my Range Rover.
On the way to his apartment, I called Marek’s cell repeatedly. Not surprisingly, he ignored me. I could picture him packing up that very moment, intent on disappearing again. I couldn’t blame him. I told him I’d keep him safe from Ken and in his eyes, I’d failed. So he was going to do what he did best—run.
The Range Rover screeched to a halt in my reserved parking space and I took off running, not even bothering to wait for the elevator. Sprinting up five flights of stairs, I headed for his apartment as quickly as my legs would carry me.
He opened the door at the same time I reached for it and jumped back like I’d hit him, dark eyes wide.
