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I shivered, paranoia riding me hard. I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel safe anywhere ever again.
Still reeling from the mountain of information I’d just had to digest, I was distracted by the sight of Delaney walking in the door. I’d never been so grateful to be distracted by anyone. Even the girl who had every reason to hate me for tangling her up with the Russian mob when she unknowingly dated my stalker. The bar was so low. I pushed my way out of the booth.
“Delaney!” I called, running to her, but stopping short of hugging her. She had seemed cordial on the phone, but she had every right to feel angry and betrayed. “Hey, I’m so glad you came.”
She gave a small smile and looked around, scanning the room. Was she looking for Orlov? After a small pause, she launched herself into my arms, hugging me tightly. “I’m so relieved you’re okay, Emmy,” she whispered.
I hugged her back. “I’m so sorry about everything, Delaney. I had no idea who Drew was. I wanted to tell you what was going on, but the guys…”
She pulled back. “The guys being the Russian mob?”
I winced. “Yeah, those guys. They insisted on not telling anyone. I hope you know that I love being your roommate and I promise, if I’m ever stalked in the future, you’ll be the first I tell.” Unless the stalker is my own father.
She cracked a grin but shook her head. “I feel like such an idiot,” she groaned, covering her hands with her face.
Anya piped in. “Don’t. He had everyone fooled. His shithead behavior is not a reflection on you.” She then turned and hollered to the bartender. “A round of Stoli at our table, Anton.”
The bartender nodded his head as Anya led me, Delaney, Hannah, and Katya to a circular booth in the corner.
The bartender quickly arrived with our shots. Anya lifted hers and nodded at all of us to do the same. We did it with a hilarious lack of enthusiasm. We did not hold the same affection for vodka that Anya did.
Holding her glass, Anya looked right at me. “I’m sorry, Emmy. I did a background check on Drew and nothing came up to make us suspicious, but I still feel like a total asshole that I didn’t notice anything strange about the information we did find. I’m sorry to you, too, Delaney. Maybe if I’d found something, some of this mess could have been prevented.”
Anya was interesting. She looked so utterly feminine with her long, white-blonde hair, icy blue eyes and willowy frame. Almost like a fairy. Growing up in the Bratva had hardened her and made her incredibly blunt. With some people, their personality softened their appearance. With Anya, it was the opposite. Her delicate appearance was given an inner toughness by her personality.
“Anya, as you said to me earlier tonight, don’t take on Orlov’s shit,” I said.
She grunted softly and I almost snorted. You must learn grunting in the Bratva.
I raised my glass high. “Fuck Orlov!”
“Fuck Orlov!” replied a chorus of female voices and we all took our shot, followed by varying grimaces of distaste for the harsh tasting alcohol.
“God, Anya, who let you pick the shot?” Katya griped as she stared balefully at her empty shot glass.
“I have to agree. Vodka sucks,” concurred Hannah.
“I know you guys would have picked some gross shot covered in whipped cream or something, so I had to take my opportunity to get a buzz on before you forced that shit down my throat,” Anya retorted.
“How about we let Delaney pick?” I suggested.
The girls nodded good-naturedly. Delaney cast a nervous look at Anya, as she was most certainly going to order the very kind of shots Anya had just bitched about. “Uh, kamikaze shots?”
Anya’s pale eyebrows shot up in surprise, obviously expecting the girly shots, too. “Yes, perfect choice, Delaney. Anton, round of kamikaze shots!” Anya hollered.
Delaney heaved a sigh of relief, clearly still a little intimidated by Anya, and turned to me. “I’m sorry if this is a tough topic for you Emmy, but I have a million questions. I have to admit, a part of me was relieved when I found out the truth about Drew. So much of his behavior made much more sense. I never told you, but he asked so many questions about you that I was starting to harbor a small grudge,” she said laughingly, though at the time, I was certain it was uncomfortable and hurtful. “He was so hot and cold, but I just chalked it up to my own insecurity. I kind of gaslit myself.”
I felt a twinge of guilt because I’d chalked it up to her insecurity, as well. I grabbed her hand. “You can ask me anything you want.”
“So, are you and Ivan really together or was he just your bodyguard?”
Anya snorted. “If you walked in about thirty minutes ago, you’d know the answer to that question.” Katya smacked her arm but laughed.
“Um, well, he started as my bodyguard, but things kind of developed from there.”
“Oh my god, I’m so relieved to hear you say that! I thought I was such a total dope for the stuff with Drew—Orlov, but I couldn’t believe I’d imagined what was going on with you and Ivan. I mean, the vibes between you guys!”
“You’re not a dope to not see what was going on with Drew, but rest assured, you’re dead on with me and Ivan.” Although, I was kind of pissed at him at the moment, but I didn’t have to get into all that. “I kind of already had a crush on him before he started pretending to be my boyfriend.”
