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I push through the two men, walking naturally. My ankle barely even hurts. I make a point not to leave with Andreas. I keep myself two strides ahead of him. I refuse to fold until we’re in the underground car park and away from prying eyes. I am not a kept woman. Andreas won’t change that, but Beckett will get a taste for it. Vinnie has the door open ready at the bottom of the stairwell that leads to where we parked the car, and I rush past him, unprepared to make niceties.
Suddenly, vicious fingers bind my wrist, preventing me from getting into his car. In a quick yank, Andreas pulls me back, my body facing his. Mere inches part us.
“You’re playing a dangerous game and you know it.”
“I am not having this conversation again with you.” I yank my hand back as I steel my emotions. “You men really do think I’m some weak morsel that needs your protection. That’s one strike for you, Andreas.”
He never did like when my devious side came out to play, but he also never learned how often he fell for my beauty and charisma. Four years on, and he’s still a fool.
“Natalia, what are you playing at?”
I laugh, hearty and almost close to a giggle. If the situation were different, I’m sure Andreas would’ve laughed too.
“He’s just played right into the game,” I tell him, reaching up to cup his face in my palms. “I needed to see if he remembered me before I work out how we proceed.”
“And now?”
“Now, he’s just shown me what a pile of shit first love can be.”
Chapter Eight
BECKETT
“You know what will help with that look on your face?”
There’s barely a pause, hardly even a beat.
“A good pint.”
I drag my eyes away from the skyline, my finger still nestled around the trigger of my gun that sits on my lap, loose fingers cradling it.
“Rocky road isn’t just a metaphor, but you can pick your poison,” he jests. “It usually helps with a broken heart, but it might just do the trick for this pity party.”
We’ve never had limits to push, but if we did, Sebastian is definitely testing them.
“Are you mocking me right now?”
“Would I mock a man with a loaded gun?”
Narrowing my gaze, I scowl at him as he stands above me, silhouetted by the full moon behind him. “Yes.”
He chuckles, not at all perturbed by the fact I’m sitting here, dark and brooding, nursing my SIG Sauer.
“You’re right. I totally would.” He slumps down next to me, that shit-eating grin still on his face. “Should I be worried this is your go-to after you blow me off?”
Should he?
Part of me wants to go rogue some days. Play in the dark that calls and leave Sebastian well out of it. But keeping him at arm’s length isn’t fair on him. Mercy isn’t something we have granted, and it isn’t time to be gracing anything of the sort. Sebastian had been in this long enough to know how this goes.
Leaving him out now would be just downright cruel, and while I have a list as long as my arm for worthy candidates of my brand of cruelty, Sebastian is not one of them.
“I don’t know… should you be?” I ask sardonically, allowing a small curl at the side of my lip. “Are you scared, Sebastian?”
“Oh, please.” He waves me off. “What were you hoping to shoot up here, anyway? A pigeon?”
“A pigeon?”
“Well, what the fuck else am I meant to pick out?” He leans forward in his seat, looking around. “Foot traffic doesn’t even come near here, Alistair’s away on business, and the nearest building is far out of your skillset and range.”
