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“Same goes for you, Gabi. Dmitriy won’t stop yelling at me to get you home. Well, if you don’t want me to tell her shit like that then stop yelling at me!” He was mostly listening to the phone until Gabi plucked it from his ear. It surprised me when she rattled off Russian, though. Yuri immediately burst out laughing.
“What did she say?” Jo asked, her eyes alight.
Yuri had to take a deep breath before replying. “She told him to stop being an asshole to me. I knew Vlad was teaching her but I don’t think he’s teaching her right. She only seems to be able to use the bad words correctly.”
Gabi pushed Yuri’s head, sticking out her tongue. “Shut up, I know more than the bad words, I just don’t get to use them much because you guys won’t stop being assholes. Yes, Dmitriy. We will leave as soon as James comes back.”
I watched a flush work its way up her fair skin and she pursed her lips against a smile. “Fine. I’ll see you when I get home.” She hung up and handed Yuri his phone.
Yuri leaned back in his chair, looking at her upside down. “He’s going to paddle your ass for talking to him like that.” The flush on her face deepened and she grinned, winking at him. He snickered. “Does he not realize they aren’t real punishments if you enjoy them that much?”
She lifted her chin, looking prim and proper. “He is aware. And you’re aware he would never actually do anything to hurt me so shut up. I don’t want you giving him any ideas.”
A heavy knock on the door had us all turning. Yuri snagged Gabi’s hand, dragging her backward when she tried to answer it.
“You two suck, you are trying to get me into trouble,” Yuri complained, checking the door and opening it. James was back but Kyle wasn’t with him. Jo must have seen me searching for him because she turned to James.
“Where’s the dickless wonder?”
“He’s handled. He didn’t copy them anywhere else. Did you delete them all?”
Yuri nodded. “All good to go. You going to give him his phone back?” he smirked.
James took it from him and snapped it in half with ease. Who could snap a phone in half without even blinking? He didn’t even struggle!
Jaime stepped up to him. “Liam wants Jo home. He said for you to take your time and keep him updated.” Patting James on the shoulder, Jaime jerked his chin, motioning Jo to follow him. She hugged me tightly.
“We’ll come back tomorrow, okay? You can show us more of the convention. I don’t want that asshole to ruin it for you. Besides, Gabi wants to see the gaming hall and we never made it there today.”
I nodded lightly. I was thinking about going home tonight after everything that happened but I felt out of sorts and didn’t want to make a decision too fast. I’d lose out on the money I spent on the room. I sat passively as Gabi hugged my shoulders and the group trooped out together. Only James was left, standing awkwardly by the door. I didn’t know what to say to him. I was worried he thought less of me. He wasn’t there when Yuri accidentally displayed the picture but that doesn’t mean he didn’t see them when they went through Kyle’s phone.
I feel dirty.
ChapterEight
The bed sank nextto me as he sat. I stared at my hands in my lap. He bumped my shoulder lightly with his, his voice low and calm.
“I’ve been practicing, you know.”
I frowned, glancing up at him. He looked relaxed, no longer the furious bodyguard.
“Practicing what?”
“My gaming skills. Jaime says I still suck but…” He shrugged. Confusion wrapped around me, making me feel off balance. He just stopped a guy from posting pictures of me on the internet and he wanted to talk about gaming? I stared at him, trying to figure out his goal. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees before he glanced over his shoulder at me. His light smile was teasing. He was trying to distract me. I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders.
“You aren’t mad at me?”
His brow furrowed. “Why the hell would I be mad at you?”
I gestured halfheartedly to the computer still open on the table. He glanced over at it then jerked his gaze back to mine.
“Why would I be mad at you about that? You didn’t want that to happen. Even if it had been consensual, I wouldn’t have any right to be angry. Not after what I did.”
A lump formed in my throat as I fought back tears. He dropped down in front of me, trying to get me to look at him.
“Elizabeth, I was an asshole. I should have never tried to stop you from doing something you dreamed about. You have no idea how sorry I am about that.” He brushed the hair from my face. “But why would you think I’d be mad about this?”
I shrugged, looking away. I still felt like it was my fault. I should have known better. James told me traveling alone as a woman was dangerous and I decided to be an idiot and get drunk. He was right all along.
