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“But—” I start to say.
“Miss Gates, I am a patient man. It would do you some good to learn patience, yourself. Now listen to me carefully.” He approaches me, shaking a finger in my face.
Oh shit. I’ve done it now.
“I’m not used to women speaking to me the way you do. I know times are different, and that this is the way of the world now. Women say what is on their minds. They disagree. They ask for what they want. I’m not so old I don’t see that. I don’t like it, but I suppose I have to get used to it. Accept the new ways. After all, the world is always changing, is it not?” he asks, raising his hands.
Maybe he’s more evolved than I thought.
He moves closer still, and in a swift movement, too fast for me to move, he grabs the hair at the back of my head and yanks sideways.
“Wait—” I cry, stumbling in my uncomfortable position and high heels, wondering if I’m going down, and whether this man intends to hurt me and how badly.
“I will not accept disrespect from you, young lady.”
He tugs my hair, pulling me into a torturous sideways position.
“Please,” I beg, “I didn’t mean—”
“You meant every word you said, Miss Gates. Every word. I am no fool. I suggest you go back home and think about what I told you.”
With a final tug, he lets go. I straighten up and run for the door, wondering how close I was to losing my life.
* * *
The second waits just outside the Pakhan’s office, and when I appear, walks ahead of me down the hall. Because I apparently haven’t learned my lesson yet about following these strange men’s rules, I rush past him, dying to get to the guys. When I fly into the room where they’re waiting, they jump to their feet.
“What the hell?” Kir asks at my out of breath, disheveled appearance.
I point at the door I just passed through with the second close on my heels, as if I could actually get away from him in this rabbit warren of hallways and offices. “Guys. He wants to see you,” I say. “ThePakhanwants to see the three of you.”
As I say this, I realize that means I’ll be left alone with the second. I don’t know for how long, but to be honest, one second is more time than I want to spend with him.
“I’ll stay here with the lady,” he grouses. “End of the hall,” he says, opening the door for the brothers.
“Don’t worry, we know the way,” Vadik says.
And now I’m alone with the creep who eyes me like he’d love to keep me and eat me for dinner.
“Hey,” I say cheerfully, “your nose stopped bleeding.”
Talk about poking a bear.
He lunges at me and grabs my neck. But I’m fast too, and my stiletto knife is immediately against his crotch. I would love to use it. I really would.
I could take his dick or his balls. Or both.
And he realizes that.
His hands drop from my neck, and I back away, keeping the knife visible. He needs to remember I’m not afraid of him. Or at least believe that I’m not.
“You know,” I say, “I’ve learned the hard way to go nowhere without protection. I never used to, but after being beaten nearly to death, well, what choice does a girl have? I gotta stick up for myself, know what I mean? The guys say I’m not ready for a gunyet, so I came across this nice little stiletto knife. I’m dying to use it. I really am. Do you think I’ll get the chance to?” I ask with a sad pout.
Across the room, he paces like a caged animal, glaring at me in the disbelief that he was just bested by a woman.
I sigh. “I was hoping to try it out, maybe on you. But as long as you stay on the other side of the room, far away from me until the guys return, I won’t. And yeah, I know you have a gun and can put a bullet in my head anytime you want. But I also know you’ll end up with a bullet in your own head, as will every member of your family, if you do that.”
Good boy.
