Her white-blond hair had looked like spun silver in the moonlight, and I’d wanted to tangle my hands in it just to see if it felt as soft as it looked, but the minute I’d leaned down, it was like my mind went into shutdown mode, telling me, yet again, that it would be a bad idea.
So I’d jerked back, and nearly pulled her off the bed in my attempt to get her dress off.
Not how I pictured a wedding night going.
I wasn’t tired — I was exhausted. But my eyes refused to give in to sleep; instead, I tilted the tumbler back and drank deeply.
“This how all Sicilians celebrate?” a dark voice echoed in the kitchen.
I bit back a snarl. “Nicolai… I don’t think we’ve formally met.”
“No.” He pulled out a barstool next to me then reached for a glass and poured himself a double. “I don’t believe the honor of my handshake has been bestowed upon you just yet.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Saw that.”
“Wasn’t trying to hide my disdain.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a small sickle tattoo on his left wrist Disgust rolled throughout my body. I knew what it meant. Knew what it represented. The Russian mafia marked its men in plain sight, unlike my family; we marked ourselves where only we could see. It was a humility thing.
There was nothing humble about the Russians.
It was laughable to even think about it. Then again, sitting at the table with a Russian was just as hilarious. Hell, I’d married one. Damn me.
“You’ll protect her…” He licked his lips and turned his dark menacing eyes toward me. “…or I’ll cut you from belly to chin.”
“Doctors and their toys,” I muttered.
“I’m excellent at hiding bodies — even better at causing pain but not allowing you to scream it out. I like my victims to suffer in silence.”
“How…” I arched an eyebrow. “…utterly poetic.”
“Sometimes I listen to classical music while doing it.” He smirked.
“That’s very Hollywood of you.”
“Makes it feel less horrific.”
We sat in silence for a few more minutes, both sipping our drinks, refusing to make eye contact.
Finally, when I couldn’t take it anymore, I asked the question I’d been dreading all night. “Why are you really here? Clearly, her father isn’t aware you’re helping us — and I saw you talking to Phoenix earlier.”
“I wasn’t trying to hide the fact that I need a favor.”
“We’ve already done enough for you,” I spat.
“No.” He shrugged. “This is more… personal.”
My eyes narrowed. “How so?”
“Andi’s safe.” He frowned. “At least as safe as she’s going to be with the likes of you. But others in her family? They’re still in danger. I just need the right kind of information in order to save them.”
“And when you say them?”
“I mean her.”
“Her is who?”
“I keep my secrets well.” He grinned. “Do I have your word?”
“You haven’t told me anything.”
“About Andi,” he said slower this time, methodical, as if I was a slow learner.
Then again the booze was starting to do the trick. Already my hands felt heavy, my eyes burned with the need to close off the world and succumb to the darkness of sleep.
“I’ll protect her.”
“Good.” Nicolai let out a breath. “Because her father won’t be happy she’s disappeared. She’s no longer useful to him now that Director Smith is dead, now that her brother is dead. She’s….” He sighed.
“A very loose end,” I finished.
“She’s as good as dead if she gets into the wrong hands.”
I fought the urge to bang my head against the granite. “She’s already dying.”
“A fact you keep reminding her of.” He tilted his head. “I wonder why?”
“Because.” That was all I had. Because. Weeks ago, I could have talked the guy under the table and convinced him he was an escaped ostrich from the zoo. Now? All I had was because. Damn, I was broken.
Nicolai stood, a smile forming across his lips. “You’re not trying to convince her.” He tilted his head. “You’re trying to convince you.”
“What?” I snapped.
“Keep saying it, then maybe one day you’ll believe it enough to keep your distance, to keep your hands off of her. But my guess?” He chuckled darkly. “You’ve already followed the rabbit. Careful when you jump. There won’t be anyone there but Andi to break your fall, and something tells me that’s exactly what you don’t want.”
“Go to hell.” My voice was hoarse, unsteady, basically telling him exactly what he claimed he already knew.
She could be a potential weakness for me.
And I hated weakness.
I hated it in others, but I especially hated it in myself.
“Good talk.” Nicolai stood and pulled out a business card. “If you ever find yourself in Seattle, or if you need good surgeon.”
I glanced at the white card with the red embossed letters.
“JR? What’s that stand for?”
He shrugged. “Family crest.” Without another word, his light footsteps echoed across the floor. He made it to the hall then turned, his expression one of pity. “You know… when this is all over… I can make you forget it even happened.”