Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
He takes a step back, shocked, but like all men, remains quiet when forced onto their hind legs.
“What were you thinking, Saka? You said no connections. That letting anyone in could get us killed. Then you go and… and…” I swallow to relieve my dry throat before murmuring, “Why her? She is the only genuine friend I’ve ever had.”
“I know. I just…” His chest deflates as he exhales a big breath. “I fucked up. It won’t happen again.”
My heart pains for Taylor even more now. Just like I wouldn’t have let Matvei defile me within minutes of our date, Taylor wouldn’t have let Saka in unless he is who she truly wants.
I’m just too lost to admit that to Saka right now.
“Can we go? I’m exhausted.”
Saka nods before guiding me to the SUV parked two spots up from Matvei’s stretched town car. I can’t see into the back of the gleaming black vehicle, but I know Matvei is inside. I can feel the heat of his eyes on me, and his glare is scorching a hole right near the area Saka’s hand is hovering an inch from my skin.
He’s almost touching me, and the reminder of Matvei’s earlier threat sees me leaping two spots ahead, entering the passenger side of the SUV, and slamming the door before Saka can buckle me in.
I’m not a child. Though you wouldn’t know that with how desperate I am to be disciplined by Matvei again. He set more than my ass on fire when he spanked me.
My heart burned right along with my panties.
10
NATALYA
“What crawled up his ass and died?” Millie picks through a dish of boiled candy on the counter of Polina’s store until she finds one she likes, and then she spins to face me.
I shrug while watching Saka storm out of the boutique, blasting a string of abuse in a foreign language down his cell phone. Things have been tense at home the past week, but it feels like more than sexual tension. Saka has been more aggressive than usual, and whoever has been calling him at all hours for the past five days has his mood hanging dangerously on edge.
Even Taylor calling a truce hasn’t improved his mood. Something is going on with him, but he isn’t a nut I can crack, so I’m clueless as to how I can help him.
“Did you see who called him?”
Millie twists her lips before shaking her head. “I’m reasonably sure it was a foreign number, though.”
“Why’s that?” Curiosity echoes in my tone.
“It had a plus at the start of the number. The only time I’ve seen that is when my aunt called my gran from Australia.” Her nose screws up like a rabbit when she pops the lemon-flavored candy into her mouth and moseys my way. “Do you think it has something to do with Mr. Dark and Dangerous?”
I sigh before I can stop myself. “Doubt it.” I pick the price label off the dresses Millie marked at the wholesale price, while saying, “I haven’t heard from him in days, so why would Saka see him as a threat?”
“Because he disarmed you in under a second before sneaking you out from under Saka’s nose in a covert operation that included having the hinges on the fire escape replaced.” She laughs when I groan. This is what happens when you’re desperate to decompartmentalize your confusion, but the only girlfriend available to unleash it on is the loved-up drunk. “From what you told me, I’m shocked he let you leave.”
“He had little choice.” An ill-timed smile stretches across my face as I say, “He foolishly disarmed himself.”
She smacks me up the head with a pamphlet about an upcoming sale. “If battery-operated devices were your only kryptonite, Taylor’s naughty drawer would have taken you out months ago.” She flops onto the ground like her twenty-minute work shift is closer to eight hours. “What’s the go with Taylor? She’s been a little temperamental the past week too.”
Again, I shrug.
Taylor's mistakes aren’t mine to share.
“Maybe we should take her out?” Millie suggests, her mood picking up along with her brow. “Get her out of her headspace for an hour or two.”
Since it isn’t a stupid idea, I ask, “Where are you thinking?”
She contemplates for barely a second. “Tappers?”
“That could work. When?”
“Tonight.”
My brows shoot up high. “Tonight?” Realizing I am acting as old as my grandmother, I surrender. “Okay. I’ll see if Polina wants to join us.”
Millie groans. Don’t hold it against her. She loves Polina but hates how much she lets Vasily control her every move. He has enough arrogance to kill the vibe three towns over. However, things have felt a little different the past couple of days.
“I haven’t seen Vasily all week.”
Millie freezes before her mouth pops open. “Now that you mention it, neither have I.” She tilts in close to ensure Polina won’t hear her, even with her being on the other side of the store. “Do you think Yev finished what he started?”