Page 83

He turns on the radio, switching over to his preset opera station. I watch him as he takes slow breaths, the muscles in his neck relaxing.

“We should probably stop having sex. It seems to be confusing you.”

His hands tighten around the steering wheel, and I’m sure he’s wishing it was my neck.

“No more talking, Mira.” He turns the music up.

Traffic finally clears enough for us to squeak through the intersection. It’s another half hour before we pull into Rurik’s garage.

When we enter the penthouse, Max is waiting for us in the foyer. Rurik stops short when he sees him, his demeanor hardening.

Max’s eyes flick to me but right back to Rurik before he starts speaking in Russian.

I have no idea what’s being said, but I can tell it has to do with me. Rurik’s response is fast and low. Max nods like he agrees with whatever Rurik’s saying and slides off his leather jacket.

Max pulls out a switch blade from his back pocket and flicks it open.

“Wait. What’s happening?” I step forward, but Max shakes his head no, like he doesn’t want me intervening.

“No. Wait.” I grab hold of Max’s wrist just before he presses that tip of his knife to his forearm. “Are you crazy? Why is he doing that?”

“He was tasked with keeping you safe. And here.” Rurik’s eyes don’t leave Max. “He failed.”

“He didn’t fail!” I shove Max’s hand away. “I did. I didn’t listen and stay put. It was me. You should punish me.”

Max looks to Rurik, his eyebrows shooting up as he waits.

With a flick of his head, Max puts away his knife and tucks his arm back into his jacket.

They speak again in Russian, but it’s a softer tone this time, and I realize I’ve been played.

“You weren’t going to make him cut himself, were you?” I ask, once Max is gone.

“No.” Rurik walks past me, making me chase him through the foyer.

“Why would you scare me like that?”

“It was a lesson.”

“A lesson?” I nearly run into him when he comes to a dead stop at the bottom of the stairs.

“Yes, when you sneak around my men to get what you want, you put them in danger just as much as yourself. You’re lucky Max saw you enter the private elevator. He knew where you were headed when he got downstairs and spoke to Alexander’s driver.”

“So, you knew I’d left?”

“Only once you got to Kaz’s place.” He frowns. “I was across town when I realized it. I had an emergency at one of my buildings and had to send men there while I went to retrieve you.”

“What sort of an emergency?”

“A fire.”

“Was anyone hurt?”

“I don’t know yet. Max came back here to meet us. I should have more information soon.”

“Do you need to go? I’m sure there’s a lot to deal with, right? I mean a police report and insurance stuff? I can help if you need.”

He shakes his head. “No police. No insurance. We’ll handle it.”