Page 74 of Blood & Snow

Everyone dressed in their finest, playing at civilization while we all know what business we're really here to discuss.

Nadya stands beside me, her fingers wrapped around a champagne flute.

My hand rides the small of her back everywhere we walk, marking her as mine for anyone who cares to look.

And they do look.

Eyes follow her as we move through the room, some curious, others calculating.

She doesn't belong here, and everyone knows it.

Her posture is too straight, her eyes too wide.

She takes small sips of champagne and keeps her free hand at her side instead of gesturing while she talks.

The other women here learned long ago to drape themselves over their men, to laugh at the right moments, to look bored during the wrong conversations.

Nadya does none of these things.

She watches everything and memorizes faces and names.

It's her nature andshe's good at it, and she's on my elbow because of those things.

Things that if used the wrong way would get her killed.

"Xander."

Leonid appears at my elbow, his gray hair combed back and his suit impeccable.

At sixty-two, he moves with the confidence of a man who has outlived most of his enemies.

"Boss."

I incline my head slightly.

His gaze shifts to Nadya.

"You brought a guest."

"This is Nadya."

I don't offer her last name.

In our world, details are currency, and I'm not spending any tonight.

"Charming."

Leonid's smile doesn't reach his eyes.

"What does she do?"

"She works for me."

He raises an eyebrow but doesn't press me.

He can figure things out on his own, but the look in his eye tells me he knows exactly who she is.

It isn't like he hasn’t told me to get rid of her before.