Page 61 of Brutal Unionn

15

NADIA

Aleksandr sitsacross the table from me. A steaming cup of breakfast tea in his hand and his eyes locked on Lily, who’s perched at her desk, munching on a Granny Smith apple as she flips a page inPet Sematary. Her lips move silently with the words, her brow furrowed in concentration. She’s so invested in King’s twisted little world, she doesn’t even flinch when Aleksandr shifts in his seat.

I drop into my chair across the room, black coffee in hand—strong enough to strip paint, just the way I like it. Aleksandr lifts his eyes to me just as I sink into the plush leather with a satisfied sigh.

“One of these days,” I nod in the direction of Lily. “She will feel you looking at her like that. Scream and I will never see my sweet girl again.”

He growls,turning to face me.

“My bad,”I smirk, raising the coffee cup to my lips. “Oursweet girl.”

He glances toward Lily again,his voice low. “You shouldn’t have let her read that book.”

I swallow the faintly chocolate-tasting bitter coffee and slide my chair forward, tugging it closer to the desk. “She’s a grown woman. She can choose her own books.”

“She’ll have nightmares,” he mutters.

At the desk in the hallway, Lily leans closer to the book, her apple now resting half-eaten on the desk. Her lips have stopped moving—whatever part ofPet Semataryshe’s in, it’s gripped her tight. She reads too fast to whisper now, and her glasses have slipped to the tip of her nose.

“This is the same girl that thoughtThe Human Centipedewas ‘kinda scary,’” I shrug, placing my mug down on the desk. “She’ll be fine.”

The elevator dings open and the quickened steps reveal a lanky delivery guy, holding a medium-sized package awkwardly under one arm. His uniform polo is wrinkled, his eyes sparkle a beautiful shade of brown as he smiles down at a book-obsessed Lily.

Clearing his throat, he pushes her book down with the tip of his finger, and softly speaks. “Hey Lily…I got a package for ya.”

The sexy way he sayspackagemakes her ears turn a faint color of pink, and she startles looking up with an embarrassed smile.

“Oh! Who is it for?” She says quickly, cheeks flushed. Shestands and moves toward him, brushing her hair behind her ear as she reaches for the package.

“You must be really into that book,” the guy chuckles, handing it over, his gaze lingering too long on her face. “Didn’t even see me walk in.”

“She was busy being traumatized,” I offer dryly, sipping my coffee with an amused glint in my eye as I stare at Aleksandr, who is currently hunched over staring at Lily and the delivery guy as if they are both prey.

Lily giggles nervously. “It’s, uh, a classic.”

“You’re really into those horror books,” the guy says, grin widening.

“Yeah,” she blushes.

“Anything that goes boo, is up for me…too?” She trails off as she talks. “Sorry, I thought that was better in my head.”

“Don’t be sorry,” he sighs, leaning against the desk. “It’s cute.”

Aleksandr’s voice sucks all the sexual tension out of the room, as he growls “Drop off the package and leave.”

The delivery guy jumps, glancing toward the office where Aleksandr is now standing, looking like a viking ready to go to war.

Lily turns, frowning toward him. “Aleksandr, don’t be rude,” she calls, sticking her tongue out before turning back to sign the slip.

“I’ll show you rude if he doesn’t leave in the next thirty seconds,” he grumbles under his breath, plopping back into his chair.

I laugh, shaking my head. “Easy, Alek. You’re going to give yourself an ulcer.”

He glares at the poor delivery guy, as he takes back the pad and waves goodbye at Lily. “Where is Nik?”

I glance at the clock on the wall. “Supposed to be here twenty minutes ago.”