Page 64 of Dirty Roxie

“That’s not how you made it sound last night,” I tell him.

“I did not know if he was listening in.”

“But you know now? That’s he’s not?”

Viktor nods.

I study him for a moment. It’s easy to forget how old your parents get when you don’t see them regularly. And over the past few years, I haven’t seen much of him. He’s not aged well. Something I didn’t even realize until now. I’ve always thought of my father as larger than life. Imposing. Dangerous.

But right now, standing in front of me, leaning heavily on a cane, asking for protection, he just seems pathetic. How did I not see this sooner? Even that day at my home, before he stormed Andrei’s compound and turned my life upside down, he seemed so sure of himself. So in control of his world.

“What’s she doing here?” Andrei appears in the clearing, his thick voice carrying across the divide between us.

“Aw, aren’t you happy to see me, Andrei?” I ask.

He scowls.

“And here I was told you would ask me for protection.”

He pales. “Believe nothing he says.” He gestures to Viktor.

“Well, whatareyou doing here?” I ask him.

“He owes me money,” Andrei says, also of Viktor.

“And you thought he’d pay it?” I ask.

“I am going to pay it,” Viktor says. “Take her.”

I look around for a second before realizing he means me. Andrei and two of his goons step forward. Mack does the same and growls. They hesitate for a moment.

“I’ll just say goodbye now,” Viktor says, turning to hobble away.

Ronan, Roxie, and Reed step into the gap between the hedges, blocking his path.

The men advancing on Mack and me stop and halfway turn, not knowing which direction they should go or block first.

“Where are the rest of your men?” Viktor hisses to Andrei.

Andrei shrugs. “I did not need them to deal with you.”

“You idiot.”

“You said nothing of all this.” Andrei gestures to the rest of us.

“You’re going to come with me, Andrei,” Ronan says. “We will have some good old-fashioned, fist flying fun.”

“Good one.” Roxie backhands him in the stomach.

“Thanks.” He smiles in return.

“I go nowhere with you,” Andrei says, his goons turning to join him.

Mack steps up behind one goon and snaps his neck, killing him instantly. Ronan moves next to the other, shooting him in the head with barely a second glance.

Andrei pales visibly.

“Andrei, I’ll shoot you myself and save you the torture of having to go with Ronan if you answer one question for me.”