Page 33 of One Dark Kiss (Grimm Bargains #2)

TWENTY-NINE

Rosalie

A fter an afternoon hearing, I drink a double espresso at my desk as I try to concentrate on work. Alexei didn t return to my house last night, which is a good thing because I probably would ve stabbed him to death. I still can t believe what he did to me in that booze closet at the bar yesterday.

A small part of me, one that I m trying to quash desperately, was lonely last night. I wonder where he was—not that it s any of my business because I don t care. I remind myself of that fact as I keep typing.

Joseph Cage walks into my office. Where are we on the Bernanki merger?

I look up and my eyes focus. He s dressed in a nice, beige-colored suit with a salmon-colored tie today. The documents are with the buyer. We just need signatures.

How about the Waltisi contracts?

The three employment contracts? The other side s negotiating and sending over their stipulations now. I sit back and hide a wince as the welts on my ass protest. Welts from Alexei s belt.

Cage moves into my office. What about Alexei Sokolov s murder defense?

Just hearing his name sends shards of fire through me.

I m filing an appeal as to the overturning without prejudice tomorrow, I say.

I spoke with the primary detective, and he seems solid to me.

In addition, he s looked over all the charges against the judge and the prosecuting attorney, and while there are many, he doesn t see any that lead back to Alexei or his enemies. Of which, I feel like one right now.

So it s possible Alexei wasn t set up.

I look over at Miles s boxes. Yeah. I haven t gone through Miles s notes yet. That s my plan after I finish this brief.

Miles was a good attorney. Cage leans against my desk and plays with a silver paperweight Alana once gave me.

I stiffen. I read the trial transcripts. He did an okay job.

Okay? Cage asks, his eyebrows raising.

I nod. He missed a couple of objections he should have issued, and he made a couple of silly ones, but nothing that would point to purposeful error.

Cage sighs. We could subpoena Miles s banking records.

I already have. I shift my weight and attempt to find a comfortable position. Every time I move, somewhere on my body aches from Alexei. Unfortunately, the sensations are arousing. I am so screwed up. I sent it to the executor of the estate yesterday morning.

Who is that?

I glance at my notes. Larry Coswell at Banks and Georges.

It s a rival firm, which just meant that Miles wanted privacy.

He wasn t married, and I don t think he had any kids.

He just had work, so it should be easy to acquire his records, I say.

I m curious if there are any deposits we can trace back to a source.

Of course, this was seven years ago, so we ll see if I can even get them.

Miles was a good guy. Cage shifts his weight on my desk.

I don t like people sitting on my desk. I put my cup of coffee right where his butt is every morning.

His gaze lingers on my mouth. I have tickets to Wicked this weekend. What do you say?

She politely declines, Alexei says smoothly as he walks into the room. Tension spirals from him to me, heating my face. I want to contradict him, but now isn t the time.

Cage pushes away from my desk. I believe she can answer for herself.

One of Alexei s eyebrows rises. Today he looks every inch the mob boss, with a high-end suit that includes a jacket, all black, and stark-white shirt. No tie, though. All right. Go ahead and answer.

Man, I want to throw something at him. Where s my letter opener, anyway? Thank you, Joseph, but we ve already had this talk. I m not going to the theater with you.

Cage blushes a deep crimson. Very well. I ll leave you to it then. He brushes by Alexei without a word.

Amusement fills Alexei s gaze.

Don t you look happy, I say. I turned him down because I wanted to do so, because it is stupid to date my boss, not because of you.

Whatever helps you sleep at night, princess, he says. Or go ahead. Go on a date with him. See how that ends up.

I cross my arms. I still want to ask him where he was last night, but I won t give him the satisfaction. I ve changed the passcode on my phone.

I ll figure it out again, he murmurs.

What an ass. You didn t figure it out. You watched me because I trusted you.

You ve never completely trusted me, have you?

I don t want to play this game because he s probably right. Where is Ella?

She s safe.

How can I trust him when he kidnaps my friends? What do you want, Alexei?

His gaze heats. My nipples spring awake along with my clit. I glance toward the door. He wouldn t. His chuckle is low and masculine. I was busy last night and came to check on you as soon as possible.

Check on me? I snap. I m fine. Never mind that you totally humiliated me in front of a bunch of gun-toting mobsters yesterday. How soon do you think one of them will come calling?

He cocks his head. We weren t in front of them, and you needed a lesson.

First, you re fortunate said lesson came with an orgasm.

Second, don t worry about your safety. Like I said, that s my job.

I made it clear to every one of them that if they even think of disrespecting you, I ll cut out their tongues and shove them up their asses.

That s descriptive. I gulp and take a moment to run through my feelings.

I m still pissed. Slightly appreciative that he insisted upon respect from mobsters.

The orgasm was spectacular. Yet his casual note of violence scares me.

Although the feeling of safety, oddly enough, is a bit addictive.

I haven t felt safe since I was a kid, and Alexei plans to protect me.

Am I grateful for that? Enough to go along with his actions?

Nope, I still want to shoot him. I have work to do. Some of that is trying to keep you out of prison, although the more I m around you, the more I think you should wear an orange jumpsuit until you re too old to move.

Good, he says. Garik requires time to sleep. You are to stay here until I pick you up after work.

My mouth gapes open. You re not here giving me orders.

He shrugs and then slightly winces. Take it any way you want, but I will pick you up at five and then we ll go to dinner. We should talk about where you want to live.

I m living in my house. I push my chair back and stand. It feels better to face him on my feet even though he s a good foot taller than I am. Why did you just wince? Is he hurt? I don t care. Nope. Not at all. I hope he s not hurt.

I took another bullet last night—just to my outer arm. It s okay.

I blink. He took a bullet? Seriously? Surely Hendrix had closed off the back door to the amethyst servers, so no way could Alexei heal himself with the energy exchange again. Have you been to a doctor? Who shot you? Not that I wouldn t have, given the chance after the debacle in the storage room.

I m fine. Didn t even need stitches. We can discuss it at dinner. Your firm has decent security, so you ll be fine if you stay here until I fetch you. Understand?

He stares at me and I stare back. My knees tremble. He just waits.

Why are you doing this? Acting like we re going to live together?

He leans back against the door. Because we are.

How is he so freaking certain? You don t even know me. The sex is good, and you think I m pretty, but that s not enough.

His gaze heats. I do think you re pretty, and the sex is off the charts. But you re highly intelligent, have a great sense of humor, and own a heart that s all soft and kindness. I want it.

My chin drops. I m not soft and kind. I m a freaking attorney who s a tornado in a courtroom.

His chuckle holds genuine amusement. You re broke financially because you take care of seven old men who need you. Sure, they adore you, and that must be a good feeling, but you ll let yourself lose everything to help them. That s sweet. That s kind. That s all fucking mine now.

Just when my heart goes all soft for him, he has to throw in a badass possessive term. You should ve stopped with kind. Even so, I feel all warm and squishy inside. I need to get a grip around this man. He s just too ... much.

I have somewhere to be, Rosalie. Tell me you get me and that you ll stay here until I return.

That amusement still dances with the hot possessiveness in his eyes.

Don t make me belt you to the chair. He sounds way too interested in the thought, and there s not a doubt in my mind that he ll do it.

I can t even imagine my embarrassment when my paralegal wanders in at some point.

Fine. I have plenty of work to do, anyway, I say. You might want to rethink your career. Mafia bosses get shot a lot.

I got shot protecting your Percy, he returns easily. Usually I wouldn t have moved, but I couldn t let one of your pets get killed. With that, he winks and walks out of my office. I drop back onto my chair and quickly call Percy.

Hi, Rosalie, Percy answers. I m outside. We need more fertilizer for the shadier area in the back.

I shake my head. Were you with Alexei last night?

Percy is silent for several heartbeats. Darlin , these phones aren t secure. All I ll say is that I owe Alexei big time. We can discuss the rest later.

So it s true. We will so discuss this when I get home, I sputter. Can I ground an eighty-year-old man? I think I can. The guy shouldn t be driving—he can barely see. Tonight, Percy. I end the call without pleasantries. So Alexei really saved Percy for me?

My traitorous heart warms. The massive haul of kitten heels is sweet. Saving my Percy is soul-stirring. I m falling for Alexei way too fast, and he won t let me slow down. How can I be furious and loving toward him at the same time? Life is supposed to be orderly and make sense.

It doesn t ... but it sure as heck isn t boring, either.

My phone buzzes and I glance down at the screen. If Percy wants to make nice, he can wait all day. I don t recognize the number. Rosalie Mooncrest.

Hey, sister, Ella says.