Page 15 of The Fixer

Lyov then stormed across the office. He exuded rage and hurt, his eyes bulging from the stuff that leaked from his ears.

“If you don’t want to be babied, don’t act like a baby. I’m not here to coddle you or be your friend. You’re here to do a job, Lyov. If you can’t even monitor me while I uncover my family’s gnarly secrets because you’re too busy crying over what I said, go back to Saint Petersburg.” Honestly, I didn’t know if Aleksander would bother picking up the phone. I could hope, though. If Lyov did anything to me, Aleksander would really have to replace me; it wasn’t something he particularly wanted to do. Definitely, keeping me was the easier option.

Standing chest to chest with me, Lyov practically breathed fire through his nose. His clenched teeth ground loudly enough that I heard it clearly. There was no denying he was upset, but it waswhythat was so incredibly unbelievable. Not only did Lyov get angry about being called out, but he just ignored his whole part in the ordeal.

As if he hadn’t walked my chair away from me.

As if he didn’t insult me first.

“Unless you want to get slapped, back away from me, Lyov Makovich.”

His pupils became almost nonexistent, as Lyov finally seemed to reach his breaking point. His arm that trembled so violently lifted out of the corner of my eye.

My heart nearly stopped. The tension thickening to the point that it filled my lungs.

In slow motion, he reared back his arm.

Now, the fine hairs on my face stood up.

So faintly, theclickof a gun being cocked, cut through the atmosphere.

Lyov froze, his face going pale with shock.

My lips parted in surprise.

“Ophelia Cherinivsky is right. You’re done here, Lyov. Go back to Saint Petersburg, you incompetent fucking dog.” The feminine voice wrapped around us thickly.

Very,veryslowly, Lyov lowered his arm, all the emotion training from his expression…his body deflating to give way to its owner.

She was pretty, with just enough makeup and a fair face.

Lyov sluggishly shuffled away, more pitiful than he was before.

A pang struck my chest, and I winced before the metallic glint of a gun got my attention.

“Nice to finally meet you, Ophelia. I’m Malda and it’s a damned good thing I bugged your phone,andthat I was already on my way.”

10

Ophelia

Malda then shrugged. “I’m not staying. I’m here to document what you’ve discovered about the plot to kill the Patriarch? I never understood why we’re supposed to call him that…he’s just a withered, old man now. Rumor is that he was once more intimidating than Aleksander, but I don’t know if that’s possible.”

“Thank you and all, but I almost wished he’d hit me so I had a reason to hit back. My dad always said you have to be stupid to hit first without intending to knock out.” Inhaling deeply through flared nostrils, I finally moved from my spot. Every hair on my body stood up, my knees wobbling as they carried me to a small sofa against the wall. “So, why were you coming here in the first place?”

If Malda thought less of me, it didn’t show on her face. “Lyov can’t do something as simple as a check in, so I was sent to find out what’s up. You’ve been here all day, right? I assume you found some juicy stuff you want to gossip about?”

A slight smirk stretched my lips at this as I nodded firmly.

She smiled. “Wanna get a head start on that bottle stashed in here somewhere?”

“The bookshelf.” Pointing absently across the office, I covered my face with my hands and flopped back to groan loudly. “I’m tired of this day. I’m tired of the drama. My head hurts…wah, wah, wah.”

“I know Sascha told you about me. I just wanna say that I don’t listen to anything unless you make a call or are in a curious situation. I’m not creeping on you two or anything. Honestly, I’m jealous of you.”

My head snapped up at this.

Malda was glancing at me over her shoulder. “Don’t tell anyone. I’m supposed to be a professional.”