Chapter 12
Liza backsoff the terrace like my hair is on fire.
Fuck. Tonight didn’t go as planned.
I only meant to comfort her, but the way her breath became shallow, her lips parted, and her face flushed when she looked at me with those big green eyes, I knew I was in trouble. Common sense screamed at me to get the fuck off the terrace and lock myself in a bedroom with a bottle of whisky.
But did I listen? Nope.
She was scared and vulnerable, and instead of pushing her away, I did the exact opposite. I would have done a lot more if she didn’t come to her senses and scurry inside.
I pull out a cigarette and shove it between my lips, hoping the hit of nicotine will kill the lust pumping through my veins. I’ve been smoking too much lately, and I blame it squarely on Liza’s presence. It’s messing with my head.
Lord, the things this girl makes me feel. Desire is one thing, but I want to take care of her. Protect her and see her smile—the unguarded one where she looks truly happy, like she did in the bookstore.
When I’m back home, I’ll screw my head on straight. I’ll focus on work; the next Kozlov shipment is arriving soon, and I’m sure there’s a shitload of other issues for me to deal with. I’ll even volunteer for the next interrogation. A little violence should soothe my soul.
Taking my phone from my pocket, I dial the last number I called. Savin is one of my most reliable soldiers. He started with me a few years ago, but he’s smart and ruthless—a combination I’m fond of.
Savin picks up after the first ring and announces, “I just got here. Sofiya’s safely back in the dorm.”
“Looks like it was a misunderstanding. The kid forgot to charge her phone or something like that.”
He’s quiet for a minute, his hesitation out of character. “Not sure that’s the whole story.”
“Oh?” I blow out a smoke ring and wait for him to continue.
“I was able to hack into the school”s CCTV system to get a look at what happened. She got back to the dorms pretty late, but she wasn’t alone.” He pauses, weighing his next words. “Anatoly was with her. She seemed pretty unsteady on her feet.”
The hair on the back of my neck rises. “Unsteady how?”
“A few drinks too many.”
I hiss out a breath through my teeth. “That fucking pig. She’s seventeen.”
I know seventeen-year-olds experiment with alcohol, but it’s typically not with their much older soon-to-be brother-in-law. He was supposed to drive her back to school, not take her out drinking. What the fuck happened?
Anger bubbles in my veins. Either Liza doesn’t know the truth, or she decided not to share it with me.
“What do you want me to do, boss? Anatoly left about an hour ago. The nuns wouldn”t let him in the dorms,” Savin adds with a little chuckle.
The sick feeling morphs into something darker and twisted. It makes me see red.
This is the fuck-face I’m in business with? Worse, this is the man Liza is marrying?
“Stick around for a few days,” I instruct. “Keep an eye on her, and let me know if Anatoly shows up again.”
“You got it.”
“Savin?” I grit my teeth, not wanting to ask but needing to know. “Did he touch her in a way he shouldn’t have? Get handsy with her?”
He pauses. “No.”
Thank fuck.
As much as I’d like to destroy Anatoly, my hands are tied because of our business dealings. Don’t get me wrong—if he’s a predator, I”ll make sure he takes a trip down the River Styx. But I have to play it smart and lie in wait for the right moment to strike.