16. Danil
16
DANIL
Somehow, I manage to make one whiskey last over an hour.
I’m desperate for another glass to numb myself, but I need to keep a clear head. After all, I'm keeping Emily safe, whether she likes it or not.
I wish more than anything that I could be the one sitting across from her at the table. The last time we had any real alone time was when I was babysitting the twins, and we shared that kiss in the kitchen.
Why did my brother have to come in at that exact moment? Perhaps if we hadn’t been interrupted, I could have finally told her how I really feel.
Instead, I jumped away from her like my fucking feet were on fire.
So here we are, sitting at separate tables like we’re strangers.
Look at me, Emily.
I try to catch her eye, but she’s purposefully not looking at me. I can only see the side of her face, but I can tell she’s pissed that I’m here.
It’s a good job I decided to ignore her request of leaving her the hell alone and handing her over to Alek.
It’s not that I don’t trust the guy. He’s worked for my brothers and me for years, but with Emily Mullens, no one is good enough to take care of her except for me.
The look on her face when she noticed I was sitting at the next table was like having a bucket of cold water thrown over me. She’s never looked at me like that, and I hope she never will again.
Though from how angry she sounds as she explains our situation to Jana, it’s clear she’s not going to get over my betrayal quickly. And I wouldn’t want her to.
I fucked up, and I deserve to get the cold shoulder. At least until I can prove to her I’ve earned a second chance.
Until she gives that to me, I’m going to drown my own sorrows in a cheap glass of whiskey and try to catch the rest of their conversation. It’s clear they’re talking about me from the way they suddenly lower their voices.
I’m tempted to bribe one of the waiting staff to turn down the god-awful operatic style music that is playing because I’m only catching every third word that Emily and Jana share.
Are they talking about the kiss?
Is Emily admitting to Jana what it meant to her?
Fuck, I wish I could hear them, but the damn speaker is right above my head, and if I moved to another table, I would be even further away from them.
I can’t imagine what the rest of the diners in this restaurant must think of me, sitting here alone, constantly glancing over at the beautiful blonde at the next table. I’m no better than a love-sick puppy, pining after the woman who won’t give me the time of day.
But I get it. I betrayed Emily’s trust, and now she just needs some time to process her feelings.
When she’s ready to listen, I’m determined to prove to her that the connection that has been deepening between us is real.
I cave and order another whiskey while the girls enjoy their dessert. This dinner is never-ending and from the amount of wine being consumed by Emily, I’m sure that she’s trying to numb her own feelings.
Maybe having a little alcohol in our systems might not be such a bad thing. It might make her more willing to listen to me.
Eventually, Jana asks for the bill, and I reach into my pocket for my wallet.
I feel bad for taking up a table to myself for hours and not ordering any food, so I throw a handful of bills onto the table to make up for it.
I wait until the girls reach the entrance to the restaurant before I get to my feet.
As much as I want to take off after Emily and demand she talk to me, the last thing I need is for one of the waiting staff to call the cops on me.
The restaurant is jam-packed, with a bunch of people waiting to be seated as well as delivery workers coming to collect takeout orders, so it takes what feels like hours to make it to the exit.
By the time the warm evening air hits my face, Jana has already left, and Emily is walking along the sidewalk, alone.
I grind my teeth.
Could Jana not have suggested walking with her? She clearly knows what’s going on, yet she left her friend alone when she has a target on her back.
And where the hell is Alek? He was meant to be waiting outside the restaurant, but there’s no sign of the blacked-out Range Rover anywhere.
Now I’m fucking pissed.
Maybe the second whiskey wasn’t such a good idea after all…
I take off at a run, trying to catch up to Emily, which is easier said than done, given how busy the streets are. I’d usually keep a respectable distance between us, but not tonight.
Horns are blaring and music streams out of every restaurant I pass, and it would be so easy to lose sight of Emily in this crowd, so I quicken my pace.
I don’t stop until I’m right behind her, and I catch a waft of her perfume in the air.
A groan spills from my lips before I can stop myself, and it seems Emily heard as she comes to an abrupt halt, and I almost walk into her.
She glowers over her shoulder at me. “Seriously, Danil. Can you back up?”
She’s standing so close to me I could literally wrap my arm around her waist and pull her back against me.
“Why? I’m literally protecting you right now.” I subtly reach down to adjust myself.
“I don’t need you to protect me. I have Alek.”
“I don’t see him anywhere, do you? Besides, Alek is here to drive you around.”
“So, you’re telling me he’s not carrying any sort of weapon on him? That if I was attacked, he would stand around and do nothing?”
“Oh, I’m sure he has a weapon on him.” The joke is intended to form a crack in Emily’s icy exterior, but it appears to have the opposite effect.
“I don’t want you anywhere near me, Danil. I thought I made that perfectly clear.”
Her words cut me like a knife, but the way she turns her back on me and walks away hurts even more.
Regardless of how we truly feel about each other, I thought she would want to fight harder for our friendship.
Could I really have been so wrong about all of it?
“I’m sorry, I just…”
“You just what ?” She whirls around to face me.
Her green eyes are cold, and she folds her arms over her chest like she’s trying to physically shield herself from me.
I’m losing her.
“I guess…” I stuff my hands in my pockets and try my best to meet her eyes. “I’m just a little confused after the way you kissed me the other day.”
Emily blinks. “Are you being serious right now?”
“Yes.”
She throws her hands up and shakes her head. “But you’re the one who kissed me!”
She’s one hundred percent right. I kissed her. But at least I’ve got her talking to me.
Sure, there are other places I would rather have this conversation than the sidewalk outside a busy New York restaurant, but I’m not about to let this opportunity slide.
If she would just hear me out, we might have a chance at coming back from this.
I can’t lose hope. Emily is everything to me, and I’m not going to go down without fighting for her.
I shrug. “I’m not so sure about that.”
Emily bows her head so that her blonde hair falls forward as her gaze lowers to the ground.
“Does it even matter? I’m sure it was just part of your plan to keep me close so that your big brother would tell you what a great job you’re doing.” Her voice is barely above a whisper.
She’s still trying to play the brother card?
“I’m getting tired of you thinking that I only kissed you to somehow prove myself to my brothers. How would kissing you put me in my brothers’ good books? If anything, if Dimitri found out, he would have my balls.”
“Can you really blame me for thinking that?”
“I’m not some fucking puppet, Emily.”
“You sure act like one.”
I grind my teeth to stop myself from saying something stupid.
What is she trying to achieve here? Does she want me to kiss her again is that it? Because the blazing look she’s giving me right now is making me want to sink my fingers into her golden hair and show her just how real that kiss was.
I step closer to her. “Do you need me to prove it? Because I’ll kiss you again, Emily. Right here. Right now.”
Her plump lips part, and something like arousal flashes in her eyes.
There she is .
My gaze flick to her lips. “Is that what you want, malishka ? Do you want me to prove that the kiss was real?”
She doesn’t deny it, so I take another step closer.
There’s barely any distance left between us, and it would take nothing to lean in and quickly brush my lips against hers.
But that wouldn’t be enough.
The way I want to kiss Emily would likely have us both arrested for public indecency. But I’d happily spend the night in jail if it meant I could show Emily how I truly feel about her.
“Danil…” Her eyes flick to my lips.
“What do you want, Emily?” My voice is hoarse as I try to ignore how all the blood in my body is flooding to my cock.
Her eyebrows pull together in a frown, and my restraint almost snaps.
Don’t pull away.
“I—”
A silver SUV makes its way through the sea of cabs.
“What the fuck?”
I remember seeing one very similar parked in the campus lot earlier when Alek was picking Emily up, so I clocked the number plate like I usually do because you can never be too careful.
Her eyes widen. “What’s wrong?”
I don’t miss the way she moves closer to me as she stares around at the sea of cars.
My eyes scan the number plate of the SUV, and my stomach bottoms out.
It’s the same car.
It could just be a coincidence, but I’m not willing to take that chance.
“We need to go, now .” I take her by the hand and lead her in the opposite direction.
“Danil, what the hell is going on?”
The truth is, I’m not sure. But after the close call that Emily had with Isaak, I’m not willing to take any chances. I need to get Emily back to Dimitri’s place now .
“Where the hell is Alek?”
“I-I think he’s around there.” Emily points to the right. “Is someone following us?”
“Just keep walking.”
“Danil.”
“I just need to get you to the car.” I soften my tone as I squeeze her hand.
It’s hard to walk the line between not wanting to terrify Emily, but also not wanting to lie to her about the severity of the situation. Not that I would ever let Igor Ivanov get close enough to even breathe on her, but I want her to be prepared, nonetheless.
A pair of headlights flashes at us up ahead.
It’s Alek.
“Thank fuck.” I tighten my hold on Emily’s hand.
It feels so small and warm in my own, and I never want to let it go.
When we reach the car, I quickly open the back passenger door.
Emily looks terrified, but she doesn’t fight me as I help her into the car.
Alek hesitates to get out of the car. “Danil? What’s going on?”
I buckle Emily in. “Take us to Dimitri’s place. Now.”
Emily looks at me. “Danil, you can go. I’m fine now.”
I stare deep into Emily’s green eyes and feel the pull of the invisible string that keeps me tethered to her.
“When are you going to realize that I’m not going anywhere?”