Chapter 57
Mila
Two Weeks Later…
The morning air is cooler as we get closer to fall. It’s nothing like the Russian autumn where I could wake up to ice as early as September.
This is a pleasant temperature. Perfect for enjoying a coffee with Nikolai on the balcony of the tiny bistro we found in the old section of Vegas.
Steaming espresso tickles my nose and helps warm the chill that sends goosebumps over my bare arms.
Nikolai narrows his eyes as he glances down at them before he pulls my chair closer. His hot palms move up and down from my shoulders, heating my skin. “I’m not sure why you have to be so stubborn sometimes,” he growls. “I love you even when you’re covered up. You don’t need to freeze to look amazing.”
I lean into his touch and press a kiss to the side of his throat. “I know. But, this shirt looks fabulous on me, and I don’t want to cover it up when we meet Elena’s teacher.” I don’t tell him, I want that bitch to see the scars and stop fucking with Elena.
Call me protective, I love that little girl.
He lets out a low laugh. “I’ll get you another coffee.” Pushing away from the table, he disappears into the main door.
Out of all of the shit that we’ve gone through, it’s strange that I’m so worked up over something as mundane as the teacher saying Elena “talks too much”.
There are worse things in the world.
A clicking sound makes me turn to watch an elderly woman with a stooped back hobbling closer. I give her a neutral polite smile when she catches me looking, then turn to my cup.
It’s a bit of a surprise when she slides into the seat next to me where Nikolai had sat just a moment before.
“Can I help you?” I try to hide the mild irritation at her gall.
“Oh, dear, goodness yes.” Her eyes crinkle heavily as she squints up at me. “You seem to have something that belongs to a very close friend.”
Her face makes her look in her late seventies, but the hand she pats mine with is that of a young woman.
My guard goes up immediately. “What do you want?” I hiss, glancing around.
Her fingers wrap around my wrist with surprising strength. “What I sent you to retrieve for me.” The woman’s voice flattens into the crooning husk I remember from just a few short weeks ago.
Tatiana.
But, how? Peering closer, I can just make out the edge of a quality mask obscuring her features. A gray wig covers her long locks of black hair.
Fuck. How did she find me here in Las Vegas of all places?
“I gave you the diamonds,” I say low enough that no one else can hear me.
She slowly nods without blinking. “Yes, but that was for rescuing you. I still need the information you were tasked to bring back to me.”
Wait.
“I’m confused. I gave it to your guy the morning we were captured.”
She leans away and inhales sharply. “Fuck,” she whispers.
The hard tip of her cane handle digs into my ribs as she moves closer. “You were told to give it to no one else.” Twisting the dull edge, she grinds into my side.
Panic starts to flood through me. She’s right. I broke the only rule she set in place.
Sweat trickles down my spine.
She turns, tilting her head toward the coffee shop.
“You have twenty four hours, or I’ll let slip to the wrong people where you are. I’ll find you on the Strip tomorrow.”
I don’t hear the cane as she moves away silently.
Frozen in fear, I’m staring at my empty cup when I feel Nikolai brush my leg.
“D’yavolitsa? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s wrong?” His warm palm runs up my arm, but it doesn’t bring me any peace.
My stomach twists. We just escaped from hell, I’m in no hurry to go back.
I’m tempted not to tell him.
“Mila. No secrets,” he growls.
“Tatiana was here,” I blurt.
“What? Where?” He sits up straighter and twists around in his chair.
I put my hand over his and tug him back to look at me. “She’s gone. She’s wearing a disguise.”
He narrows his eyes and peers into mine. “What does she want that makes you so pale?”
Grabbing the fresh cup of coffee, I wrap my fingers around it, suddenly chilled to the bone. “She wants the USB drive.”
Nikolai pauses, and his brows gather. “What? I thought you gave that to her already?”
I shake my head. “I gave it to one of her men.”
Panic starts to tinge my voice. “She told me not to! But, I did! I have twenty four hours. How do I get it back in only one day?” A sense of dread washes over me.
The situation is hopeless.
Nikolai grunts.
“Helpful,” I snap sarcastically.
“Careful. I’m not opposed to spanking you in public.” He pushes his lips close to my ear until the tingle of his breath warms my neck. “I know where we can get a copy of it.”
“What?” Doubt keeps me from getting too excited.
But, his smug smile tells me he knows something I don’t.
“You saw it? What was on it?” The fear is giving way to excitement.
I should have known he’d looked at it. And, to find out he duplicated it?
Even better.
He waves his hand and leans back against his chair. “Just some old dossier files.”
I recognize that smirk.
“Okay, lover. What do I have to do?” A fire ignites in my belly at the way he’s looking at me.
His broad palm works its way up my thigh until his fingers rub against the outside of my panties. “I think you’re going to have to taste me with those beautiful lips.”