Page 23 of Her Russian Master
Technically, he should have identified himself as an FBI agent first.Leo shouted it behind him, his weapon also drawn.But Yuri hoped to draw their fire, which would solidify the government’s case against the men and allow him to fire back.
Don Diego fired first.
Leo was still yelling for them to drop their weapons when the don fell to the floor with a bullet between his eyes.
Yuri moved his aim to Junior, and when he saw a gun in his hand instead of hands in the air, he took him out, too.
Leo dropped Freddo, but not before the asshole shot Yuri.A searing hole burned on his outer arm—just a flesh wound.Jesus, they were bad shots.It was no wonder they wanted Yuri to do all their dirty work.
Leo cursed as the FBI agents swarmed in, kicking guns away and checking pulses.“You didn’t eventryto take them in, did you?”
“Better this way.”
His mentor sighed.“Yeah.Probably so.”
Chapter 7
Lucy paced around the small, nondescript house in Long Beach.Her FBI guard, J.J., a scrawny, self-important geek with a gun, sat on the couch watching the television, which he’d turned to one of the Jason Bourne movies.
She examined the framed Degas print of a dancer putting on her shoes that hung on the wall.Who furnished these places, anyway?Was there an FBI decorator?Or was it the same person who decided what art went on hotel room walls?
She shuddered, remembering the hotel room from the night before.This was the second night she’d spend in captivity.Just a different kind this time.
A tap sounded at the door.The FBI agent leaped off the couch and drew his gun before looking out the peephole.He holstered the gun and opened the door.“I didn’t expect anyone,” he said to their visitor.
Yuri walked in, pocketing his badge.Like her, he still wore the same clothes as the night before.His light blue button-down shirt still draped perfectly across his muscled shoulders, making him look more like a GQ model than an undercover FBI agent/mafia hitman.
Or it would have, if it wasn’t splattered with blood.He wore a bandage around his biceps.His gaze swept around the room as if assessing danger, then settled on her.“Your brother’s been picked up.He’s in for questioning, but they should release him soon.”
She’d been ready to glare at him or give him the silent treatment, but the news took all the fire out of her.She exhaled, a warm wave of relief washing through her chest.Finally, an answer.“He’s okay?”
“Fine.”
“What about your, uh, associates?”
“Dead.”To his colleague, he said, “I’m taking night watch here.You can head out.”
The guy hesitated, glancing at her.“I don’t know,” he said slowly.“I didn’t hear anything about you coming over here.”
Neither had Lucy.She folded her arms across her chest.If Yuri thought he could waltz in here and claim to be her protector again, keep her under his thumb in a hotel room—safe house, whatever—he was dead wrong.
Yuri shrugged his shoulders and strolled through the room.“Call Leo.”He spoke in a bored voice, but she’d seen a tick in his jaw, like he’d rather beat his chest and tell the geek to get out or be thrown out.
Which meant Yuri hadn’t been sent by the FBI.He didn’t have any right to barge in and spend the night with her.And she definitely didn’t want him there.She wanted to forget he even existed.
But she knew no matter how she tried, that was an impossibility.And as J.J.pulled out his phone to call and check Yuri’s story, she realized she’d pick Yuri over him any day.What in the hell did that say about her?
J.J.said a few words into the phone and listened, then hung up and looked at her.“You okay staying with him?Because if you’re not comfortable, I won’t go anywhere.”
Yuri actually bared his teeth, but his gaze locked on her and she realized he was waiting for her answer with what appeared to be held breath.
She made him wait another beat.“Yeah, it’s cool.”
Yuri’s nostrils flared and he devoured her with a gaze that promised both reward and retribution.
They both stood perfectly still until J.J.left.
The moment the door closed, Yuri began to speak.“If I could have told you I was undercover, I would have,” he said, his thick accent painfully familiar, even after just one night together.It would almost be endearing if she wasn’t pissed at him.
