Page 24 of Her Russian Master
“Lucya—there were no lies between us.Only that one.”
She didn’t know why it hurt so much to look at him.Why her lips trembled to find herself the subject of his intense gaze again.She slapped his face.
Because, yeah.He didn’t get to kidnap her, whip her, fuck her, swear his undying obsession with her and then turn out to be an FBI agent.Her brain couldn’t piece all those parts together into anything that came out feeling right.
He didn’t move.Pain hollowed his eyes.The red prints of her fingers stood out on his cheek.“I’m sorry.For everything.I just wanted you to know that everything I said to you was true.I was Russianmafiya,and then got busted and turned.Put into this nest as an agent.Still playing the same role.You see?What I said about you giving me hope was real.”
She couldn’t figure out why her heart was bleeding, but she needed to harden it and get the fuck away from crazy Russians and drug-dealing dons.She took a half step back and firmed her expression.“Okay.But that means nothing to me.”
He sagged like she’d punched him.“Da.”He rubbed his forehead.“You said I could get free.Get us both free.Lucy, I have money—lots of it.From when I was in Russianmafiya.I set up Swiss bank account and funneled my income there.It’s been growing for last ten years.More than three million.I never had a reason to spend it.But with you—for you… we could go anywhere.Do anything.”
Her palm itched to slap him again.Was he insane?Yes, he totally was.She guessed that part wasn’t a lie, either.
“I can quit FBI.I owe them nothing—they’ve already taken what was left of my soul.You could do anything—open yoga studio, or your own nightclub.”
“Yuri, you can’tbuyme.”The scorn in her voice gave her strength.She gathered it around her.He was crazy and she’d be nuts to want to have anything to do with him.
Horror shaped his face.He shook his head.“Nyet.I’m not trying to buy you.Only offer what I have.To make amends.To give you opportunity, if you want it.Never mind.”
She swallowed hard around the band in her throat.“I already have a life and there isn’t a place in it for you.”
He staggered back like she’d stabbed him.
Cold washed through her, and a prickling, like she was making a huge mistake.But how could it be?“I’m sorry—”
“No.You are right.I don’t belong in your life.I’ve known that from the very beginning.Biggest favor I can do for you is to stay away.”He turned away, then stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out her phone.“Here.FBI screened it and downloaded data in case it’s needed as evidence.I deleted photos of you before they got it, though.”He set it on the table by the door.
Her phone rang and she looked at the screen.Jake.
A mixture of relief and anger flooded through her.She answered the call.“Jake?Where are you?”
“Just leaving the police department.Where are you?The feds say you don’t have to stay in the safe house now that they’ve confirmed the deaths of Don Diego and his guys.”
Yuri leftthe room to give her privacy and found himself standing in the middle of the room, staring at nothing.He wasn’t sure his heart even knew how to beat anymore.He’d never felt more dead.If he thought he’d lost his soul before, he’d been wrong.Now it had been fully rent from him, because he was nothing more than an empty shell.
Walk away.Leave her in peace.What seemed impossible a few hours ago now crystallized into resolve.Thank God she’d rejected him or he would have never let her go.
She came out and cleared her throat.“Jake’s going to come pick me up.”
“Great.”The word came out too quickly, sounded too stiff.
She found her purse and stuffed her phone in it.
He walked around the breakfast bar that separated the tiny kitchen from the living room and searched the cabinets.“Are you hungry?”
“No.”She drew a breath.“Yuri—”
“Don’t.”Whatever it was, he didn’t want to hear it.The sooner they ended this, the better.
She smacked the counter between them.“You don’t get to sulk, okay?You—”
He whirled around, cutting her off, because he sensed she was winding up for a tirade and he was already about to crumble.“No.I don’t sulk.You are right—this is best.”He walked swiftly back around the island and gripped her upper arms.“I should not have come here tonight.I’m sorry.I’m sorry for what I’ve done to you.Sorry for it all.”Breathing her scent was too much for him and he released her, turning abruptly away and walking to the window.“Sorry not sorry,” he admitted in a mutter.
She emitted a choked laugh.“What did you say?”
“Not sorry I got to touch you.Be near you.Fuck your hot little pussy.Not sorry for me.But sorry for you.”
Another incredulous bark of laughter.“Crazy fucking Russian.”
