Page 54 of The Enemy's Defector
He slid into the backseat and watched me get in as Nik went to get in the driver’s seat. The soldier kept a big gap between us as he frowned at me. “You shot your men.”
I rolled my eyes.So, this is how it’s going to be…“No, I didn’t. Those men weren’tmine.”
“She’s no longer a Kozlov,” Nik reminded him as he started the car and drove. “You saw. You were right there as I married her.”
“But—”
“I was born a Kozlov,” I said, wondering how many times I’d need to make this case to win the Ivanov organization’s trust. “But my ‘family’ ended when my father was killed and my uncle took over.” Setting my backpack on the floor, I reached in for a shirt. “Here.” I handed it to him and indicated for him to compress the wound.
“You’re serious about this?” the soldier asked, facing Nik via the mirror instead of me as he used my shirt on his injury.
“Yes,” Nik replied. “Katerina is my wife.”
“Does Maxim know about this?” he asked, glancing at me.
“He will in about ten minutes,” Nik replied, smiling at me for a second before paying attention to the road.
He was glad.
But his smile wasn’t infectious this time.
I was too nervous to smile back.
It had been many, many years since I’d been to the Ivanovs’ building. When my father was alive, he brought me along with him when he visited. I’d had lunch with Anastasia. I played hide-and-seek with the boys. I had been welcomed then, but I doubted I would be now.
Per this soldier’s reaction, I prepared myself for a lot of doubt, many questions, and severe moods about my entrance to their family. All because of my uncle, I was prejudiced as the enemy.
So far, the news of my marriage to Nik wasn’t being received that well. An ambush and shootout to stop the wedding from happening had to be the ultimate sign of misfortune. It left me feeling unsettled, so by the time the car pulled past the gates and Nik drove into the circle at the back of the property, I felt like I’d throw up.
“Relax,” Nik advised once he’d parked and got out to open the back door for me.
“Easier said than done,” I quipped.
He took my hand, leading me into the building. “You know my brothers. They’ll fall in line.”
I didn’t reply at first, too scared to speak up as he brought me into his home. Sure, I knew his family. But it was from long ago. Anton had changed everything.
Maxim looked the same as I remembered. He must have heard from the soldiers that Nik was marrying me or that we’d been ambushed. As he strode toward us through the massive foyer on the first floor, he was as stern and serious as ever. Since taking over as the Ivanov boss, stepping in as thePakhanwhile Grigory recovered from his poisoning, he seemed to have aged years. Responsibility could do that to a person. It seemed like I hadn’t just seen Maxim a few months ago at that wedding we’d both been guests to.
“Nik,” he greeted, focusing on his brother first.
I stepped aside, letting them have a moment as they hugged and patted each other’s back.
“Finally decide to come home, huh?” Maxim joked wryly. It shouldn’t have been possible to almost joke about Nik not being here. He’d been kidnapped. But of course his brothers would understand and respect that Nik had wanted to stay captured all so he could be the spy he was born to be and collect as much intel as possible. I had no doubt they’d all been worried about him, but it showed a huge leap of faith that Maxim had for Nik in that helethim stay away, too.
“I didn’t decide,” Nik replied, stepping back and taking my hand. “A certain someone got worried that I had to be freed.”
I stood tall, not flinching as Maxim studied me. I didn’t react when Damon entered the foyer, too. I knew they’d want to size me up and determine their judgments of me.
“And with a plus-one,” Maxim said coolly, eyeing me as Damon and Nik were reunited, greeted with hugs and happiness.
“A permanent plus-one,” Nik said as he took my hand again.
I cleared my throat and arched a brow.
“Okay. Plus-two.”
Damon and Maxim reacted to that. Both raised their brows and glanced at each other, clearly surprised.
