Page 245 of Eternal
His posture is quiet, but military.Strange.
The Don looks at me with that amused tone he always carries. “I told you someone was assigned to you from the Bureau.”
I glance at the man, who’s giving me a half-smile like we’re old friends.
He extends a hand. “Nice to finally meet you.”
I shake it, firm, dry, and professional, but his eyes linger on my face.
The Don gives him a light pat on the shoulder, then to me. “He’s the one who handles your trail, especially international work. If your face slips, he makes sure it disappears.”
Zanae leans close to my ear, and whispers. “He’s smiling at you, you know.”
“I noticed.”
The Don waves a hand. “We’ll leave you two to talk. Try not to kill each other.”
They step away with a bit too much satisfaction. I turn to the man still standing beside me.
“So you clean up my mess?”
He grins. “Only when you leave one.”
“You make it sound like I’m sloppy.”
“On the contrary,” he says. “You’re efficient. Just... visible.Sometimes.”
I raise my glass. “Well. Thanks for the eraser work.”
He chuckles, lifting his hand to his hair. “You're more popular than you think, Voron. Even inside the Bureau.” Then he hesitates, for a small second. “You're even more stunning in real life.”
I narrow my eyes, sipping slowly. “You’ve seen the crime scenes, so don’t bother, I kill men for fun.”
His smirk returns, less flirting, more challenging. “You’re the one flirting.”
I roll my eyes, swat his shoulder lightly. “Not my type…”
I trail off, but notices, and he holds out his hand again, this time more casual. “Alexander.”
I take it briefly, then let go with a crooked smile.
“Still not my type,Alexander.”
I walk off before I can think twice, threading through the crowd, until I find the bar tucked into the far corner of the room.
The bartender doesn’t even ask, just slides me another of what I’ve been drinking. I take it, sip slow, and lean against the counter, letting the low hum of the room blur in the background.
Then, something made me move, flinch almost.
That pull in my stomach like something’s about to go wrong, that heat on my back, not a touch, but more of a presence, a familiar one.
I know it before I hear it.
That voice, comfortable,unwelcome.
“Green suits you perfectly,partner.”
My fingers tighten around the glass.
