Page 49 of Eternal
“Noted,” Vik says, tipping his glass toward me in a mock toast.
Katarina smirks, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “You’re going to have so much fun with this.”
I shoot her a dark look. “If by ‘fun,’ you mean a nightmare, then yeah, lots of it.”
She raises her glass in a mock salute. “Cheers to that.”
Vik chuckles too. “Calm down,Kroshka. Or at least don’t kill him before the first mission.”
I glance back at Damir one last time, my mind already racing with questions. He’s still smiling, and I hate how it makes me feel off balance, like he’s already inside my head.
This is going to be a disaster
I can’t help it, I turn back to Vik, arms uncrossed now, tension coiling in my chest. “How did you even find him?”
Vik looks almost too amused for my liking. “Lev suggested it to me, but it was my call. I know you better than you think.”
I scoff, glancing over at Damir again. “The guy looks like he’s too busy sizing me up to care about balance.”
Vik’s grin is subtle, but it’s there. “I’m kinda scared for him.”
“As you should.” I make a face, thinking about it. “And what makes him qualified to be my partner? Why him?”
“Like I said, he’s the best sniper we’ve got. He served in Russia for our team before he disappeared. After his release from prison, we didn’t hear from him for a while. He came back a few weeks ago, and Lev reintroduced him to me. Damir’s got a reputation. He doesn't get caught up in emotion. That’s what you need, especially when you’re... triggered by things.”
Triggered. I fucking hate that word, but it’s not wrong.
I’m not triggered, though. It’s just that my killing depends on who’s in front of me. I’m not detached. I feel it all, rage, hatred.
Kat’s whisper slithers through my mind, “If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll finally get you a man.”
I shove her lightly, but there's a flicker of irritation in my chest. “You really need to stop trying to get me into other people’s beds to keep me out of yours.”
Vik, still pretending not to listen, chuckles. “No need to say it out loud.”
Kat flashes a grin, her eyes gleaming. “She means that in the most normal way possible. Like watching TV shows. Totally platonic.”
I shoot her a glare. “It’s relaxing.”
Vik raises an eyebrow. “Is that why you’re always holed up in that room on weekends?”
“Obviously,” Kat and I replied in unison.
“I need to stop working so damn late and join you for those stupid shows,” Vik says, tossing back his drink in one go. “I need a distraction. Work’s getting under my skin, exactly like Damir’s getting under Azra’s.”
“You’re an idiot,” I say, smiling at him.
Vik laughs truly amused. “You’re so easy to piss off, I love that about you,Kroshka. It’s always so fucking fun.”
I glance back at Vik and Kat, shaking my head. “This is gonna be a nightmare.”
Kat smirks, clearly enjoying herself. “You’re way too negative. It’s gonna be hilarious watching you try to interact with a man.”
“Katarina, stop laughing.”
But she’s already heading out with Vik, both of them cracking up like this is the best thing they’ve heard all night.
Fuck,I really don’t like that.
