Page 53 of Eternal
She flicks ash off her cigarette, her gaze never leaving mine. “Twenty-five.”
I laugh, the sound almost too easy. “With all that attitude...” I whisper. “You’re barely out of diapers, remember that.”
A small chuckle escapes her lips, “Still the one who gave you that busted lip.”
“I don’t mind the scars if you’re the reason behind it, partner.”
She laughs and takes another drag, her lips parting slightly as she exhales the smoke in a thin, sharp stream. “At least you’ve got some stories to tell, right?”
I glance at her, my lips curling into a smirk. “Plenty. Experience gave me lots of skills.”
She chuckles, the sound playful but edged with something else. “Maybe one day you’ll share them. If I can’t get you to talk, I’ll make you.” She lets the words linger in the air for a moment before letting out a breath, and then she drops the next question. “Why’d you go to prison?”
I don’t flinch. I don’t even hesitate, I’ve gotten used to people asking, only taking off some details she doesn't need to know.
“I didn’t get caught,” I say, but my tone makes it clear I’m not giving her the full story.
Her eyes don’t leave mine. “Why Russia, why not here?”
I take another drag, letting the cigarette burn between my fingers. “Why not Russia?”
She raises an eyebrow. “Not everyone gets into the Bratva for fun. You had a reason.”
I shift, but she’s already looking at me like she knows I’m lying. It’s not even about the words, it’s the way she reads everything else, my hands, the way I sit, the way I avoid certain details.
Smart girl.
Her eyes flicker to the dogs for a moment, she can’t stop the edge of irritation from creeping into her voice now. “Nice try,” she says. “But if you want to keep sitting here with me, you better be a hell of a lot more honest.”
I smile, but it’s not because I want to. It’s because the way she looks at me, the challenge, the defiance in her gaze, it’s fucking turning me on. But why?
She leans forward slightly, one leg tucked underneath her, and the scent of her skin mixes with the smoke. She’s stillwaiting for an answer, the kind of answer she knows I’m not going to give her.
I don’t need to say anything else, my smile speaks louder than any words. “Want to know more about me?” I ask, my voice quiet.
She leans back again, dragging on the cigarette. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just bored...”
She shifts again, the dogs curling closer to her, and for a second, I’m not sure if it’s the dogs, or me, or the weight of this conversation that’s making my heart soft enough to smile.Genuinelysmile.
They act as if they've known her affection all their lives, and she smiles, giving them a pat and playing with them.
I want to know more about her, I want to know all her secrets, the ones she’s hiding under that tough exterior. The one behind her identity, the one behind her scar too. But I know better than to push her too hard. She’s not like the others I had to stop before, she’s smarter than that.
And I’m not the kind of man who gets caught up in things, not anymore, but right now, I think I might be.
I watch her rise, her body moving with that confident, effortless grace. She flicks her cigarette butt into the ground and grinds it out under her heel. Her eyes find mine one last time, and the damn smile never leaves her face.
“Thanks for answering, but I still don’t like you,” she says, her voice smooth, like it’s nothing but a passing thought.
I tilt my head, giving her a small smirk. “Anything for my partner,” I reply, watching her closely.
She doesn’t miss a beat, her tone turning sly as she starts to walk away, her movements almost provocative.
“Stop looking at my ass,” she says over her shoulder. “It’s inappropriate for two business partners, don’t you think?”
I pause for a moment, holding back a chuckle, but I’m already getting lost in the sway of her hips. She’s got this power over me I can't quite explain, it’s infuriating and magnetic at the same time. “Got to make sure you enter the venue safely.”
She doesn’t look back, but I catch the subtle curve of her smile before she slips inside, leaving me alone craving her presence already.
