Page 59 of Eternal
My gaze falls on a photo of her with Viktor.
There’s another one of her playing with the dogs. I stop, lingering on it longer than I should, trying to decipher her.
I turn away, pulling my black jacket from the wardrobe.
Focus. She’s a job. Nothing more.
But as I slip my arms into the sleeves, I catch myself thinking about her.Again. The way her laugh sounded at the party, the way her smile made something in me burn.
I don’t care about her smile. Ican’tcare about her smile.
This is business.Mybusiness.
And yet, there’s a stupid obsession I didn’t see coming. The last thing I need is to care about her.
I sit down, grabbing the coffee I left on the table, but it doesn’t warm me, nothing does anymore. My eyes shift back to the wall, to the photos pinned there.
There’s a photo of her from the party, a candid shot of her looking over her shoulder at someone, or something. The way her jawline catches the light, strong and scarred, makes my throat tighten.
What’s that scar from?
I should’ve known she’d make me obsessed.
There’s something irritating about not knowing her name. I gave her mine, I gifted her my identity, and she hasn’t given me a damn thing in return.
Fucking maddening.
Katarina and Viktor call herKroshkaorVishawhen they’re in public.
Nicknames.
Nothing real. They guard her secrets like they guard their own lives.
What’s your real name, partner?
She doesn’t trust anyone enough to tell them.
I should leave, get on with the mission, but the photo catches me again before I head out, the one from the party. Her gaze in it feels almost... aware.
Like she knew I was watching, even when I shouldn’t have been. Maybe she liked it, maybe my sweet partner liked my eyes on her. A smile tugs at my lips,amused.
She never caught me taking that picture, but somehow, I think she knew.
I glance at the clock.Time to go.
Grabbing my keys, I head to the bike and start it up. The Mission is clear, and the plan is simple.
But as I rev the engine and pull out into the street, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m about to walk into something much more complicated than I’m prepared for.
My sweet partner.
18
DAMIR
“West Coast” by Lana Del Rey
Present
