Page 58 of Toxic Salvation
“Give me my hands back!”
I perch on the edge of my desk, settling in to enjoy the show. “You’re just observing, remember? You don’t need your hands for that.”
“Oh, yes, I do. There’s something very important I need to do while I observe you.”
I nod sagely. “I understand that you can’t control yourself when you’re around me, Vesper, but masturbating while I work seems inappropriate for the office environment.”
“That’s not—” She stops mid-denial, her face turning an even deeper shade of red. “When I get my hands free, I’m going to murder you.”
“Then who’s going to protect you and the baby?”
“Waylen.”
“Waylen’s about as useful as a sack of potatoes. No, worse—at least potatoes have nutritional value.”
“You’re an ass.”
“And you, my little spy, are in over your head.” I cross my arms, studying her. “Stop stalking me, stop trying to conduct surveillance on me, stop compromising your health by playing private investigator. Just stay home with your sick mother and let me handle the dangerous stuff.”
“You want me to stop?”
“That would be great.”
“Then how about you return the favor?” She tugs at her restraints again. “You want me to stop following you around? Tell your men to back off. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice all the extra security you’ve assigned to me?”
“I should have known those idiots couldn’t be subtle to save their lives.”
“You keep saying you want to protect me, but sometimes, it feels like I’m your prisoner.”
“That’s not my intention.” I scrub my palm across my face, suddenly feeling exhausted. “Things are just precarious right now.”
“What does that even mean?” Her frustration boils over. “You speak in riddles and half-truths without actually explaining anything useful!” She yanks at the belt again, but Italian leather doesn’t give easily.
“I’d just relax if I were you.” I spin around and walk back to my desk. “Otherwise, it’s going to be a very long couple of hours.”
The door opens and Osip and Pavel walk in, matching grins on their faces. “Is there a party in here we weren’t invited to?” Osip’s eyes dance with amusement. “Vesper! What a pleasant surprise running into you here.”
“Osip! Pavel!” She cranes her neck toward them desperately. “Get this thing off me.”
Pavel winces, obviously feeling guilty about having to refuse her. But Osip just chuckles harder. “V, I love you like a sister, but do I look stupid to you?”
She glares at me, then at both of them. “So you’re just going to stand there and do nothing? What kind of men are you?”
“Men who know their place,” I answer calmly, settling into my chair. “It’s time you learned yours.”
Vesper’s eyes flash with pure fury, but she’s trapped and she knows it. Good. Maybe now she’ll think twice before trying to play spy games in my world.
“This isn’t over,” she mutters.
“No,” I agree, turning on my computer. “It’s just getting started.”
21
VESPER
“You motherfuckers! You assholes! You bastards! You shit-eating, herpes-ridden douche bags!”
Pavel’s head snaps from me to Kovan like he can’t believe what’s coming out of my mouth. Osip, on the other hand, looks impressed. Right up until that last insult.
