Page 125 of Toxic Temptation
Fuck.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
I hang up, turn my back on Ihor, and sprint for my car.
The twenty-five-minute drive to St. Raphael’s takes me nine minutes and costs me six horrified pedestrians, three dead pigeons, and probably a few years off my life. But when I see Vesper standing in the parking lot with Pavel’s arm around her shoulders, every reckless second was worth it.
She’s safe. She’s whole. She’s?—
Leaning into my brother’s chest like he’s her shelter from the storm.
I know Pavel. I trust him with my life, with hers. But that doesn’t stop the primitive urge to rip his arm away from her and remind everyone in this parking lot exactly who she belongs to.
Even if it’s all pretend.
“Vesper.”
She looks up at the sound of my voice, and for just a moment, her face transforms. Relief. Happiness. And?—
Then she remembers where we are, who’s watching, and her walls slam back into place.
She leaves Pavel’s side and comes to me. I can’t help myself—my hands find her face, thumbs tracing the delicate line of her jaw. I need to touch her, need to confirm she’s really okay.
“Are you hurt?”
“No. I was never in any danger.”
“You might have been if you’d interrupted whoever did this,” Eliza Murphy interjects from her position near the crime scene.
I pull Vesper closer, wrap my arm around her waist. She fits against me perfectly, and I have to remind myself this is all for show.
“This was random,” I tell Eliza with confidence I don’t entirely feel. “Vesper is a respected doctor. She’s one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet.” Vesper stiffens against me, and I wonder if my praise sounds as hollow to her as it does to me. “No one has a personal vendetta against her. Wrong place, wrong time. That’s all.”
Eliza seems unconvinced. She makes a note on her clipboard. “I called the police. They’ll determine if this was targeted.”
“Good thinking.” We can’t appear suspicious of law enforcement, but having cops sniffing around our business is the last thing I need. “What brings you here, Ms. Murphy?”
“I came to speak with Vesper’s supervisor. Character reference for the custody evaluation.” She glances toward the approaching police car. “But this seems like poor timing. I’ll reschedule.” She doesn’t wait for an answer. She just sniffles primly, gets in her car, and leaves.
The moment her red Beetle disappears from the lot, I’m moving. “Pavel, handle the cops. I’m taking Vesper home.”
“Home?” Vesper digs her heels in. “Don’t we need to give statements? Follow procedure?”
“We don’t have to do anything we don’t want to do.”
Her eyes widen as I guide her toward my SUV. “That’s not how the world works. There are rules?—”
“I’m Kovan fucking Krayev.” I open her door and wait for her to look at me. “Rules don’t apply to me. And by extension, they don’t apply to you anymore, either.”
She hesitates for just a moment, and I can see the war playing out behind her eyes. The good girl who follows rules versus the woman who’s tired of being pushed around.
Finally, she gets in the car.
And for the first time since I got the call, I allow myself to breathe.
43
KOVAN
