Page 49 of Toxic Temptation
She spins toward the sound of destruction. “I have antiques all over this house. If they break anything?—”
“Those antiques were bought with Bratva money.Mymoney. Which makes them mine to take back. Mine to break.”
Her lip curls up even tighter, even nastier. “What exactly are you hoping to find?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a room full of pineapple.”
The color drains from her face.Good. She knows exactly what I’m talking about.
“Are you still obsessing over that stupid little flare-up?” She waves her hand dismissively. “That was weeks ago. Luka’s fine.”
“No thanks to you.”
“It was the nanny’s fault. I fired her.”
“Why was there pineapple in the house at all, Yana?” I step closer, close enough to see the panic flickering in her eyes. “You know your son could die from that shit.”
“So because he can’t eat it, I can’t, either? Ihor can’t?” Her voice gets shrill again. “I assumed the nanny would remember what her charge is allergic to.”
“Funny thing about that nanny.” I drop the apple core on her pristine marble floor. “I talked to her yesterday. Poor woman was a wreck. Felt so guilty about what happened to Luka.”
Yana goes very still.
“ … but she swore she was never told about his allergy.”
“She’s lying.” The words shoot out of her mouth too fast to be believed. “Of course she’s lying. What else is she going to say, that spineless bitch?”
“The woman has a perfect reputation. Came with the best references I’d ever seen. That’s why I hired her.”
Yana goes for a new tactic. Her nose rises as she sniffles imperiously. “Well, clearly, you hired wrong. Because of your decision, my son almost died.”
I want to laugh. Or spit in her face. Maybe both.
“Yes,yourson almost died,” I agree. “And it took you two days to come back from Cancun when you found out.”
Her spine straightens. “He was with you anyway.”
Osip appears in my peripheral vision, gesturing from the hallway entrance. I ignore Yana’s continued protests and walk over.
“We found drugs in the attic room,” he reports. “Weapons, too. All stacked up nice and neat.” He pauses. “Right next to a case of pineapple.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Wish I was. The drugs are the good stuff. Cocaine, ecstasy, LSD. Enough to supply half of San Francisco.”
I run my hand over my jaw. “Thanks. I’ll handle it from here.”
“Want me to stay and supervise? The ice queen looks ready to stab you with one of her fancy letter openers.”
“I’d love to see her try.”
Osip nods and disappears. I turn back to Yana, who’s watching me with murder in her eyes.
There was a time, years ago when Vitalii first brought her around, that I thought she was beautiful. Those silver eyes were striking. Her smile could make a man forget his own name.
Then she opened her mouth.
The spell died immediately.
