Page 76 of Blood & Snow
A burst of laughter draws my attention to a cluster of younger soldiers near the bar.
Taras Rakitin holds an audience captive, telling some story that has them grinning.
He's twenty-eight and hungry, the type who thinks nothing bad will ever befall him.
His eyes meet mine across the room, and he says something to the men around him.
They all turn to look at Nadya.
My jaw tightens.
"Excuse me," I tell Igor, then lean down to Nadya's ear. "Stay here."
She nods, and I cross the room toward Taras's group.
The conversations around me quiet as people notice my movement.
In our world, body language speaks louder than words, and mine is saying plenty right now.
"Taras."
I stop just inside their circle.
"Xander."
He grins, showing too many teeth.
"We were just admiring your… assistant."
The pause before "assistant" tells me everything I need to know about what they were actually saying.
"Is that right?"
"She's very… thorough, I hear. I'd love to have her clean something for me."
His friends snicker.
The sound grates against my nerves until all I can hear is white noise.
I move fast.
My hand closes around the back of Taras's neck, and I slam his face down onto the polished wood of the side table.
Bottles rattle.
His champagne glass shatters against the floor.
The room goes dead quiet.
"Repeat what you just said."
My voice carries in the sudden stillness.
Taras tries to lift his head, but I press down harder.
Blood trickles from his nose onto the table.
"I didn't mean?—"
