“Well. How about you?”
He has the same sexy accent as the other men in the family, and he’s technically single, but I know we’ll never be interested in each other.
“Same. It’s nice to be back around family for a few days.”
He glances down at me before going back to surveilling the area. Does he know something? Does the family?
I don’t know all the ins and outs of the bratva, but I know my sister married into the ruling family. She’s Elodie’s equivalent. Anton is super senior but not quite the same as Maks and his brothers. He’s like a big toe’s length below them. Same withSergei. I know both Sergei and Anton are talented hackers, so it makes me think at least one of them gathers the family’s intel. Have they been watching me? Digging into my life?
Paranoid much?
We reach the women’s restroom, and Anton knocks. We hear no one, so he pushes the door open. All the stall doors are ajar, and there are no visible feet within. Anton nods and backs up, letting the door close behind him. The moment it shuts, the first stall door opens wider.
I glance over my shoulder at where Anton must be on the other side of the door.
“Javier.” My voice comes out a hiss.
“Madeline—sorry, Caitlyn—it’s good to see you again.”
I refuse to flinch. My gaze locks with his, and I’m as defiant as ever. I’m unprepared for him to step forward and grab my forearm. His hold is surprisingly gentle, but he tows me behind him into the disabled stall.
“I’ll scream.”
“No, you won’t. You would have already. You didn’t want the attention at the hotel, and you hate having it here. What the hell, Maddy?”
“Madeline.”
“Caity.”
I practically snarl at him. He knows I hate having my name shortened. Nobody does it.
“I don’t care what name you go by. You will tell me what the hell is going on.”
He snags my other arm and lifts them both between us. He turns them over as he looks at my wrists. He spins me around—and frisks me! Except I know he’s not patting me down for weapons. He keeps the pressure light, and he’s respectful in how he touches me. But I shy away from his hand when it glides over my kidney.
He takes a step closer to me, and I feel the heat from his body across my back. He doesn’t exactly cage me. I could slip out from between the wall and him—if he let me.
“Who hurt you, Maddy?” His tone’s softer—gentler.
If I lie, he’ll know, so I remain silent.
“I’m not a cop.”
I snort.
“So, I won’t Miranda you. Youdon’thave the right to remain silent. You will answer me.”
I twist to see him. Our gazes meet yet again, and I see the arrogance I’ve always known. But there’s genuine concern there. He’s worried about me. There’s certainly an ulterior motive, but some of it really is about me. When I shift to face him, he leans back enough to let me. We’re still standing so close, we’re practically touching. Nothing about him scares me like it would with any other man his size or Drew’s.
“Tell me who. Let me help you.”
“Why?”
His eyes narrow.
“I amnotmy cousin. I’ve done things worse than you can imagine, but I’ve never laid hands on a woman out of anger or violence. I haveneverhurt you. Just the opposite, and you know it.”
“And you promised never, ever to bring that up.”
