“Behave yourself,” I tease, injecting just enough playfulness in my voice. “Save some energy for later.”
“Later?”
“You promised to show me the lake. I’m hoping that might involve skinny dipping.”
His eyes go dark with interest, and he smirks. “I like the way you think.”
“Good. Give me a few minutes to make myself presentable.”
In the bathroom, I strip out of my running clothes and study my reflection in the full-length mirror. It doesn’t show a wife; it shows a weapon. Lean muscle. Scars that only come from combat.
My thumb finds the crescent moon on my wrist. I press it like a bruise, something I’m supposed to remember.
The shower gives me time to think without Dmitri watching my every reaction. If I am a government operative, there should be protocols for situations like this.
People looking for me. Extraction procedures.
If those people existed, wouldn’t they have found me by now? Dmitri’s security is good, but it’s not impenetrable. A determined government agency should be able to locate one of its missing operatives.
Unless they don’t want to find me.
The possibility that I’ve been abandoned or burned by my own agency adds another layer to an already impossible situation. If my own people have written me off, then Dmitri might be the only person standing between me and whoever wants me dead.
Or he might be working with them.
22
Dmitri
Lake water clings to her skin as I pull her close. She feels too good to let go.
“You’re drenching me,” I growl.
“You threw me in first,” she shoots back, still laughing. “Didn’t you say you wanted to cool off?”
“That was before you started torturing me and swimming off every time I got close.”
“I wanted you to chase me.”
I fist her wet hair and tilt her head back. “Mission accomplished.”
Gravel crunches and destroys the moment before it even starts. I groan as a black sedan snakes down the drive. I wasn’t expecting company.
“Who the hell is that?” Katya mutters, snatching for the towel.
“Pavel.” I yank my shirt on, running through every weapon hidden on the grounds. “He’s early.”
“Your security guy? Why’s he here now?”
“Exactly.”
On the walk back, I catch the shift in her. Her shoulders square and her eyes sharpen. Even the towel around her looks less like modesty and more like armor.
Pavel’s early arrival messes up the balance I’ve maintained with Katya. We were supposed to have another day before reality kicked in.
Pavel climbs out in full tactical gear, carrying a briefcase stuffed with enough surveillance equipment to outfit a small army. His face is grim as hell.
“Mr. Kozlov. Mrs. Kozlov.” He nods, his eyes sweeping the area for threats. “Apologies for showing early. We’ve got a situation.”
