Page 59 of Seduction (Wicked Vows)

Vera’s voice cries out as she grabs my arm. “Markov! Stop! Enough!” I blink as if coming out of a haze and realize the American is bloodied and his shirt is torn. The bastard got lucky. He’s trying to catch his breath when I let him go abruptly.

The door opens, and Irina steps out. “Gentlemen. What’s going on here?”

To my surprise, Jake shakes his head and swipes at his cheek. “I tripped,” he says. “Markov picked me up.”

He turns, and Irina must not see the blood on his cheek. “I’m going back to bed before tomorrow’s lab.”

I watch him storm off, Vera breathing rapidly next to me, but Irina only smiles. “I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d decided it was time to teach him some respect, Markov. Honestly, he’s so full of himself and incredibly rude to the others.” She shakes her head and winks. “Not that I condone violence, but. . .” Her voice trails off as Morozov joins us.

“Now, let’s all get some rest before a big day tomorrow, shall we?”

They turn to leave, and I stare after them, stunned at Irina’s reaction. It isn’t what I expected. Does she know more than she’s letting on? Was her observation and recommendation another attempt to flirt with me?

“Markov,” Vera says in a voice just above a whisper as we head back to our room, side by side. “Did she basically. . . tell you it was okay to beat up Jake?”

I frown. “Sounds like she’s had enough of his antics.”

“It’s unprofessional.”

“As is his behavior toward you and the others in the program.”

“You can do no wrong in her eyes.”

“She honestly has flirted with me a few times.”

Vera stands still. When I look down at her, her eyes are wide in shock. “Um, what? Did you say she’s flirted with you?”

I nod. “Nothing exceptionally untoward. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed her sidling up to me when you’re all working on your labs. She hasn’t crossed a line, but I feel almost like the teacher’s pet. . . and I’m not even a pet.”

Vera snorts. “You’re definitely not that. Listen, you know how I feel about you interfering with things. I asked you not to hurt Jake. I asked you not to let anyone else know who you are,” she says in a whisper of a voice. “You can’t just beat up any loser who looks the wrong way at me, Markov. You can’t.”

I shrug. “I warned him fairly. I gave him plenty of chances. He crossed a line.”

She groans and shakes her head. “What does he know?”

“Nothing. He’s got nothing. You know you didn’t buy your way into this program. Your father didn’t interfere. And if he knows you’re part of the Ivanov family, let him tell them. You stand on your own credentials, Vera.”

There’s a brief pause before she reaches her hand to me. “Markov. . .”

“Mmm?”

“Why do you have a different phone?”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Vera

Markov looks down at his phone, though he has that look again—the one he got right before he decked Jake. I’m not afraid he’s going to lash out at me; I’d like to think I know him too well for that by now. But something. . . something’s made him angry.

“I had this phone when I arrived. I have two. You can see them if you’d like. One is older, but the contacts didn’t sync correctly, so I carry both.”

I’m not quite sure I believe him, but what reason would he have to lie?

“Oh.”

Tonight has shown me again the reality of who we are. The truth crashes into my thoughts like thunder.

It isn’t right. It isn’t fair. But it never was.

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