Page 13 of Lord of Vice

He cocked his head and remained quiet, his piercing eyes almost condemning me.

“That’s what some dog parents call chicken, which is okay for a pup to eat. I don’t have much dogfood left after my bitch of a roommate threw me out. I ordered some plain grilled chicken, which I dropped saving you. I’ll still pay for it, but I need a little time.”

He appeared more riled than before, his nostrils even flaring.

“I said I was sorry!”

“I don’t like mymalyshkabeing treated like dirt. They deserve my wrath.”

“While I appreciate the whole macho thing you have going on, hear me. I’m not your baby girl or your anything for that matter.” Now he was amused. Oh, I’d lost my mind.

“Sit in the chair, Penny. Drink your wine and calm down. Misha. Tell Tony to make a fresh batch of grilled… chimkin for…”

“Remington Steele,” I whispered, barely able to find my voice any longer.

“For a special guest. And have a bowl of water brought now.”

“Yes, sir,” Misha said, the third guy who was sitting at the table.

“Come back to the table,” Kraven directed. “I’m not going to hurt you, but we seem to have an issue that needs to be dealt with.”

I kissed Remington’s head again before returning to the chair. Remington wasn’t daunted by his new surroundings, instead more intrigued than I was used to seeing. When I noticed Konstantin immediately headed in my fur baby’s direction, I watched their interaction instead of giving Kraven the attention it was obvious he was used to receiving. “Please just leave me alone. I’ve had a shitty week. I really have. I know you almost died but it feels like I lost everything. Okay?” Maybe I’d been knocked in the head, which was good reason for me acting so impulsively. And stupidly.

“You said the dog is all you have.”

I finally turned toward the man, nodding. “At least here in this shitty town. My dad is back in Roanoke, Virginia, but I’m all alone out here.”

“And what brought you across the country?”

“Because I wanted to dance. I had a friend tell me that with my talents, I could easily get a high paying job. Boy, was she wrong. Who was the… man who was killed?” My stomach lurched as I watched the body being wrapped in plastic and taken to the back room.

“An enemy.”

“Do you have many of those?” I laughed nervously, but I had a feeling he did.

“Yes.” Another simple answer.

“Oh. You are a bad man.” I couldn’t even use my college education to my benefit by finding another word than ‘bad.’ Although several certainly came to mind. Reprehensible. Powerful. Terrifying. Dangerous. I could go on and on.

He lifted his eyebrows. “As I said before. You saved my life, Penny. But in doing so, you placed yourself in a difficult position with me.”

“So it would seem.” Why was he repeating it? Was he really that shocked?

“However, that does mean I owe you at least some protection.” He was rubbing his jaw, still contemplating what to do with me. “I’m still wondering why you put yourself in harm’s way.”

“Because that’s what decent people do. Maybe if I’d known you were a horrible man, I wouldn’t have intervened.”

Two of his men laughed and Kraven appeared even more amused. “If you want decent instead of immoral and dangerous, you’ve come to the wrong city. Now, as I mentioned, we have an issue since you performed that good deed you mentioned.”

“So what does that mean?”

He took a deep breath, holding it in his lungs, once again allowing his extremely heated gaze to drift over me. “It means, Red Penny, that you and Remington Steele are coming with me.”

“You’re not taking me anywhere.”

“You have no say in the matter, Penny. You witnessed a crime. You saved my life. If you are who you say you are, the person responsible for sending that dead man to kill me will send others. And you’ll be added to the list. Besides, from what you’ve told me, you’re tapped out of offers and friends. So, to answer your question more directly, I’m taking you somewhere safe. But in doing so, you will do what I say when I say.”

“And if I don’t?”

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