Page 134 of Emerald Malice

I pull back, startled by the fierceness in his voice and the sudden pallor in his skin.

“Sorry, it’s just… I don’t want to be found.“ He sighs. “If they know I’m alive, they’ll know I failed. And they told me that if I failed, either Andrey would kill me or they would.”

“But Andrey hasn’t killed you,” I remind him. “And he’s not going to, either.”

Misha squirms uncomfortably. “I know. I was wrong about him.”

“Misha, is there any place you have left to go?”

He shakes his head and I detect the fear in his eyes at the mere suggestion. Slowly, the same way I coach strangers to approach Remi, I reach out and touch Misha’s leg. He flinches, but doesn’t shove me away.

“Well, then I’m the lucky one,” I declare. “Because that means I get to enjoy the pleasure of your company.”

Misha blinks at me like the idea is absurd. Like no one has ever said anything so nice to him.

Which cracks my heart a little more.

“Do you want to stay here with?—?"

“I like staying here,” Misha says before I can finish asking the question. “I like being around you.”

I smile and squeeze his knee. “You’re safe here, Misha. You know that, right?”

He nods, his smile withering. “But Andrey won’t want me here forever.”

Determination surges through my bones. I’m no longer interested in avoiding a hard conversation with Andrey. Not when Misha’s peace of mind hangs in the balance.

“Don’t you worry about Andrey,” I assure him. “Leave him to me.”

47

NATALIA

I press my shoulders back and knock on Andrey’s office door, ready to be cool, calm, and collected.

But when the door whips open, it’s Shura standing there.

I sag. “Where’s Andrey?”

“He’s in the gym.”

With a nod of thanks, I’m already turning away when Shura clears his throat. I’ve never seen him look so awkward. “I was just wondering if… er… When will Katya be visiting next?”

I suppress a smile. I know how Katya feels about Shura; I just wasn’t sure if he reciprocated. The sheen of nervous sweat on his forehead makes things a little clearer.

“Soon,” I assure him. “She wants to come over and see the nursery.”

He shrugs like he could care less. “I have some records she wanted to borrow. That’s all.”

“I could just give you her number, if you want? That way, I don’t have to be your middleman.”

“Oh? Well, um…” His face flushes. “I suppose so. If it makes things easier for you.”

“I’ll drop you her contact.”

I’m humming the wedding march and grinning like a loon as I walk to the gym in search of Andrey.

But an eyeful of Andrey, shirtless and sweating, as he rails against a punching bag in the far corner of the gym, wipes the smile and every safe-for-work thought away.

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