Page 160 of Emerald Malice

His smile falters. “Something wrong, boss?”

“I’m not sure yet. Just make sure you have eyes on her at all times.”

It takes a full minute of pounding on Shura’s apartment door before he finally answers. His scowl is far from welcoming. “I’m off today.”

No, he’s pouting. I knew he’d be hiding out here. He rarely uses the apartment, but we couldn’t drag him out of it for two weeks after his divorce. The fact he’s here now means Katya really is giving him the cold shoulder.

“You’re off when I say you’re off.”

He throws the door open with a grumble and slumps into the living room. “What do you need?”

“When was the last time you spoke to Katya?”

He whips around, worry eating away his frown lines. “Why? Did Natalia say something? Did she reach out? The last time we spoke was the day you took everyone out to dinner. I was with her earlier that evening and…”

I wait for him to finish his thought, but he seems stuck on a memory. “Shura?”

He snaps out of his reverie and focuses on me. “It wasn’t a fight. She was just a little annoyed at me when I left.”

“Why?”

Grinding his teeth together, he lets loose a frustrated hiss. “Apparently, I’m not ‘transparent’ enough for her. She claimed she had no idea how I feel about her.”

He glares at me as though daring me to laugh.

“I spend fucking time with her, don’t I?” he explodes when I say nothing. “I take her out, buy her shit, wine and dine her in expensive damn restaurants. What the fuck is that if not—” He breaks off, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

If anyone can understand where Shura’s coming from, it’s me. For men like us, giving someone our time means everything. We lavish them with gifts and our attention, but we don’t talk about our feelings.

“I got pissed and told her that if she didn’t realize by now how I felt about her, then she was the stupid one.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Charming.”

“I’m not good at this shit, ‘Drey,” he mutters. “I’m good at fucking and fighting. After Melania, I didn’t think I’d ever find myself in this position again.”

“You and me both, brother.”

Our eyes meet. Understanding flits between us.

“Even if she’s giving you the silent treatment,” I say wearily, “it doesn’t explain why she’s ignoring Natalia.”

Shura pales. “She hasn’t talked to Nat, either?”

“No. And she’s?—"

“I’m going over to her place.” Shura already has keys in hand and is storming towards the door.

“Before we resort to breaking and entering, let’s check in at her office first,” I suggest. “According to Natalia, she should be there about now.”

Shura growls with impatience, but he agrees with a curt nod.

Fifteen minutes later, when he’s sprinting out of Katya’s office alone, I know something is wrong.

By the time he gets to the car, I’m already on the phone with Leonty. “Pull Natalia out of work and meet us at Katya’s apartment,” I order.

“She’s not there,” Shura pants, buckling himself into the passenger seat. “She didn’t call in sick or anything. No one has seen her.”

The man is a nervous wreck as we hurtle towards Katya’s apartment. Every time we get caught at a light or stuck in a bit of traffic, he looks like he’s about to rip his hair clean out.

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