Page 33 of Root

He’s not killing her.

I’m not about to let him.

“I might. Unless your dick has thoughts. Has your dick got fucking thoughts?”

He’s being a definite fuck face. Maybe I can talk Rose and Dante into running off with me. We can take Jess. Maybe I can bribe her with an evil bird. I’ll be like a cross between a harem and Doolittle. No…that sounds horrible. Besides, Dante likes Nikolai. He can stay. I’ll just get Dante the second—

I stop.

“No, it doesn’t Fu—Nikolai.” I take a swallow of the whiskey.

“Good.” He doesn’t smile, just picks up his glass. “You can stay and learn. Because, technically, it’s your empire.”

“Going somewhere?”

“Maybe,” he says. “I’m sick of bullshit.”

He isn’t. He thrives on this. “I’ll stay, but it’s your empire. I just like the perks.”

“You would.”

There’s a knock at the door, and Tony steps aside, ushering Jess in.

He leaves, but I’m sure he’s just outside the door.

Her eyes skitter to me.

Everything lights up. It’s a floodlight of awareness.

And Nikolai smiles. I’m gobsmacked. It’s the kind of genuine smile I rarely see.

He’s playing but I can’t work out the end game.

“You look better, Jess,” he says. “How do you feel?”

“Better.”

He nods, the epitome of innocuousness when I know he isn’t. He’s pure poisonous viper under it all.

“I’m sure you want to get home, get back to work.” He takes a swallow of his drink, and his black eyes glint. “How long have you worked at Bunny Munroe?”

“A few months,” she says.

Jess is trying to meet him at his game but, while she’s good, I can’t even do it. Neither can Rose.

Nikolai’s a force. And he plays chess like a grandmaster.

“Do you know the owner?” he asks, all silk.

She goes still and I make a note to find out all I can when I get a chance. She doesn’t respond, just says, “Thanks for your help, but I’m going to go home now.”

She’s about to turn when he stops her.

“I don’t fucking think so,” Nikolai says.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jess

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