Page 66 of Crave

“I mean, he’s more useful to you, we both know that. You need him to fight.” There, that should help.

Mikhail’s thick eyebrows lower over his nose. “I’d rather you stay protected than put him on the streets. But fine, if you don’t want him there, I won’t make him.” He raises his hand, pointing at me. “Figure out what’s going on between you two, though. He’s fucking useless right now because of whatever tiff you’re having.”

My stomach knots. Alexei is messed up too?

I thought he was the one who backed away?

This is even more complicated than I thought.

CHAPTER 28

ALEXEI

“Alexei,did you see someone at Lara’s house last night?” Enzo grumbles over the phone. “Mikhail interrupted a very important meeting to find answers, but all I can see is you on the cameras.”

“Shit, there was an intruder?” Anger boils in me. “I’ll kill them! Did they hurt her?”

“She’s fine. She’s just freaked, and rightfully so. See if you can find anything?” It sounds like he stops to talk to someone else. “I have to go.”

Fuck. I can’t believe I didn’t see them.

Who was it? I bet it was one of Kirill’s men.

All with Ivan behind it.

I hate that man for what he did to my friends, the people I love.

There’s a lot of people who call me crazy, but that man is a monster.

A sudden hit to the back of my head knocks me out of my memories.

“Alexei, are you paying attention?” Nikolai’s mouth is a thin line as he stares at me.

“Huh? Oh, yea.” I forgot we’re supposed to be watching that door.” I’m squatting in an alley behind a stinky ass dumpster. How’d I lose track of that?

“Pay attention. I have to go back to that corner. Check in on time so I don’t have to come back and smack you again.” He stalks off into the night, his broad shoulders hunch before he moves into his hiding location.

I wish Jax warned me Nikolai was coming up on my ass. Glancing at my phone shows me he did, several times.

Damn.

I do my best to stay still and focus on the faint outline of the club entrance. The flickering lamplight is giving me a headache.

After what seems like hours, Nikolai finally shifts enough to create a silhouette against the building, then shuffles his way towards me.

“I don’t think they’re coming. Let’s get the fuck out of here. Mila made a dinner tonight that actually tasted amazing,” he groans and stretches.

“Pancakes?” Jax teases as he steps closer.

“Funny.” Nikolai yawns, leading the way back to the vehicles.

He told us all the story of when Mila was pretending to be someone she wasn’t, and attempted to cook for him.

He said that breakfast tasted like hockey pucks.

I guess he must really love her to still keep trying her food.

Why doesn’t Lara ever cook? All I see her eat is either really really healthy, or terrible for her.

---