Page 19 of Crave

Umm. Another message to send to the cabin saying extra wine.

I wish I knew another way to make her feel better, without crossing a line I can never return from.

“She needed to get away from Ivan. She is a victim of him, too.” Mikhail squats in front of Lara so he’s level with her. “It was easier to keep her hidden if as few people as possible knew about her.”

Lara’s blond hair whips as she turns to me. “Did you know?”

“Nope.” I pop the “P” emphatically.

“Who else knows?” Her lower lip quivers as it juts out.

“Enzo,” Mikhail grunts. “It’s how I met him. I needed someone to keep an eye on things and move stuff anonymously.”

Lara groans and crosses her arms. “No wonder he’s going to Russia. I thought it was just to hire girls for his clubs.”

“It’s a convenient excuse. But I think he pays the girls very well since he makes his money in information.” Mikhail pushes himself up and moves to his desk. “He’s an incredible asset. I’m glad he’s on our side.”

Enzo saved Nikolai’s ass when we were in Russia.

He’s a mystery to me.

I don’t think he likes me though. There’s always a twitch of annoyance around his eyes when he looks at me.

“I can’t believe you kept all of this from me.” Lara buries her face in her hands and her shoulders begin to shake as she cries.

Glaring at Mikhail, I instinctively lean forward and start rubbing my palm up and down her back.

She falls against me, shuddering with sobs.

His brows drop, and I can see the muscles in his jaw work.

“What? You did this.” My middle finger raises towards him.

He could fold me in half and not break a sweat. I don’t care.

Lara is hurting. Every piece of me wants to make it better.

“Should we go?” My neck moves against her head.

I can feel her nod against my chest. Did I text already about the cabin?

Oh, yes. It’ll be ready for her. She’s going to need it.

Mikhail clears his throat before we leave.

“Alexei?” he asks.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, I pause Lara at the door. “What?” I don’t hide the annoyance in my voice.

“You need to swing downstairs and talk to Nikolai after getting her home. They just got back from, um, vacation.” His dark eyes bounce between Lara and I.

It’s irritating that I can’t see his face and read him better.

But I get the impression he’s trying to tell me something else.

“Yes, Miki,” I say curtly, then turn her down the hall.

Lara holds out her keys silently in the elevator. She’s looking at a blank part of the wall and blinking really fast.

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