Page 21 of Solemn Vow

“I will now,” I grumble, following him to the kitchen.

“No. You won’t.” He puts his hand over the phone so I can’t take it, then picks up my coffee, looking at the label. “This is what you call coffee?”

“What do you want, Viktor?” I take the coffee from him. It’s bad enough he’s let himself in, he pumped up my heat, and now he’s insulting my coffee.

“You’re here. So fine, what do you want?”

“Answers.” He pulls an envelope from his back pocket and puts it on the counter. It’s the tip money I received from Mrs. Randall last night. “Where did you get this?”

“It’s just a tip from a customer,” I answer. I’d ask him where he got it, but since he’s been alone in my apartment, I’m sure he’s been looking at everything. The man has no boundaries at all.

“What customer?” he fires next.

“I did a makeover party for a kid’s birthday last night.” I realize the moment it’s out what I’ve done.

His eyes narrow a fraction. “So, you lied yesterday.”

“You’re not exactly listening to me,” I point out. “I told you not to come this morning, you came anyway. You don’t leave me much choice.”

“I did listen. I heard you just say you weren’t out with friends last night. You were doing some makeup party.” He flips open the envelope and flicks through the bills. “Two hundred dollars. That was the tip?”

“It was.” On top of the three hundred she paid me for the party, I’m on my way to getting the cash I need for Jimmy.

“Who was the party for?” he asks with a tilt to his head. He knows. I don’t know how he can possibly know, but he does.

“Viktor. Stop.” My shoulders sag.

“So, you somehow know Jimmy Agosti and you’re doing makeup parties for his uncle Michael Agosti?” He eyes me seriously; any casualness from before is gone. He sets his jaw.

“Not Michael. Sandra Randall. His sister.” I lean my ass against the counter. “How do you already know? Are you having me watched?” I wouldn’t be surprised if he was, though I’m careful.

An old habit from a lifetime ago: check my surroundings, then check them again. Make sure no one is watching. Make sure no one takes notice.

He lifts his hand from my phone and taps it.

“You have a tracker on my phone?” I accuse and reach for it, but he swipes it away again.

“You can have it back later.” He slips it into his back pocket. “You have more answers to give first.”

I shake my head. “No. I’m not answering anything else.”

How dare he put a tracker on me! Who the actual fuck does he think he is?

“One, I don’t answer to you. And two, fuck you.” The last words fall out before the filter in my mind could stop them.

His eyebrows shoot up, but his lips curl into a grin.

“If I have to ask again, I’m not going to be nice about it. Tell me what the hell is going on.” His hands drop to his sides, and his fingers flex. His mouth may be fixed into a smile, but there’s no lightness in his eyes. He’s all business now.

It was a lifetime ago.

Everything he wants to know is buried in a grave I dug when I walked away. Jimmy’s already started unearthing my demons, and now Viktor is holding a shovel out to me.

“Take a hint, Viktor. I don’t want anything to do with you. I’m not telling you shit.” I shove off the counter, ready to run for the door, but he’s fast.

His iron claw is around my arm, and he pulls me right into his chest. “You don’t decide what you tell me and what you won’t tell me. Not anymore.” He spins me around to face the kitchen table and shoves me over the side.

“Wait! What are you doing?” I fling one arm behind me trying to strike at him while the other is desperately trying to push up off the table.

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