Page 36 of No Longer Safe

“Oh, you actually have a nana? How interesting. I guess you weren’t raised as horribly as I assumed.”

“That is my father’s mother, she raised him to be ruthless when his father died when he was a young child. She took over the household, all of the businesses, and she has a sharp aim with a gun. She can and will take down a man, and she will get away with it.”

And I thought her cane-wielding was frightening.

“Nana, my mother’s mom, she didn’t let us take anything seriously. She always brought water guns and attacked us during our studies. She hated that we were forced to learn Russian and the family business. She had many regrets with my Mother and was trying to make up for all of them. But don’t think you cantake advantage of her, she is just as ruthless as Grandmother, you just won’t see it coming.”

“And her husband?”

He leaned against the kitchen counter and his gaze shot to the windows lining the back wall. “Ace thinks she killed him soon after he forced our mother to marry our father. I’m not really sure and I wouldn’t ask her even if my life depended on it.”

It was strange talking to him like this. Like he was actually human and he had a heart. It was nice but also deceiving. He was raised by ruthless women and what I now saw as a heartless man.

I nodded.

“Are you excited for Brian to be coming in at the end of the week?”

The question took me so off guard, all I could do was stare at him.

“He is coming, right?”

I blinked.

“Have you been struck dumb or did something happen that I am not privy to?”

“Who are you?”

He scowled. “What does that mean?”

“Who are you and what have you done with Alexei?” This was too normal, too much. My brain was going to explode. How could we be just having a normal conversation?

That wicked grin was back and before I knew it, he was stalking across the kitchen with me pressed against the island. A mere couple of inches separated us.

“Is this how you’d prefer it? Would you prefer me to push all of your buttons until you are begging for more? Are you secretly hoping we get to be alone in this big penthouse or would you like me to abandon you with my ruthless grandmother?”

I couldn’t breathe like this. I couldn’t breathe with just a few inches separating us. I planted my palms on his firm chest and shoved. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Reminding you of your hatred for me.” He winked and went to get closer again.

“I’m engaged, Alexei, I don’t play these games.”

The playful smirk that was on his lips disappeared with a sneer. “Why are you engaged, Audrey?”

“Excuse me?”

Fire seemed to ignite in his gaze. “Why? Why would you want him?”

“I don’t see how it’s any of your business.”

“It may not be, but I want to know all the same.”

I looked away from his probing look and tried my best to get my heart to calm down within my chest. What was wrong with him?

I shook my head. No, he didn’t deserve an explanation. I wasn’t going to play his games.

He stepped closer but didn’t crowd me before. His whisper almost broke me.“Who were you before Brian told you who to be? I wanna know her.” He let out a humorless laugh. “All this time I couldn’t understand why you are so far under my skin, but now I know. That’s what’s bugging me. Thats why I can’t keep you out of my head. And do you know what the worst part is? I thought I hated you there, but now I’m not so sure.”

He was gone before I could say anything else. He was gone before I could try to put together a coherent thought. I closed my eyes.

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