Page 76 of For a Price

“A woman doesn’t just barge into a man’s bedroom like that?—”

“I’ve told you, she’s an employee and nothing more. She’s not my type.”

I quirk a brow. “But I am?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Potomu chto ty drugoy, i ya nakhozhu tebya krasivoy?*.”

“Have I mentioned I asked one of the staff to pick me up aRussian for Dummieslanguage book? I’m going to learn before you know it.”

He drops a kiss on my lips. “I look forward to the day. But you should know I also speak Slovak and Bulgarian, among other languages.”

I let out a soft laugh as we spend the rest of the night like this. Together in bed after an unexpected moment of passion.

What I said was true—Roman is intense and overwhelming. But I’m finding him impossible to resist for that very reason.

Over the next few days, I’m finally allowed to speak with Rosita for the first time since I was taken captive. Roman sits on thesofa reading through reports he’s been delivered by a member of his crew while he gives me his phone to call Rosita.

“KAT!” she screams the second she recognizes my voice. “Where the hell have you been!? Do you know I’ve been going crazy!? I went to all your old spots looking for you! Even Wong’s Wok on 94th! But Ms. Wong said you hadn’t been by in weeks? What the fuck, girl!?”

“Shhhh,” I hush. “Will you calm down?”

“CALM DOWN!??! You’ve been gone for weeks! How was I supposed to know you weren’t dead, dumped in some ditch somewhere?”

“Well, now you know I’m still alive so maybe calm down?”

“I won’t be able to calm down ’til you tell me what the hell’s been going on? I spoke to JC and he was saying something about you being abducted by the Russian mob?”

“Shhhhhh!” I silence immediately, throwing a paranoid glance over my shoulder.

Roman senses my gaze and looks up at the same time. His sapphire eyes meet mine, the gleam in them equal parts warning and amusement. It’s as if he knows what’s being discussed. I turn my back completely and clutch the phone tighter against my ear.

“Iway an’tcay aysay ightray ownay.”

“What? What the fuck does that mean? Were you abducted by the Russian mob or not?”

I stomp my foot. “Otnay ightray ownay.”

“What’s the matter with you? You hit your head?”

“Devochka,” Roman calls from the sofa. “Those other languages I told you I speak? Pig Latin is one of them.”

My cheeks warm at being caught red-handed. “I was, um, just telling my friend I can’t speak about that right now.”

“Who’s that?” Rosita asks nosily from her end of the phone.

“Nobody,” I answer. “Anyway, I just wanted to call you to let you know I’m okay. No need to worry.”

“No need to worry? I’m more worried now! Kat, where are you? I’ll come get you.”

“You can’t come where I am.”

“You’re not in jail, are you?”

“No!”

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