Page 147 of Silenced

The heroine’s always taken aback.

The other woman is always a bitch.

The hero either plays down the cutting remarks that are made or swoops in to defend his heroine’s honor.

In my case, I know exactly what would happen—Niko would definitely swoop in, but I don’t think defending my honor would be his endgame.

Not after seeing him snap one Pavlivshev’s neck.

So, when I walk into the restroom, Igor hovering outside like an oversized guard dog, I’m prepared.

But that preparation is ultimately unnecessary.

Here I was, revving myself up for the big showdown, only to find that the restroom is empty.

Until it isn’t.

After I use the facilities, there she is, hovering in front of the vanity.

I didn’t hear the outer door, only the creaking hinges of one of the stalls, so I know Igor didn’t let her in.

She must have been waiting in here for me.

Fun.

“If you lay a hand on me,” I warn her, studying my reflection in the gaudy, gilt mirror that would be more comfortable in a palace in France than Miami Beach, “you’ll be sharing a grave with your father by the end of the week.”

The confidence in my voice is astounding.

Not just because I have complete faith in Nikolai’s insanity but because I’m talking about murder here.

Murder.

“He’ll tire of you,” Myata warns, smoothing some lotion onto her scarlet-tipped hands. “He tires of us all.”

“I’m sure he does. The difference is if he tires of me, I won’t make a fool of myself and get my father killed along the way by telling lies about a man everyone fears.” I turn to stare at her, no longer content with reading her expression from the reflection in the vanity mirror. “I mean,really, Myata? You just did the entire female population a disservice with the dumbest move ever.

“How did you expect him to react? Did you think he’d be red-cheeked and hustled down the aisle because your father huffed and puffed and stuck a shotgun up his ass?” I snort at her blush and shake my head, knowing there’ll be no sensible answers coming from her. “Now that you’ve uttered your dire prediction, are we done here?”

She sniffs at me. The pretty curve of her mouth is upturned into a sneer as she spits, “What the fuck does he see in you anyway? You’re a fat bitch. You’re old. What use are you to him? Can you even have children when you’re as ancient as you?”

The sniped words should sting but they don’t.

I smile as I remember the intensity on Niko’s face when he pumped cum all over my pussy… Who knew our cum kink would be great for my self-esteem?

“I’m not too old, too fat, or too much of a bitch for the man in question,” is all I say. “I think you need to grow up, Myata. What are you? Twenty?”

Her sneer deepens. “I’m nineteen.”

That has me screwing up my face too. “Dear God, why would you want to be with a man as old as him anyway?”

I mean, Nikolai is gorgeous but he’s in his forties. Why would a baby want to be with him? Hell, with a body and face like hers, I’d have targeted Dmitri at her age.

Then, any minute amount of sympathy I might have had for her disintegrates to dust.

“Power,” she retorts. “Position. You’re taking advantage of both right now, aren’t you?”

“I suppose I am, but I’m not a child. Honey, you can’t even drink legally—”

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