Page 116 of One For my Enemy

The man replied with a scowl.

“It’s called hospitality,” Lev said. “Just give me five minutes.”

“Five minutes,” the man warned, “and then I’m coming after you.”

“Well, knock first. That’s just polite.”

Another gloomy stare.

“Alright then,” Lev said, turning on his heel and heading back to Eric’s bedroom, which was coincidentally where he’d stashed Eric himself. He slid inside, closing the door behind him, and knelt beside Eric on the floor, grimacing preemptively at the unpleasant chore ahead.

“Hey,” he said, flicking Eric’s temple. “Wake up.”

Eric shot up with a gasp, lurching forward and choking on the sudden influx of oxygen.

“You,” he attempted, struggling. “You—”

“Yes,” Lev said. “Me, I know. I was also there.”

“You—you fuckingkilledme—”

“Oh, please,” Lev said. “Spare me the melodramatics. You’re clearly not dead, and even if you were, so what?” He shrugged. “I’ve died before.”

“You’re—”

Eric was clutching his chest. If Lev could have conjured the sympathy, he might have bothered lamenting that Eric’s lungs were swelling now from temporary underuse, which probably meant he was in a great deal of discomfort. Unfortunately for Eric Taylor, he wasn’t exactly one of Lev’s favorite people, so there was little Lev planned to do to ease his pain.

“You… is this—” Eric choked, coughing up, “What is this… did Sasha—”

“Don’t talk about Sasha.”

“But did she—”

“Isaid,” Lev snapped, launching forward, “don’t talk about her.”

Eric froze, eyes wide as he watched the threat of Lev’s outstretched hand.

“What are you doing here?” Eric croaked, clutching his throat.

“Taking over,” Lev said. “You’ve been replaced.”

“Who says?”

“Marya.”

“But I thought—”

“Do you want to take it up with her?” Lev prompted, and Eric blinked.

“No.”

“I thought not.” Lev paused, then added gruffly, “You have a visitor.”

Eric frowned. “Who?”

“Grouchy guy in a suit. I didn’t ask for his name.”

“Oh. Baron.”

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