Page 63 of Hate Mates

I released her from my grip rather than calling her bluff, then threw my hands up in surrender. “You’re going to be a fun one.”

I stepped back and started to leave. When I got a few feet away, I heard her voice once more. “Hey, what do you mean by that?”

I stopped, turned, then blew her a kiss before heading back into the ballroom. Once I found Reynaldo, I could put the next phase of my plan into action. Ekaterina Kotov would soon be Ekaterina Brannington, and I’d be able to stick it to three Mafia leaders all at the same time. No one dictated my life, and for those that thought they did, they would learn soon how wrong they were.

FOUR

Ekatarina

Ihad to admit to being unnerved several days after the encounter with Kingston Brannington. His last name still evoked fear in me, but I wouldn’t be intimidated. There was no real reason to worry because until the other night, I hadn’t run into him before, and I hadn’t since, so I’d likely worked myself up over nothing. I needed to just keep my cool and stay the path. Aram was my bigger concern because he’d find me one of these days, and when he did, I’d be on the run again. Until then, I’d bank as much money as I could.

And tonight, I had a date with a new client. His name was Graham Benson. I knew nothing about him, but he’d been vetted through the agency. First date jitters always set in, and while he’d be picking me up at the Four Seasons, he’d never see the inside of my room. No one ever did.

Like most clients, this one had a simple request. Wear red! It happened to be one of my favorite colors, so fulfilling his wish wouldn’t be a problem at all. The mini dress was crimson and had a large slit down the center which displayed my breasts.

It was also skin tight, and the length was so short it barely came mid-thigh. While this was a new client, I briefly worried ifsomething this revealing would give off the wrong impression, but ultimately decided to keep it on. My profile clearly listed my limits, and he’d hired me, so he’d been okay with them.

I quickly applied my lipstick and perfume as the room phone rang. Snatching it up, I answered. “Hello.”

“This is Frederick with the front desk. You have a caller downstairs. Should I send him up?”

“No, I’m on my way downstairs,” I told him before hanging up the phone.

After grabbing my cell phone and purse, I left my room. There was little concern on my part as I took the elevator to the lobby. Once there, I tried to see if I could find someone fitting the description of the man the agency told me about, but I did not, so I turned around and started to head toward the concierge desk.

“Ekaterina”

I stopped dead in my tracks at the familiar voice with the most delicious hint of a rasp. Turning around quickly, I gasped when the man I saw was none other than Kingston Brannington.

“Are you stalking me?” I asked in accusation.

“Stalking you? Definitely not. Rescuing you from a night of boredom, possibly.”

My brow furrowed. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I actually have a date tonight.”

“I know, and it’s with me.”

“What?”

“I’m Graham Benson,” he said, and I felt dizzy as I waited for the floor to open beneath me and swallow me whole.

“You’re not,” I said, but with no real conviction, especially when he smirked and drew his wallet out of his tuxedo pocket. He thrust a license toward me which bore that name, but I knew who he was. “That’s not your na?—”

“You and I are from the same world. You know names and faces are never the same.” He had a point, but as I quickly tried to think of an excuse to cancel, he grabbed my hand, and like at the party, a jolt of electricity passed between us. “I hate attending parties alone, and you were so gracious at the last one.” I narrowed my eyes, especially when he grinned more broadly. “It’s just a date, Ekaterina. Nothing more.”

There was something lurking in the depth of this bad boy’s eyes, but I saw the challenge in those orbs, and determined to never cower to a Brannington ever again, I squared my shoulders. “Fine.” While there was a bit of apprehension on my part, I wanted to know what he was up to, so I ended up taking his hand.

He tugged lightly but slowed his long steps enough so I could walk beside him and not have to give chase. These stilettos had quite a heel on them, and while I could function doing anything in ones five inches or shorter, these were closer to six inches, so I’d be limited in how fast I could move. We breezed through the door, then out into the sultry night air.

Since I’d not been keeping up with Kingston, I had no idea what mode of transportation he used. I followed him down the street until a royal blue Porsche came into view. Nothing was said as I slid into the passenger seat after he held the door open for me. He got into the car as well, then pulled out onto the street before I spoke.

“Do you often have to pay such obscene rates for a date?”

He chuckled. “No, but tonight I’ve made an exception.”

“Lucky me,” I sneered, not even bothering to hide my sarcasm. “Now cut the bullshit and tell me why.”

“Such language from those beautiful lips,” he said, and I didn’t even need to turn toward him to know how amused he was.

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