Page 17 of Nikolai

"I do."

"Call him." Turning the water off, I dry my hands on my pant legs, then check myself before walking inside.

I find Leah in the breakroom, sitting at the table, staring at her hands folded in her lap. The moment I hear her wheezing, I realize she's in the middle of an asthma attack. Rushing to her desk, I search for her inhaler. When I find it, I hurry back, and drop to my knees beside her, placing the medicine in her hand. "Here."

Leah gives her inhaler a shake, then brings it to her lips and inhales.

After a few deep breaths, her breathing levels out.

Adrenaline still coursing through my veins I ask her, "What were you thinking? You shouldn't be here alone." She flinches. The moment my harsh words are spoken, I regret saying them. Reining in my anger, I spin her chair to face me. "I apologize. None of this is your fault." I lift her chin, needing her to look at me. "Give me your eyes." Her lids flutter open, her lashes wet from tears. "Are you okay?"

She nods. "Yeah."

"He touched you." I keep my voice calm, even though my insides are far from it.

"His words hurt a lot worse than his touch."

The pain in Leah's voice guts me. "Those things he said are not true. You're beautiful, Malyshka."

Leah shakes her head, not believing a word. Dropping her head, she whispers, "I wish that were true."

"Look at me, Leah." She lifts her eyes to mine once more. "I would never lie to you. You. Are. Beautiful." Her chest rises and falls, and her pupils dilate. When her lips part, I find myself aching to taste them.

A knock turns both our heads toward the door. "Hey, boss. Jake is here to see you." Gary looks between Leah and me.

"I'll be right there," I tell him.

"I'll let him know." Gary disappears down the hall, leaving me alone with Leah once again.

I stand, and Leah follows suit. "Um. What happened to John?" she asks.

"I taught him a lesson he won't soon forget," I admit since I just told her I would never lie to her.

"You hurt him?"

"Yes."

"Bad?"

"Yes," I admit freely again, then effectively end the discussion. "Come. You should eat. I left breakfast on your desk." Waiting for Leah to lead the way, I follow close behind her as we walk out front. Jake is waiting at the door when we step out.

Putting a smile on her face, Leah greets him. "Good morning, Jake."

"Mornin', sweetheart." Jake then turns his attention to me. "Let's talk outside." With a final look at Leah, I follow him. Once outside, I notice Quinn, and Sam, loading John's limp body into the back of a van. "He's breathin'," Jake pauses a beat. "You worked him over pretty good."

"He deserved more than what he got."

Jake runs his fingers through his beard. "From what Gary told us, I believe you. I've done far worse to defend Grace."

"I appreciate the clean-up. I owe you."

"You don't owe me shit. All I ask is you be careful with that girl in there."

I've known Jake long enough to realize the meaning of his words. "Grace had something similar to say to me this morning."

Jake laughs. "She did, huh?" Then crosses his arms across his chest, and we watch the guys drive the van off the property. Jake turns, clasping his hand down on my shoulder. "Well, then. Nothing more to be said." He lets his hand fall to his side, walks over to his bike, and throws his leg over it. "I'll have the guys dump the asshole near the hospital. Catch ya later."

I watch Jake ride off before returning inside. Leah has the phone to her ear, so I leave her to her work and head for my office. Sitting on my desk is a steaming cup of coffee, a croissant, and a small yellow sticky note stuck to my computer screen.

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