Page 98 of Scarlet Vows
“It’s all good,” I say, not wanting to discuss it with her because I know it’ll worry her.
“Are you sure? We can find another way.”
“We? This is as far as you get involved.” I hold up the vodka and fetch a glass to pour some for her.
She just holds it after I press it into her hand.
“And everything went to plan.”
“Okay.”
As she takes a sip, I nod.
“And I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“That’s not true.” She scoffs. “I didn’t do a thing.”
“Didn’t you? If you hadn’t asked me to help you with him, then where would we be?”
She shoots me a look at the dry note in my voice. “At Demyan’s.”
“And not with a bratva of my own. That’s because of you, too.”
Alina takes half a step toward me. “Are you sure working with Santo’s the right move? What if it backfires?”
“It could,” I say with a nod. “If I’m not careful. But I’m careful.”
“I don’t trust him. It’s a risk,” she whispers.
“Yeah, it’s a risk,” I say in Russian, “but it’s one I need totake. Andmalyshka, I promise you I can take care of myself. You have nothing to worry about.”
Her eyes are big pools of concern. “I hope so, because if anything happened to you, I’m not sure I could…”
She breaks off, her voice scratchy.
Then she suddenly steps forward, almost spilling her drink as she hugs me.
I close my eyes and breathe in that clean, flowery scent of hers. She’s soft and warm in my arms, and I remember her sweetness, the soft heat of her, how she fits perfectly against me.
Her touch lingers as she pulls back slightly, her breath shuddering, and she gazes up at me. Then she rises up so she gets even closer.
I’m rooted to the spot as she closes the gap between us, and her lips brush mine.
A groan breaks free, and I’m teetering, torn between the desire to haul her in and crush down on her, take this where it needs to go, and pushing her gently back and doing the right thing.
Shit.
Doing the right thing wins out, only just.
“Alina—”
“Shush,” she says, putting her finger to my lips. “I want this.”
She moves in once again.
Chapter Twenty-Three
ALINA
