Page 59 of Toxic Salvation
“You can’t be spreading rumors like that about a man such as myself who’s out here looking for love, Vesper,” he says with a sigh. “I donothave herpes.”
I bite down hard and spit at them, “I swear to God, once I get out of these stupid restraints, I will buy out every billboard in the county and put ‘Osip Has The Clap’on them in big, bold letters. I will follow you on every date you ever go on and scream it in the girl’s face. I will ruin your fucking life.”
“Jesus.” Pavel whistles, looking at Kovan. “She’s got a temper on her.”
“And she’smean,” Osip adds, rubbing his jaw like I just physically hit him.
I do manage to get a good kick in at his shins as he passes by me. He yelps and jumps backward, his eyes watering instantly.
“Goddammit, that hurt!”
“You don’t know what ‘hurt’ is yet, buddy,” I promise. “Come on over; I can educate you.”
Osip looks between me and Kovan. “Did you see this side of her before you knocked her up? If I were you, I’d be terrified to close my eyes at night.”
“I’ll bet closing their eyes is the only way any woman in her right mind can sleep with you in the first place!” I screech.
I hope my insults make sense. Right now, I’m too deep in my rage to be able to tell. Judging from that dopey hurt look on Osip’s face, though, I’m doing pretty freaking great.
Now, if only I could get a rise out of Kovan. The man is gratingly calm. And the calmer he is, the more unhinged I feel.
“Okay, I’m leaving before she tries to take a bite out of me,” Osip says. “I gotta get the hell?—”
“Osip. Sit.”
He freezes before turning to face Kovan regretfully. “Aw, come on, man. This is your shit show, not mine.”
“You work for me,” Kovan reminds him. “All my shit shows are yours. Where are those files I wanted you to look into?”
“Oh, right.” Osip roots around in his jacket pocket and pulls out several thin folders.
There’s a name imprinted on the front in thick block letters, but it flashes by me so fast that I can’t make it out.
Kovan opens the files and reads through them, his eyebrows raised with interest. The way he studies each page makes my stomach clench. Whatever’s in there, it’s about me. It has to be.
“Okay, Vesper, let’s talk.”
I spit at the ground beside my chair. “I have nothing to say to you. Not so long as this belt remains around my wrists.”
Pavel inches closer to Kovan. “Come on, bro, she’s pregnant. Let me untie her.”
“Are you insane?” Osip hisses. “You don’t let a rabid wolf loose in the henhouse!”
Despite my anger, I can’t help but snort at that one. “Are you comparing yourself to a hen, Osip?”
“I was comparingyouto a rabid wolf.”
I shrug. “I’m happy to be the wolf. Are you happy to be a scared little chicken?”
“I see your schtick.” He grumbles. “Mind games, huh? A woman’s best friend. Well, I refuse to let you psych me out. You don’t know me. I’m all man.”
“What kind of man has to tell everyone that that’s what he is?”
“Mean! Again!” Osip cries out. He points an accusatory finger at me. “Never release her.”
“Osip.” Kovan rolls his eyes. “Do me a favor and shut up.”
“I’ll do you one better.” He shoots me a dirty look. “I’ll get out. Pavel, you coming, too? Before the she-wolf takes your balls?”
