Page 95 of Toxic Salvation
“Perfume, a brush, my wallet, a first aid kit, and a book. Plus some other stuff.”
“That’s a weapon, not a purse.”
“Are you okay, Uncle Kovan?” Luka asks, pushing past the curtain with Charity.
“I’m fine,malysh. It’ll take more than a bag of boulders to take me down.”
Vesper still looks horrified. “I’m so sorry.”
“Stop. Don’t apologize for defending yourself and protecting them.” I kiss her forehead carefully, avoiding getting blood on her. “You did good.”
“Let me look at that lip.”
“I have my first aid kit!” Charity offers.
“I’m fine,” I insist. “Now let’s?—”
Pavel bursts into the dressing area, breathing hard. “Everything okay? The men cleared the first three floors, so we can—” He stops, staring at my face. “What happened? Did you fight off whoever was following us?”
“Vesper did all the fighting.”
Pavel looks between us. “Youdid that?”
Vesper hangs her head. “I didn’t mean to. I heard someone searching for us, and after you got in my head about being followed, I grabbed the heaviest thing I could find and swung.”
“Nice!” Pavel grins.
“No, not ‘nice’!” she argues. “I didn’t hit some bad guy. I hit your brother!”
“But you didn’t know that. Way to be proactive, V.” Pavel slaps my arm. “See? She can totally take care of herself.”
“I’d rather she didn’t have to,” I snap. “Now, let’s get out of here. Enough excitement for one day.”
“You mean we can’t seeMinions?” Luka pouts.
“Not today. I’ll put the movie on for you to watch at home.”
“It’s not the same.”
I look to Vesper for backup. She forces a smile even though I can tell she wants to stay. “We’ll come back another day, honey. Your uncle’s right—that’s enough excitement.”
As we walk through the store, I notice a clerk appear behind the counter from a back door. He’s wearing a ratty t-shirt and exhaling vape smoke, but his glazed eyes lock on me immediately.
“Yo, you Kovan Krayev?”
Charity and Luka have already left with Pavel. Vesper pauses at the threshold when she hears my name.
“Go outside,” I tell her firmly. “Wait with Pavel. I’ll be right there.”
“Kovan—”
“Now, Vesper. No arguments.”
She hesitates, concern creasing her forehead, but she leaves.
As soon as she’s gone, I stride to the counter and grab the clerk by his collar, hauling him halfway over it. He whimpers as the edge digs into his stomach.
“How the fuck do you know my name?”
