Page 109 of Toxic Temptation
I lean down to Vesper’s window so she can’t escape without looking at me. She immediately shifts away, her whole body going rigid.
“You should spend the weekend here,” I say quietly, making sure Waylen can’t hear. “For appearances’ sake.”
Her response is flat, emotionless. “Let me check my schedule.”
“This isn’t a request, Vesper.”
Her eyes flash to mine for just a second before she looks away. “I’m a doctor, Kovan, and there are other people with demands on my time besides you. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a date with some very large dinosaur bones.”
She starts rolling up the window before I can move my hands. I have no doubt in my mind that she’d keep on rolling it if I left them there, even if it severed them at the knuckle. Hell, she might prefer that.
I step back and watch her drive away with my nephew laughing in the backseat.
Unbelievable. The eight-year-old gets to leave with the beautiful woman. And I’m stuck here with her scowling brother.
“Training starts now,” I tell Waylen. “Osip and Pavel are waiting in the gym.”
“Is this really necessary?” He follows me back into the house, radiating reluctance.
“You’re going to be alone with my nephew. You need to be able to protect him when things go wrong.”
“I think I can handle protecting an eight-year-old.”
“From a bullet? A ten-man ambush? A high-speed chase through the city?”
His mouth falls open. “Jesus. What the hell was Vesper thinking?”
I push open the gym door and we step inside.
Osip and Pavel are lifting weights by the mirror, both shirtless and sweaty. Neither looks thrilled about this mandatory training session, but they know by the look on my face not to argue.
“Let’s start with basics,” I begin, but Waylen has already walked past me, staring at the boxing ring in the center of the room.
We all join him by the ropes.
“Any boxing experience?” Osip asks.
“A bit. Back in college.”
Osip’s eyebrows shoot up, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. “Then we have somewhere to start. Stretching first.”
He gestures for Waylen to follow him while Pavel grabs a water bottle. “You sticking around for this?” Pav asks me casually.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
My brother gives me a look that says I’m an idiot. “Come on, man. You and Waylen obviously hate each other.”
“We don’t have to be friends. This is business.”
“You’re dating his sister.”
My eyes snap to his. “Don’t be a smart-ass, Pavel. You know damn well that Vesper and I aren’t real. We never were and wenever will be. This is about getting custody of Luka. Once that’s done, she and her brother will be out of our lives for good.”
“You really think that’s what’s best for Luka?”
“I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”
“You sure as hell didn’t. Pigs would be flying overhead if you had. But right now, I’m not one of your soldiers—I’m your brother. And I don’t need permission to tell you when you’re being an ass.”
