Page 47 of Toxic Temptation
“No, it wasn’t a fucking date. Are you high?”
Pavel deflates. “See? I told you he wouldn’t?—”
“He’s lying,” Osip interrupts. “What other reason would he have for taking some random woman to the planetarium? With Luka? God’s perfect wingman?”
“Good point,” Pavel admits, perking up again.
“I’m about to use those kettlebells to beat you both to death if you keep talking about me like I’m not standing right here.”
“We wouldn’t have to if you’d just tell us what’s going on,” Osip argues. “We’re supposed to be your right-hand men. How come Arseni and Dima know more than we do?”
My jaw tightens. “They’re spreading rumors?”
“They’re not rumors if they’re true,” Osip says. “And it wasn’t just them.”
Pavel steps between us before I can grab the nearest weight and throw it at Osip’s head. “The point is, everyone’s talking about you and Vesper. So spill.”
“There’s nothing to spill. It’s an act. A show.” I sneer. “Did you really think I’d waste time on a woman without an ulterior motive?”
“I figured getting in her scrubs was the ulterior motive,” Osip says. “She’s hot.”
“Real hot,” agrees Pavel.
“Smoking.”
“Scorching.”
“Electric.”
“Ravishing.”
They’ll keep going all day if I don’t stop them, so I interrupt, “Can you two act your age for five fucking seconds?”
Both of them look at me, wild grins smeared across their faces. “Point is,” Osip says, “she’s a catch and she’s just your type.”
“I don’t have a type. And I’m not interested in a real relationship with her. She’s a means to an end.”
“Which is?” Pavel asks.
“Getting custody of Luka.”
That gets their attention. Osip’s hand drops, and they both stare at me.
“You can’t get custody of Luka,” Pavel says slowly. “He has a mother.”
“A mother who doesn’t give a shit about him. Yana would rather spoon-feed him to that animal she married than actually be his parent.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Osip says. “Courts almost never take kids away from biological parents to place them with relatives. Trust me, I know. My grandmother tried for years to get me away from my pops.”
“Your grandmother was seventy years old with no income. I’m not.”
“How are you more suitable?” Pavel asks. “You’re a bachelor with a criminal record and—” He stops, understanding dawning on his face. “Oh.Oh.That’s where she comes in. You’re going to pretend to be the perfect couple.”
I sit down on the bench. “Exactly.”
“Did you talk to Delgado about this?” Osip asks.
“Of course. He thinks it could work, but the performance has to be convincing.”
