Page 56 of The Primary Pest
Bartosz threw a pen at him. “Are you out of your mind?”
“I don’t know, am I?” Dmytro shook his head. “It’s impossible. I can’t feel this. I can’t be the man who falls for a client.”
“Right? Because you know it would be too dangerous for all of us. Your emotional attachment compromises our safety.” Bartosz reminded him, “You got a brand-new life at Iphicles.”
Dmytro pushed away from his workstation. “Do you think I don’t know that?”
“Are you willing to destroy your second chance?” Bartosz asked gently. “What would Yulia say if she knew you risked the safety of her children’s father?”
Dmytro stood. “Someday someone will kill you for the liberties you take, Bartosz.”
“They’ll have to catch me.”
“Then God help you. You’re slow as a fat toad.” He and Bartosz went back a long way—they were brothers-in-arms—but he couldn’t bear to be near him just then.
Bertosz called after him, “You don’t have to be fast if you’re crafty.”
Dmytro kept any further thoughts to himself.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ajax
Ajax had falleninto a deep sleep. Now he woke from the heaviness of alcohol-induced slumber without knowing exactly where he was or what roused him. He held his breath and kept still because he sensed he wasn’t alone.
He opened his eyes halfway.
Dmytro leaned against the cabin doorway, hands jammed deep in his pockets, saying nothing. Jesus, was Dmytro watching him sleep? Ajax recoiled. That would always be creepy.
“What?” he asked sharply. “What do you want now?”
Dmytro startled. “Nothing. I’m on your side. Remember?”
Ajax fell against his pillows. “What is it? Did you hear something?”
“Just checking to make sure you’re all right. Do you need anything?”
In the moonlight, Ajax felt around to make sure he had his water bottle. “I’m fine. Any new email threats?”
“Not since the last one.” Dmytro smiled wryly. “As you can imagine, we’ve got our hands full with comments since you posted content.”
“I’ll bet.” Ajax patted the side of his bed. “Sit. You’re giving me a crick in the neck.”
Dmytro sat politely, hands clasped between his knees. “Don’t let the comments bother you.”
“Like I give a shit.” Ajax sighed. “Inever cared what people say to me, only that they couldn’t look away.”
“That’s one way to define success.”
“Not for me. Not anymore. I want to be real.” He glanced at Dmytro’s strong hands. “I want to like myself. I’m not always so successful at that.”
Dmytro gave a little head shake. “Nobody’s confident at your age.”
“You weren’t?”
“Of course not.” Dmytro covered his face with his hands. “I was amudak. I thought if I was tough enough to be in the baddest gang, it wouldn’t matter that I failed to please my father at every turn.”
Ajax’s heart hurt for him. “How did you fail?”
