Page 35 of Deadly Protector
CHAPTERTWELVE
Zamira was glad that Dimitri was with her as they stood just inside the entrance of the storage facility. It was hard to believe that a couple hours ago she’d been naked, sated in bed with Dimitri.
Now…she was dealing with the remnants of her husband’s past in a storage place with crappy air conditioning. To say that was frustrating was an understatement.
Two men had come with Dimitri—they worked with her brother-in-law Lyosha so she’d seen them around. And they were definitely armed. The bulges under their shirts made it clear they weren’t bothering to hide the fact.
Ryba looked up at them, shot her a sharp glare as he closed another plastic bin—the final one. A shiver ran through her at the ice in his gaze. It didn’t seem as if he’d found what he was looking for. And she had no idea what to do about that. Not when he wouldn’t help himself by simply telling her what he wanted.
Dimitri stepped forward in a fluid movement. “Look at her like that again and I’m done playing nice.”
Ryba’s jaw clenched as he looked at Dimitri, his hands curling into balls. “It’s not here.”
“And you’re still not going to tell us what it is?” Dimitri asked.
Ryba looked between the two of them. It was clear he wasn’t talking.
Zamira took a breath. “Whatever you’re looking for is obviously worth something. A lot of something, if the way you’re acting is any indication,” she snapped, drawing all his attention to her. “But if you’d actually think about this whole situation, you’d realize I don’t have whatever it is you want. I live in a nice house, yeah, but I’ve got two kids who are expensive. Sports, clubs, braces, you name it. I’ve got bills just like everyone else! I’m not living a high life. We don’t take crazy expensive vacations. I’m a mom, just raising her kids.”
She didn’t mention not having a mortgage—she didn’t have one because her husband had taken out a life insurance policy. She’d wanted to make sure her kids always had a roof over their heads and she’d started saving for their future education.
“And you’re not helping out at all in the information department. I’ve given you everything I could think of that belonged to Lucas. Everything I didn’t donate. If he had something that was yours, I’d give it to you.” She hoped he heard the truth in her words. Her kids’ safety was worth everything. She would never put them in danger by withholding something.
“You should have answered my letters,” he growled, then raised his palms slightly when Dimitri took a small step toward him.
“What did your letters say?” She wasn’t backing down on telling him she hadn’t received them. That was a lie she’d take to her grave.
He was silent a long moment, then he rubbed an agitated hand over his head. “Doesn’t matter now,” he muttered. “There’s nothing else of his you’re leaving out?”
She shook her head. “No.”
Finally he nodded, his expression a mix of resignation and anger. “All right.”
“Go wait in the SUV,” Dimitri murmured without taking his eyes off Ryba.
She wanted to ask him to come with her, didn’t want to leave him alone in this storage unit, but she wasn’t going to argue. Not when he clearly wanted to have this out with Ryba here and now. “Okay.”
Dimitri narrowedhis gaze at Ryba, not liking the appreciative way he was checking out Zamira as she walked away. “Eyes on me.” His voice was whiplash sharp.
“Sorry.” Ryba shrugged, clearly not apologetic. “She’s even hotter than she was a decade ago. Too good for Lucas, that’s for sure—though he was a pretty boy, so I understand what she saw in him.”
“And I’m thinking about not letting you walk out of this unit.” Dimitri was done with this guy. He wasn’t going to kill him—not unless he had to—but he wanted Ryba afraid of him.
Ryba’s eyes widened, as if he just realized what he’d said. Or maybe he’d realized what a fine line Dimitri was walking right now. “No disrespect intended.”
Yeah, right.This guy was either baiting him or just plain stupid. Probably both. “Are you going to bother her again?”
Ryba’s jaw tensed, his forearm muscles flexing as he crossed his arms over his chest. He looked at the table of boxes and bins. “No.”
“For some reason I don’t believe you.”
His arms dropped. “I won’t!”
“She’s under my protection—and Viktor Ivanov’s.” He didn’t like throwing around his friend’s name, but it was true. And Viktor had told Dimitri to make it clear to this little shit that if he made a move, Ryba would be up against the weight of Viktor.
Ryba’s eyes widened ever so slightly. “He’s not even in the game anymore.” But there was definite fear in his pale blue eyes.
“You think he’s any less dangerous now that he makes his money legitimately.” Not a question.
