Page 14 of Lenkov

Chapter Three

Rylee

“It’s just us now. You can’t hide behind our son any longer.” Trailing my finger through the condensation on my glass of water, I look out from underneath the shaded area of the patio. Done in earth-toned stone with a built-in grill and serving Island, the outdoor area is rustic elegance at its best. It’s a space meant to service large groups of people. We’ve been here for two days, and I’ve eaten better than I have in ages. Jaycee has helped keep things civil, but the tension has ratcheted up to nearly unbearable.

“Did you hear me?”

“I’m choosing my words carefully.” I glance at him from underneath my lashes, trying to get a read on the man across the table from me.

With our son, he’s animated and patient. Once we’re alone, his whole mannerism shifts. Stoic and domineering, he has two faces, and I’m not sure which is the real one. Anticipating a Dr. Jekyll and Hyde act keeps me on edge.

“Only people I know who have to think that hard are those about to lie—.” His hazel-colored eyes sear me like lasers.

I feel like he’s trying to see through to my soul. I return his stare. He’s been a bulldozer upturning the ground beneath my feet and forcing me into a corner. I’m ready to dig my heels in and show him exactly who he’s dealing with.

“Do you have something you want to say to me?” I set my glass down with a heavy hand and lean forward, gripping the arms of the wicker chair. He’s not the only one done making nice.

“I’m pretty sure I’ve already done that.” He arches an eyebrow.

“I have nothing to prove to you, Lenkov. If you want to call me out, do it without the veiled insults on my character.”

His jaw tightens. Not so ice-cold, after all.

Pleasure rises in my chest. “Who’s silent now?” I taunt him, eager to get under his skin and on his nerves. Clearly, he’s too used to getting his own way with no resistance.

“You—”

The sliding door opens, and a dangerous man in a designer suit walks in with a graying man in a pair of khakis and a pale blue button-down t-shirt.

“Brother, did you think I wouldn’t find out?” he booms.

I pull back from the table on high alert as the hairs on my back stand up. He’s looking at me like I’m public enemy number one.

“This is none of your business, Vas.”

“I’ll be damned if my baby brother is going to be conned by this charlatan.”

“Jokes on you. I don’t even want to be here.”

He sneers. “And yet you’ve wasted no time worming your way into his life, did you, Rylee Marie Paulson? Single mother. I see the college dropout working dead-end jobs has found herself a meal ticket.” The disgust behind his words hits me like scalding water.

“Fuck you.”

“She is mine to deal with as I see fit.” Lenkov’s chair drags across the stones as he rises, blocking me from his brother’s view.

“It’s my job to make sure there are no embarrassing situations.”

“Get out,” Lenkov demands.

“Gladly, as soon as I have my samples.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Lenkov steps toward him, and Vas holds up his hand.

“You can deal with me now or our father later. Right now, I’m doing you a courtesy by keeping this between us.”

“Don’t act like this is for me. You’re still trying to kiss and make-up with Dad after going head to head with him over the girls.”

Vas scowls. “I don’t regret any of my choices.”

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