Page 134 of Shattered Altar (Makarova Bratva Duet)

“I needed that,” she says, thumping her now-empty glass down on the table.

“You okay?” I ask carefully.

She exhales slowly, but forces a smile on her face. “I’m always okay.”

“Jennifer.”

“What?”

“You look like you might need a break.”

Her eyes flash with menace. “I do not need a break from anything. I can handle this job. I’ve handled it for five fucking years.”

“Really? Because you seem pretty rattled right now.”

“You’re the one who’s rattled!” she snaps. I give her an all-knowing look—Don’t try to pull that bullshit on me—and she sighs. “Okay, fine. It’s just… it’s not always easy, you know? Moving back and forth between worlds.”

Demyan and I exchange a glance. Of course, she catches it.

“Oh, don’t do that,” she says. “Don’t look at each other like I’m a problem that needs to be fixed.”

“Like I said, you’ve been in it too long.”

“You have a lot of enemies, Mr. Makarova.”

I snort. “I’m aware.”

“If I don’t do what I do, who’s going to have your back when shit blows up?”

“You’re not my only spy, Jen.”

“But I am your favorite,” she points out cockily. “I’m the only one you trust.”

“Wrong. I don’t trust anyone.”

She smiles. “I’ve been in the underworld long enough to suss out a lie. You’re good, don’t get me wrong. But I can sense it all the same.”

“Or maybe your ego is just getting in the way of your judgment.”

She scoffs. “That hasn’t been the case in a long time. Not since—well, we don’t need to go there.”

I smile. “It’s good to see you, Jennifer.”

Her smile turns soft and sincere. “I know. It’s good to see you, too. Both of you.”

“Thanks for saying that. I was starting to feel left out,” Demyan pouts.

“Oh! Speaking of which, I heard you’ve got a pretty wife locked up here somewhere,” Jen says.

Her tone is nonchalant, but I don’t miss the way her fingers clench tight until the whites of her knuckles show through.

“She’s not locked up anymore,” I say. “I gave her freedom of the house, which of course she’s already abusing.”

“Freedom of the house?” Jennifer gasps in alarm. “You mean, I could have run into her out there?”

“It’s not impossible.”

“Christ. I didn’t expect her to be roaming the halls so soon.”

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