Page 9 of Brutal Loyalty

“Da. It’s good. What is it?”

“Macchiato. It’s espresso with steamed milk foam on top. It’s great when you want a burst of caffeine, and the milk cuts the burn a bit.”

The GPS directed him to an industrial complex with tall brick buildings. “That wasn’t the entire order. Something about a percentage?”

She laughed. “Two percent is the amount of fat in the milk. I didn’t think you were a skim milk guy.”

Roman shook his head. “I’m not. At least, I don’t think I am. What are you drinking?”

She handed him her cup. “I’m going to do something I don’t ever do. Taste it.” When he didn’t immediately take her cup, she pressed it into his hand. “Live a little, chaufferone.”

Roman pulled into the loading area in the back of one of the warehouses and put the van in park before turning off the engine. Bringing the cup to his lips, he took a small sip and winced. “That’s coffee?”

Elena snorted and took the cup back. Roman found himself watching as she placed her lips where his had been. It made sense given that the cups had lids on them with only one opening, but he still found it strangely erotic.

“It’s a coffee drink,” she emphasized. “It has chocolate syrup in it, and it’s made with soy milk.”

Roman wasn’t sure which part tasted worse—the chocolate or the soy milk. It all sort of tasted like sweet dirt to him, but she was clearly enjoying it, and for some reason, he didn’t want to spoil it for her.

Climbing out of the van, he wasn’t surprised to feel more awake. The coffee had done the trick. He spotted his contact and told Elena to wait in the van while he went to see where their cargo was. It was already waiting for him, and he quickly returned to the van.

“All I need you to do is hold the dolly steady while I stack boxes,” he instructed her as he helped her down from the van, thinking that he should have told her to change her heels. To his pleasant surprise, Elena nodded without complaint or interruption. She followed him with the hand truck and rested her foot against the back to keep it from sliding while he carefully stacked heavy crates onto it.

“Who needs CrossFit?” Elena joked. Roman couldn’t help but smile but that quickly shifted to a glare when he caught some of the workers checking her out. Maybe he also should have given her enough time to change into something that showed less skin. He paused for a moment to lean against the wall and catch his breath while he wiped the sweat from his brow. What Elena Popov was wearing shouldn’t bother him. He shouldn’t care if anyone else was checking her out. At least, that’s what he told himself as he glared at the guys until they finally looked away.

“Thank you.” She’d said it so quietly that it didn’t register at first, and he gave her a questioning look. She waved toward the guys who were now ignoring them, but she didn’t repeat herself. He nodded at her in response, not sure what he could say.

Ever since the engine incident on the plane, Elena hadn’t been grating on his nerves quite so much. In fact, she was downright likable—and he had no idea what to think about that.

“I thought you were just a driver…bodyguard…kind of guy. But then I saw you fly a plane, and now here we are loading boxes onto a van. Viktor works you hard, huh?” Elena asked.

“Only with jobs that require a high level of competency. And trust,” Roman responded. “Viktor saved me from the streets and hired me when I was at the lowest point in my life. For that, my loyalty to him is eternal. But he is more than my pakhan. He is also my friend.”

Elena cocked her head at him with a thoughtful expression. Their eyes met.

“Loyaltyshouldbe eternal,” Elena said quietly, holding his gaze. “It is either given entirely and freely when owed, or not at all. There’s no in-between, only loyalty or disloyalty,” Elena said with slow deliberateness. “I’ve also read that loyalty to a cause is the foundation of personal identity. If you are so loyal to Viktor, and so trusted by him, you must have a strong character.”

Roman sensed no sarcasm or hostility in Elena’s tone; he kept his eyes on her, seeking any hint of an ulterior motive, but it seemed to him she was speaking from the heart.

“And what causes are you loyal to?” he asked. “What has shaped your personal identity?”

“Hmm…” Elena smiled, looked up in thought, and tapped her chin. “I’m loyal to myself, first and foremost. So many people just say what others want to hear, do what they’re told, but I try to listen to my heart and do what I feel is right instead of just…going with the flow, or whatever.” She paused to consider her next words, and Roman found himself listening with intrigue instead of just waiting to test her. Rather than focusing on his task at hand, he leaned back against the wall at his back and watched her.

“And I’m loyal to those who have earned it,” she continued. “I don’t think you can be loyal to anyone and everyone. Someone has to be worth it.” Elena tried to rest her weight against the dolly and almost fell. Roman moved to help her, but she caught her footing.

“Alexandra, for instance,” Elena said quickly, playing off her clumsiness and continuing to talk. “Like, she’s been my best friend forever. We were both the weird Russian kids in school, and we stuck up for each other. She’s always been there for me, and I’ve always been there for her. She’s earned my loyalty, so I work to keep it.”

Roman nodded—this, he had no trouble believing. “I can see that. And I can’t disagree with anything you’ve said, really.” He looked toward the rest of the boxes. “C’mon, let’s get the rest of these packed up so we can go home.”

“Yes, please!” Elena chirped. “I’m dying for a hot shower, a good meal, and a soft bed.”

“Me, too,” Roman answered, offering her a smile as he pulled the first load of boxes off toward the van.

“So, any idea what’s in these boxes?” she asked him. He gave her a look that would have stopped most people but instead she gave him an innocent smile. “What? Clearly, they’re important or Viktor wouldn’t have sent you, right?” Her tone shifted to something more conspiratorial. “And you must have some idea what’s in them or you wouldn’t have asked for my help, am I right?” She grinned at him and Roman smiled back as he shook his head.

“Yes, I know what’s in the boxes. No, I’m not going to tell you. So, let’s finish this up and get out of here.”

She gave him a mock salute without asking more questions. Box by box, they loaded the rest of the shipment into the van. He wasn’t about to tell her what they were transporting because it didn’t need to get back to her father.

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