Page 24 of The Payback

“About a year and a half ago. Uncle Danil died in his sleep, and Dimitri stepped in to lead as the heir. Things were turbulent for the first six months, but according to my husband, Dimitri is a good boss, if a little secretive and quiet. To me, he’s always seemed above it all.”

“I can see that. He’s a man of few words,” I agree.

“But enough about us. Tell me about you.”

I chuckle and take a sip. “Well, as you can tell from my accent, I’m from London—first generation, if that matters. And while I’m unsure what exactly my family has traded me for, I’m glad to be in New York.”

“That’s a whole lot of nothing, Elsa.” Anastasia levels me with a curious look. “What is it you want out of life? Because now, you might actually get it.”

What an odd concept. That my life as a respectable citizen and hard worker might not afford me the same opportunities as an organised crime wife would.

I pause, flipping through the file of Elsa Aslanov née Lee in my head. “Mostly, I just want to be comfortable and safe. There hasn’t been much of that in my life, you know? I don’t want to be worried about my family and their business. If my position here can help, I’ll do my part.”

Anastasia nods solemnly. “I understand that.”

“Is it the same for you?” I cover my mouth with my fingertips in mock horror. “I’m so sorry if that’s prying. Please ignore that question. I’ve just never talked about this type of thing with anyone, and my thoughts ran away from me.”

Anastasia waves me off. “It is, and it isn’t—prying, that is. But I don’t mind. My relationship wasn’t my choice, but I’m not mad about it. Aleksandr and I make it work, and sometimes I have to kick his ass into listening, but over the years, we’ve found what works for us.”

“How long have you been married?”

“Four years this August.”

“Wow. Any tips?” I ask, draining the last of my second glass. I have to stop, or I’ll have a sloppy evening.

“To butcher Roosevelt’s quote: Walk softly and use sex as a weapon.”

I throw my head back with a laugh. “That is brilliant. And noted.”

Composing myself, I look at Anastasia as she chuckles alongside me. “Thank you for this. Can we meet up again? You’ve made a new city seem less unfamiliar.”

“I’d love to. Lord knows we all need someone to lean on in this life.”

I pull my gifted phone out of my clutch and see a string of texts waiting for me.

Husband:Why did you leave the Ritz?

Husband:Where the fuck are you going?

Husband:Wewillhave a chat about this when you get home.

CHAPTERTEN

Eleanor

I tellAnastasia I have to get home and pay the tab from my phone. Because, of course, Dimitri linked a credit card to the damned thing.

He’s asking for trouble between the device being a key to his home and housing this much financial power. What if someone swipes it?

Anastasia and I leave the bar, finding my driver and her bodyguard arguing on the pavement. They level us with glares, and Anastasia smiles at me as she leaves with her guard, him whispering frantically to her in Russian while my driver—and I’m presuming my bodyguard—stares at me from his position beside the car, the door open and waiting for me. All too soon, the city whizzes by, and I’m in the lift on my way back up to the penthouse with the switched-off camera in my clutch.

The doors slide open with their usual chime, and I take a hesitant step inside. Dimitri’s messages are playing on a loop in my head, and I don’t know if I should be excited or nervous. I didn’t bother responding on the way home, feeling like each message I began to type sounded childish when I reread it.

The glow of the city lights the apartment, and every step I take across the polished floors sounds ominous. I stop short when I see Dimitri sitting on the couch in the same spot he took up last night, a glass of amber-brown liquid dangling between two fingers.

I approach slowly, and Dimitri tears his gaze from the skyline and looks at me. “You left.”

“You’re tracking me.”

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