Page 47 of Delicious Prey

“He’s a fucking idiot. He’s forgetting that I’ve met him at his house many times. I know the layout of it as well as he does, probably better.”

When I see Lydia hovering in the doorway, I stretch my arm out and motion for her to come closer. She gives me a shy smile, arms still crossed over her chest, but now she’s fidgeting nervously with the cuffs of her sweatshirt.

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to interrupt or anything.”

As soon as she’s close enough, I grab her waist and pull her onto my lap. I kiss her cheek and bring my lips close to her ear. “There’s never a time when I don’t want you near me, zaika.”

She kisses my cheek and whispers, “Okay,” and then relaxes against me while I switch back to Russian and talk to Vadim. I fill him in on exactly what happened last night with Jay, and then tell him what I’m planning to do tonight with Ivan.

“You sure you want to do it tonight?” he asks.

“Yes, there’s no point in waiting, and things are just going to get worse. If Jay found me, then others will too. It’s only a matter of time. I’m taking her out of the country, but I’d rather not do it with a hit out on me. I don’t want to be worried about this for the rest of our lives. Besides,” I say with a grin, “I’ll be fine as long as I have some backup. You haven’t let yourself get soft while I was locked up, have you?”

“Fuck you,” he says with a soft laugh. “I may have been on babysitting duty, but I’ve kept up with my training. I’m still a good enough shot to cover your ass.”

I smile at his modesty. One of the reasons I chose to work with Vadim is because of his background as a sniper in the Russian special forces. I want someone I can trust, but also someone who can keep my ass safe from afar should the need arise. We’ve made a pretty good team over the years, and I’m going to need his help tonight if this is going to work.

Looking back at the screen, I count twenty armed guards, five on each side of the large mansion, and it doesn’t take a genius to know there are going to be more inside, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. If he thinks for one second he can keep me out, he’s in for one hell of a surprise. He’s made it harder for me, but not impossible—a decision that will cost him his life before the sun rises.

Vadim and I devise a plan while I run my hands through Lydia’s hair and keep a tight grip on her thigh. She may not understand the words we’re speaking, but she knows what we’re talking about, and I know she’s worrying about me. I’m still not used to having someone care about my safety. Most people actively want me dead, so for someone to worry about my life, and not just worry but actually put themselves at risk to try and keep me safe, well, it’s unusual to say the least. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it.

“She’s gotten attached to you,” Vadim says, switching topics and watching the way she’s stroking my neck with her fingers.

“She has.” I don’t say anything else, but I’m not surprised it doesn’t deter him. He’s always ignored my gruff ways.

“What are you planning on doing after this?”

“We’ll be leaving the country. Anywhere she wants to go.”

He studies me for a second. “Is that all?”

I hold his gaze. “Yes,” I say, making it clear it’s the end of this particular line of questioning. Getting us back on topic, I watch the live feed and see Ivan’s wife and kids drive through the large, iron gate that surrounds his property. “Is his family often there?”

“Yeah, especially at night, and like I said, he’s been keeping close to home himself, no more late-night visits to his mistresses.”

“Good.” I smile and kiss Lydia’s forehead. “Men are much more compliant when family is close by.”

Vadim sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “I know you won’t go that route if you don’t have to.”

“I won’t,” I agree, “but I’ll do whatever the hell needs to be done to take care of this and end the threat on our lives. Ivan’s a dick, but I don’t think he’ll risk his family to save his own ass.” I give a soft shrug. “You never know, though. Some men don’t handle death all that well.”

We iron out the last of the details and agree to meet at Ivan’s at midnight. Before he leaves, he switches to English and tells Lydia, “The house is doing good, and I just wanted you to know that you are missing out big time. I drove by to check on things earlier, and your neighbor has decided that sunbathing in a speedo is what everyone wants to see.”

She laughs and says, “Mr. Henderson? Oh my god.” She turns to me, filling me in on the details while her eyes light up in amusement. “He just got divorced last year, and he’s in his late sixties. I don’t think the man has ever even had so much as a light tan.” She turns back to Vadim. “Did it almost blind you when you saw him?”

Vadim laughs. “Good thing I was wearing sunglasses.”

I watch them and feel a pang of jealousy. There’s not the slightest hint of anything flirtatious; I just hate that they share something I can’t be a part of. Vadim may not have ever spoken to her, but in some ways he knows her better than I do, and god does that irritate the hell out of me. I tighten my grip on her, unable to help the possessive reaction. She must sense my frustration because she puts a hand on top of mine and gives me a gentle squeeze before turning her face and kissing my cheek.

“I love you,” she whispers, and I melt at her words.

“I love you too, zaika.” Cupping the back of her head, I hold her closer, not caring in the slightest that this tiny woman can turn me into a goddamn puddle in front of Vadim. When I look over at him, his mouth is parted in surprise, although he recovers quickly and tries to act like he’s not shocked. Vadim has seen me do a lot of things over the years, but he’s never seen me cuddle with a woman and tell her I love her. First time for everything, I guess.

“I’m going to get the fuck out of here before my head explodes,” he tells me in Russian with a soft laugh. “I’ll see you tonight.” Giving Lydia a smile, he tells her in English, “Glad to see you’re doing so well. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.”

“Bye, Vadim,” she tells him, giving him a smile and a wave.

“See you at midnight,” I holler out to him as he walks down the hall. I hear Peanut scrambling along the floors. He must’ve just burst through the doggy door. Vadim laughs and judging by the happy little yips echoing down the hall, Peanut is thrilled to see him.

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