“My brother lives in America.”
“Your parents?”
Carson shakes his head. “I never knew my mother and my father died when I was sixteen.”
I reach across the table and squeeze his hand. “I’m sorry.”
He just shrugs as if the memories don’t bring him pain at all. Maybe he wasn’t close with his dad?
“Is that why you moved from Russia?”
Carson nods. “My brother moved me to Switzerland, so I’d be near him.”
“Are you and your brother close?”
I hope they are. It would be heartbreaking to find out Carson is alone in this world.
“We are.”
My mouth curves up again as relief flutters through me. “That’s good to hear.”
There’s a moment of silence, and it makes me realize I’m still holding his hand. Reluctantly I let go and pull my hand back to my side of the table.
Carson glances at his watch, and I ask, “Do you need to go meet your friend?”
He shakes his head. “Another hour.”
I relax back in my chair and grin at him. “Good, because I have more questions.”
The waiter comes, and Carson asks, “Another coffee?”
I nod. “Please.”
When we have our refills, I ask, “What do you do when you’re not working?”
He shrugs, and it draws my eyes to his shoulders, square beneath the leather jacket. “I work out.” He shrugs again. “Go to the bar.”
I let out a chuckle, and it makes the corner of his mouth curve up.
“Say something in Russian.”
“Like?”
“Anything. What’s your favorite curse word?”
Things feel relaxed between us, and Carson doesn’t look worried anymore.
“Blyad',” he mutters, and hearing him say something in his native language sounds dangerous. It makes exhilaration pump through my veins.
“What does it mean?”
“It’s similar to damn or fuck.”
“Blyad',” I try the word, but it doesn’t sound nearly as threatening as when he said it. When Carson nods, I grin. “Now I can curse the people back home without them knowing.”
Then he murmurs, “Krasivaya.” I tilt my head, and it has him translating it. “Beautiful.”
Slowly my smile fades as our eyes stay locked on each other.
Carson thinks I’m beautiful?
The thought makes warmth pour into my heart. I get a feeling it’s not something he would just say lightly, and it means so much more than just an everyday compliment would.
Chapter 5
CARSON
What the fuck am I doing?
This can’t happen.
Never.
Hailey’s not meant for my world.
I should leave her alone. Let her travel and explore to her heart's content.
But… I can’t.
If she’s seen with me, it will cost her her life. The thought has me darting up from my chair. I pull my wallet out, and taking out some cash, I drop it on the table.
“We’re leaving?” Hailey asks as she gets up.
“Yes.” I grab her bag from the floor and shrug the strap over my shoulder. Taking hold of her hand, I pull her slightly behind me as we leave the restaurant.
My eyes keep scouring our surroundings for any threat. Whenever I spot a CCTV camera, I tug Hailey closer and position my body so she’ll be hidden from it.
“Where are we going?” she asks. Her fingers flex in my hand, and it makes me loosen my grip a little.
“My car.”
A couple of yards later, we reach the SUV, and I unlock the doors. I open the passenger's side, and when Hailey gets in, I place her bag on her lap. “Stay here. Lock the doors.”
Knowing she’ll be hidden behind the tinted windows and safe in the armored vehicle makes the tension ease a little from my muscles.
When Hailey nods, I add, “I won’t take long.”
I hesitate to leave her.
My eyes dart over her, and on the spur of the moment, I ask, “Can you drive?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“If I’m not back in thirty minutes, go home. I’ll meet you there.”
A frown washes over her forehead. “What?”
“It’s just in case I can’t get away from my friend. I don’t want you sitting here for longer than thirty minutes.”
Or in case things go sideways and I get myself killed, seeing as my focus is not on the contract.
Leaning over her, I press a button on the GPS. “Just follow the directions. Okay?” Pulling back, I look at her, and it’s only then I realize how close our faces are.
“Ah… okay,” she whispers, her gaze dropping to my mouth.
No!
I pull back, and before I shut the door, I say, “Lock it.”
When I hear the click, I turn around and head in the direction of the club. As soon as I’m out of Hailey’s sight, I break into a flat-out sprint.
I come to a stop across the road from Gallery’s entrance and take a couple of seconds to even out my breathing. Rolling my neck from left to right, I force myself to focus on the contract.
Get in. Kill Rudaj. Get out.
I cross the road and fall in behind the line forming at the entrance. A couple of minutes later, I enter the club and wait as one of the bouncers pats me down for weapons.