Stepan chortled and lifted his hand to high-five me. “Right on, Beast!”
Keeping a wary eye on the Rottweiler, I slapped Stepan’s palm, trying to appear enthusiastic though I was anything but. I didn’t appreciate my face being the topic of so much conversation. Tim was starting to piss me off tonight.
“Later, dudes.” Grinning, Stepan strode off with the dog, finally disappearing around the corner of the house with the animal. Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Dude.” Timofey smacked my arm. “Look! She’s baaack.” He jerked his head toward the gate at the front of the Popov property where one of the Bratva’s black SUVs pulled up.
I jolted, my face heating, my heart racing in an entirely different way. I’d been so distracted by the dog that I hadn’t noticed Annika was home from her concert. The entire family had gone to support her—even those who lived in Lake Tahoe had shown up—but it seemed Annika was the first one back. It would probably be only a matter of minutes before the others arrived.
The gate opened, and the car drove onto the property, heading up the drive, and halting at the front steps. Though I couldn’t see her through the tinted glass, if she was looking out, she would see me.
I dropped my head quickly, not wanting her to see my ugly face. Not wanting to frighten her. Somehow over the years I’d managed to keep my face hidden from her at all times. As far as Annika Popov was concerned, I didn’t even exist. I’d never spoken to her. I’d always kept a safe distance.
It looked like that was about to change.
My heart thudded.
The fact that she’d arrived before the others meant Tim and I would have to help her into the house.
I gulped.
The guard in the passenger seat hopped out and came around the back of the car as the hatchback popped open. He removed Annika’s wheelchair, depositing it next to the vehicle. Then he opened her door.
Swallowing hard, I peered out at her through the hair that fell into my face.
A flash of blue silk.
A wave of her delicate, fine-boned arm as she motioned at the guard.
Then a glimpse of her stunning features: pale, creamy skin, rosy cheeks, soft lips, and arresting blue eyes I’d never had the privilege of looking directly into.
My chest tightened.
Annika didn’t even notice me standing on the porch with Tim, her attention focused entirely on carefully maneuvering herself out of the car and into the wheelchair. Though the woman was fiercely independent, I fought the urge to rush to her aid. To scoop her into my arms and feel her soft, feminine body against my own hard one. Toprotecther from everything evil in this world.
Tokillthe man who’d put her in that chair.
Someday, I vowed I would find him and put an end to his vile existence. So that Annika could live without fear.
“Thank you, Yegor.” Her soft voice floated across the short distance to where I stood with Timofey, snapping me out of my thoughts, and sending awareness shooting through me like bolts of lightning.
Yegor pushed the wheelchair forward, pausing at the bottom of the porch.
Tim and I hurried down the steps, preparing to lift her into the house.
With a nod at us, Yegor went back to the car, and the vehicle drove around to the huge, multi-car garage.
“Good evening, Miss Annika,” Tim greeted her warmly. “How did the concert go?”
Keeping my face averted, I eagerly waited to hear her response.
“It went well, Timofey, thank you for asking. I only messed up once, but it was so brief, I don’t think the audience detected it.”
While her attention was focused on Tim, I tilted my head and eyed her through my messy hair, my heart pounding at her close proximity.
Annika was an up-and-coming concert pianist who’d taken the country by storm with her incredible talent when she’d been invited to perform on a famous talk show a few years ago. She’d been compared to some of the greatest pianists of all time, such as Argerich, Gould, and even Mozart. Annika deserved every bit of praise because she wasthatgood. This year was Annika’s second tour, but the “horrific incident” five months ago had interrupted her performance and put her out of commission for a while. I was still amazed and awed that she’d had the courage and the perseverance to go back on stage and try to finish the tour.
Tim chuckled. “Of course, the audience didn’t notice. They were too bedazzled by your beauty.”