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“What about you?” he asked in an obvious bid to change topics. “Will the great Vuk Markovic ever tie the knot?” My face shuttered. That depended on what happened in two weeks. If Ayana and Jordan got married, then that was it. If they didn’t… We’ll see.
It curled up tight against my chest and continued to shiver.
I headed to the kitchen, wrapped the cat in a towel, and placed it on the floor. From what I could glimpse, I guessed it was a male.
My gaze remained locked on his as I reached for my engagement ring and slid it, inch by inch, off my finger. It hit the carpet with a soft thud. Darkness swallowed Vuk’s eyes.
“Do you taste that, srce moje?” Vuk’s eyes burned into mine. “That’s the taste of your need for me. Not anyone else. Me.” He pushed his fingers deeper. I choked, my eyes welling with tears. “You’re mine, Ayana. I teško onom koji pokuša da mi te uzme.”
“There’s one thing you should know about me, Ayana,” he said, his breath grazing my ear. “I. Don’t. Share.”
I’d spent the past two weeks trying to find a way out of this mess, but short of kidnapping her, my hands were tied. And I had thought about the kidnapping angle. Multiple times. If it weren’t for the Brotherhood and the other shit ruining my life, I would’ve even considered it seriously.
Because lying unconscious next to me in a pool of blood, his skin whiter than death, was Jordan.
“Can you hold me?” she asked, her voice small. “Just for a little bit.” Fuck. My heart cracked straight down the middle.
Ayana’s face softened. “Thank you for holding me.” A thick, foreign sensation invaded my chest. It was so warm, it was almost uncomfortable. I had no words to describe it, so I responded with the simple truth. “Always.”
I was tempted to leave Shadow there, but at the last minute, I grabbed his smug ass from the chair and took him home.
Shadow stared straight at me while he nuzzled her breast. He let out a small meow, which she interpreted as a sign of affection and I interpreted as a big, fat fuck you.
Ayana met my wary gaze with a sure one of her own. “I want you to teach me how to shoot.”
“I love that you brought your cat.” I petted Shadow and smiled when he thumped his tail against my thigh. “He’s a temporary guest, and I didn’t bring him,” Vuk said in a long-suffering tone. “He’s a stowaway. I didn’t notice him hiding in the back until we stopped for gas.” He scowled at the sleepy feline. Shadow was curled up in my lap, oblivious to his owner’s irritation.
“I would’ve noticed him earlier,” he added, “if you hadn’t packed your entire closet for the weekend. I can barely see past the mountain of luggage in the rearview mirror.” “It’s not my entire closet,” I said. “It’s only one-eighth of it.” Three suitcases, one duffel, and one vanity case was the bare minimum. Did he know how much space shoes took up? “That’s…terrifying.” Despite his words, a little smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
I couldn’t find the right words to describe the sentiment, so I reached for his hand instead. It rested on the center console between us, and his skin was warm and rough when I laced my fingers through his. Vuk’s hand tensed. After a moment, it relaxed again, and he tentatively curled his fingers around mine. We stayed like that for the rest of the ride.
Every celebrity who visited D.C. usually dropped by for a meal. Autographed photos of high-profile guests covered the dining room’s Wall of Fame. They featured everyone from movie star Nate Reynolds to British soccer phenom Asher Donovan to Queen Bridget of Eldorra, who’d been a regular here during her student days at Thayer University.
“He turned the big three-five today.” I could’ve strangled him. Ayana’s eyes rounded. “It’s your birthday?”
Tell the guys I’ll pick up Shadow later. I paused, then added, Make sure they don’t give him any fucking milk. Cats are lactose intolerant.
He placed a hand on the small of my back and guided me firmly into the shop.
“What does srce or srce moje mean?” I asked toward the end of our meal. “You keep calling me that.” Vuk finished his slice without answering. “Hello?” I waved my hand in front of his face. “Earth to Vuk.” He swallowed and wiped his mouth. It’s better if you don’t know. “Is it something embarrassing? You’re not calling me, like, little rat or something, are you?” Vuk smirked but didn’t confirm or deny. “I could just look it up,” I said. “Once I figure out how to spell it.” So look it up. I let out a frustrated growl. “For someone who can be so thoughtful, you can also be a real asshole.” He
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“It was a pleasure being your fiancée, Jordan Ford.” His smile held all the nostalgia of our long friendship. “Back at you, Ayana Kidane.”
He blinked up at me, his eyes bleary. “Jesus,” he said. “Creep much? I know you missed me, but you don’t have to watch me sleep like you’re Edward fucking Cullen.”
heheh
Jordan eyed me. “Words of comfort from Vuk Markovic?” he joked. “Ayana’s influence, I presume.” The only ones you’ll get from me. You want to talk more? Get a real therapist.
A smile teased his lips when he saw me. “That’s your idea of a comfortable outfit?” I’d opted for an ultra-soft cashmere dress and knee-high Christian Louboutin stiletto boots. I’d slicked my hair back into a bun and accessorized with a pair of simple gold studs. I didn’t want my jewelry to get caught on anything. I shrugged, not seeing the problem. “I’m comfortable in heels and dresses.”
I’d been wearing stilettos since I was a teenager. At this point, I could run a marathon in them.
“Vuk. This a ten-thousand-dollar dress.” “Yes.” When she continued to gape at me, my brows furrowed. “Too cheap?”
Vuk: I’m on my way. Be there soon. Vuk: I can’t wait to see you. He followed up his text with an excited cat meme. I giggled and responded with a similarly excited minion meme.
“This party is wild. I saw Indira and Riley K. doing shots with Asher Donovan and his girlfriend at the bar.”
“I should’ve chosen a Murder Mystery theme and used him as the dead body. Bonus points for realism when I stab him with a butcher’s knife. See if he finds themes tacky then.”
In my experience, people who were that riled up about each other either ended up killing each other or falling in love.
“Now that that’s settled, our business is concluded. You’re officially terminated from the agency.”
I tried not to imagine Ayana tied up somewhere, terrified and alone. Hold on, baby. I’m coming.
And as long as you don’t go around, like, stabbing people who give you a parking ticket,
A loud meow interrupted our makeout session. I startled, and we parted just in time for Shadow to jump onto the bed and plop himself right on Vuk’s chest. Despite Shadow’s exceedingly poor timing, I couldn’t help but giggle at the scowl on Vuk’s face. “Get out,” he ordered. “We’re busy.”
I also set up Enzo’s family with enough money for life. It wouldn’t bring him back, nor did it fully assuage my guilt over his death, but it was the least I could do.
I’d behaved perfectly this month—except maybe for that time I “accidentally” pushed a guy into an indoor pool for staring at her ass too long. The guy had been undressing her with his eyes in front of everyone at an industry event. How was I supposed to know he couldn’t swim? He’d survived in the end. Some Good Samaritan had fished him out like a wet rat.
She laughed and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Seriously, thank you for doing this. I’m pretty sure half our friends collapsed with shock when they received their first party invitation from the Vuk Markovic.” I snorted. First and last.
I didn’t point out that he was the one who’d booked Shadow a day at a luxury cat spa just last weekend.
I retrieved his cologne from his bag. I turned the bottle around, expecting to see a combination of woods and vanillas on the label. I didn’t. In fact, I didn’t see any scent notes at all. There was only one sentence printed in vintage typewriter font: Will you marry me?
So I only have one question to ask. Ayana Kidane, will you marry me?” My tears had spilled out before he finished his first sentence, and they came faster and harder now as his question hung in the air. “Yes. Oh my God, yes!” I sobbed. “Of course I’ll marry you!”
