There’s a brief pause, and he grunts, but then he continues to fire. I can’t see anything from behind his broad back. Hestarts moving, and I realize we’re making our way out of the warehouse.
Something buzzes past my ear. A chunk of wood from a nearby pallet flies off and hits my shoulder.
Artem shoves me behind a pallet stacked high with boxes.
“Stay there,” he orders and steps back out into the open.
More shots…three or four. I’ve lost count.
When it’s finally over, between the ringing in my ears and my heart hammering against my ear drums, I don’t understand what Artem’s saying. He must realize I’m lost because he grabs my jacket and pulls me out from behind the pallet.
He wraps his hand around mine, a gentleness in the viciousness of the room.
I’m pulled from the warehouse, having to step over the guard at the door as we leave. He’s not dead, just knocked out. He’s really going to have a surprise when he awakens.
“I have my car,” I say, stupidly as Artem brings me to his.
He opens the passenger door and gestures for me to get in.
“I can drive.” I continue to argue.
Without a word he picks me up and puts me into the car, taking the time to buckle me in. Once I’m secure, he brings his eyes level with mine, concern warring with rage.
He pulls out a handkerchief from the glove department and wipes the side of my face with it. There’s too much blood to be cleaned off with one small rag, though. He frowns.
The car shakes when he slams the door, and I’m left alone for a moment before he climbs in on his side. The ringing in my ears subsides enough for me to hear him on the phone as we pull away from the warehouse.
“Warehouse on Mass. Clean up.” There’s a pause as the other person speaks. “Five bodies, one car.”
“Kaz said there wasn’t anyone here in town.”
He tightens his grip on the steering wheel, speeding down the street.
“Don’t talk. Not yet.”
“But—” I snap my mouth shut when his glare hits me.
I’m not sure I’m out of danger yet.
The blood on her face isn’t hers. I remind myself of this as I park on her street. We won’t have much time. If she signed her lease with her real name, it will only take Janis a few hours to track her down.
I yank open her door and put my hand out to help her, but she ignores it, choosing to jump down to the curb on her own.
“You should rethink the attitude,” I say, grabbing her hand and tucking it into mine.
“I’m not trying to have an attitude. I’m trying to figure out what the hell happened tonight,” she says. At least she doesn’t try to pull away.
Not that I’ll let her.
I stop outside her building and turn to her.
“What happened is you went to meet a dangerous man by all by yourself. Everything went sideways, and I got you out. That’s what happened then. Now here’s what’s going to happen now. We’re going to go up to your apartment, pack your things, and then we’re going to my place until I can figure out what the fallout is.”
Her mouth, that pretty mouth of hers I’ve dreamed of kissing and fucking, drops open before she changes her mind and closes it.
“Smart decision. First one you’ve had all night.” I pull her through the front door of the building then tap in the key code to for the security door to open.
“How did you know the code?” she demands as I smash the elevator button, but she already knows. Frustration simmers in her eyes.