Leopard's Run (Leopard People 10)

“No one is going to get to you. I’m with you now, Ashe, and that means they’ll have to walk through me to get to you. That won’t be so easy.”

“Why? You know, just by being here, I’m a threat to Evangeline and your brother.”

“Because you’re mine.”

He said it so simply. So positively, as if he didn’t have a doubt in the world. She shook her head. “Honey, sex doesn’t solve every problem, and we’d have major ones.”

His eyebrows shot up and his fork paused halfway to his mouth. “Why do you think that?”

She laughed. “Because you’re you and you think an order is meant to be obeyed. And I’m me. I think an order should be ignored.”

“You’ll get over that.”

The way he said it, so simply, so smugly and complacently, as if there was no other conclusion, made her want to laugh again with sheer happiness. He was made for her. Custom-made. But what was the old saying? Be careful what you wish for. Still, she loved that he was so in control. That he had so much confidence in himself and his ability to command her.

“Maybe, if you’re worth it, Timur, but most men aren’t.”

“I was born to be with you, Ashe. I have no doubts at all about that. You’re the one who needs to catch up. Try the garlic bread and tell me how you came to be here.”

She had been trying to resist the garlic bread, although it smelled wonderful and more, it looked fabulous, calling to her repeatedly. She had curves. Lots of them, and she knew bread was one of her weaknesses. She gave in and took a warm piece from the basket.

“Evangeline was my savior. I read about her marrying Fyodor. Of course, at the time, the papers used the name he was living under, but it didn’t matter. He was a member of the mafia. At least the speculation was there. I was looking for a dangerous man and that was what I needed. I knew whoever was after my parents had found me and I led them right here, hoping Evangeline’s husband was fierce enough to protect her and kill them. I wanted them dead.”

She looked him in the eye when she declared it. She meant every word and if that meant she was a bad person and was going straight to hell, then so be it. She was ready to accept those consequences. She was even willing to accept that Timur might be playing her in order to better find out why she was there and that meant he might pull out his gun and shoot her. He hadn’t seen the carnage left behind, the bodies of the only two people she loved in the world, so ravaged and mangled that she had barely been able to identify them. “I want them dead,” she repeated.

“They’ll die,” he said.

She heard the promise in his voice and let out her breath. He was strong enough. He was that man—the one she’d dreamt of. “I’ll help in any way I can.”

“Then give me your word that you’ll stay so I’m not worried that you’re going to take off while I’m looking the other way.”

She was inexplicably proud of him for taking advantage, so much so that she couldn’t stop the grin. “Nice. Take advantage.”

“Always.”

“I’m going to remember that.”

He shrugged and took a drink of water, washing the sourdough bread down. “As long as you’re staying, I’m okay with that. Tell me more about Evangeline and you.”

“Honestly, Timur, there isn’t that much to tell. I went to the bakery and she recognized me right away. I told her I was in trouble, and I was very honest with her, that someone had killed my parents and they were after me. I needed work and a place to stay. She gave me both. All the utilities here at this house are in her name. Evangeline is the most generous person I’ve ever met. She didn’t even hesitate. Not for a moment.”

Ashe flicked him a quick look from under her lashes. “She did warn me about you.”

Timur looked a little smug over that. “She warned you about me, not Fyodor?”

Ashe nodded almost reluctantly.

Timur looked extremely superior and arrogant over that. “Because that little minx has him wrapped around her finger. He does everything she asks. I wouldn’t be surprised if she tells him which suit to wear in the morning.”

“I think that’s sweet,” Ashe said, just to watch his eyes change color.

“Don’t think you’re going to get to do the same, malen’kiy smirch , because I can assure you, it won’t happen.”

She was up for the challenge. “I am not a little tornado,” she denied.

“That’s exactly what you are. You wreak havoc wherever you go.”

She laughed because it was a fair assessment of her. “I suppose you’re right.” There was no sense in denying it. “My father used to say that all the time. He said my grandfather would have liked me.”