I stared until I shoved out of Lev’s hold, dipping to pick my duffle off the floor.
Daniil asked, “Where and when are you supposed to meet this man?”
“Chest Lane and 43rd St. Red Buick. Fifteen minutes,” he panted.
Daniil put his gun away. “Thank you for being truthful.” He slammed his fist down against the man’s face.
I jerked back, and Lev kept me from falling. Blood spewed from the unconscious man’s broken nose. I swallowed down the bile that rose against the back of my throat. He lay as if he were dead even as Grigori, Stash, Carl, and Daniil released him.
I stared back and forth from the prone man to Daniil, wide-eyed, belatedly realizing my sunglasses were long gone. Probably when I had been punched. Blinking rapidly, I watched as Daniil grabbed a napkin to clean the blood off his hand while everyone began talking at once.
Glancing at Lev, I asked, “Isn’t anyone going to call an ambulance for that guy?” Hell, if I knew where my damn purse had dropped, I would do it.
Lev stared down at me calmly. “No.”
I jerked out of his hold, and pushed through the men that had held my attacker down and dropped to my knees, feeling for his pulse with my free hand, my other still pressed against my cheek. I found it, breathing a sigh of relief, and then I was jerked off my knees to stand shakily on my feet. Daniil released my arms when I was steady.
He grabbed my hand, pulling it from my face.
I stood a little shocked for two reasons.
One, Daniil tilted my chin, inspecting my cheek with terrifying eyes, but he was gentle.
Two, there was a lot of fucking blood on my hand that he had pulled away.
I was not positive what stunned me more.
He cursed softly, turning his head and speaking in Russian to one of his bodyguards, who nodded and walked away. His brown eyes met mine and trapped me. “You may not like fighting or guns, Ms. Forter, but it just saved your life. That man was an inch away from slitting your throat; and all for a thousand dollars.” He dropped his hands from my face and squatted, grabbing one of the man’s arms and yanking his sleeve up. He pointed, and I stared at the recent track marks from an obvious drug addiction. “He would have killed you in plain view of everyone just to score his next fix.” He tossed the man’s arm aside, standing. “You should think about that the next time you question if violence is a necessary evil.” Glaring, he turned his back to me, and joined the discussion about what should be done.
I stood in shock, staring down at the man who had almost killed me. I started shaking as I watched the blood begin to change from a steady flow to a trickle from his busted nose. This was not the first time I had been attacked in my line of work. I had once spent two weeks in a hospital from so many broken bones after I was mugged and beaten for a CD I’d had on me that contained information about a financial company cheating the I.R.S. That did not make this time any better. I was still freaked the hell out.
Someone brushed my arm, and I yelped loudly, jumping away from the touch. Standing with my feet shoulder width apart, I rested on the balls of my feet ready to sprint away. The room went silent. As my breath rushed from my lungs, I realized the bodyguard Daniil had spoken with was who had touched me. He was holding a bag of ice in his large paw. I stared wide-eyed at the ice as he lifted it higher.
He spoke with a heavier accent than Kirill. “This is for you, Ms. Forter. For your cheek.”
I blinked, and then giggled, feeling more than a little overwhelmed. I slapped a hand over my mouth to stop it. I breathed deeply, and from behind my hand, I murmured, “Please don’t sneak up on me like that again.”
“I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he stated softly, extending his hand.
I realized he was Ugly Duckling.
He was not any better looking while I was sober. But he seemed sweet.
I lowered my hand and took the ice, smiling kindly, even though the movement made my cheek hurt like hell. “No harm, no foul.”
His lips curled the tiniest bit, and it was even more dreadful and frightening, but I widened my smile because I did not think the man smiled very often. I did not want to scare him away from it. Everyone needed to smile once in a while. It was good for the soul.
I lifted the bag of ice to my cheek and flinched, but I kept it there. Slowly, I realized the room was still quiet. I glanced over my shoulder.
Everyone was staring mutely and wearing the oddest expressions.
Chloe’s mouth was gaping, and she pointed at the guard behind me. “Is he the guy you slept with last night? It would make sense for the Russian hickie you’ve got.” She stared over my head. “I’ve never seen him smile before.”
My eyes practically bulged wide, even as everyone’s jaws went slack while they stared over my head at Ugly Duckling. Well, except for Zane and Daniil. They were staring at him, but with hooded gazes. I could not read their expressions.
A deep chuckle sounded behind me. “She and I have not slept together. Although, I would not be opposed to it if she wished it so.”
I had the good sense to hood my own gaze, and shut my mouth before anyone glanced in my direction. This situation was just a smidge too crazy for me. They were glancing back and forth between the two of us; Zane was choking again, and Daniil was staring at his bodyguard with a hand over his mouth while he rested his elbow on an arm crossed over his chest.
I pointed at the man prone on the ground. “I think we have more important things to worry about than who I slept with last night and who my next partner is going to be. Is he still alive?” Everyone blinked a few times, and I kept my gaze firmly away from Daniil, who was still silent, and Zane, who was slowly gaining control over himself.
Artur looked down at the man. He kicked him in the ribs. Hard. The guy groaned in his unconscious state. Artur glanced at me. “He’s alive.”
I stared, holding the bag of ice to my cheek. He was as crazy as his dad was. I cleared my throat. “How about in the future I check his vitals?”
Ember was watching me closely. She motioned to the guy on the ground. “Elizabeth, would you like us to take care of this quietly? We’re looking for a little fun in Key West, so we’ll do it pro-bono between events. Find out who set this up.”
I knew what she really wanted. Pro-bono, my ass. I smiled sweetly. “Thank you, but I don’t think so. The police will be here any minute with you people pulling your guns like you did. I’ll let the authorities handle it.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.