by Leslie North
Grigori headed towards the door of the diner, only to be stopped by a friendly, “Good morning, sir. Ain’t the sun beautiful?”
Grigori was astounded at the gravelly voice and the cheerfulness behind it. “Good morning.” He took a step closer, intrigued at the smile the man sent his way.
“The name’s Dennis,” the man said, offering up his gnarled hand in greeting.
Grigori took the proffered hand, noticing that it was clean, the nails were neatly trimmed, and the palm was covered with the remnants of callouses. “Gri—uhm, Greg Walker.” Good save!
“Nice to meet you, Greg. Are you new around here? I haven’t seen you before.”
Grigori nodded. “Yes. I’m just visiting the area for a few days.”
“It’s a nice place to visit. At least, that’s what I told myself twenty years ago. I’m still here, as you can see.”
Grigori stepped closer still and asked, “So do you live around here?”
The old man chuckled. “Well, I has me a cot over at the homeless shelter. It’s clean, and they have a shower we can use.”
Grigori was intrigued with the man and wondered what circumstances could have brought him to this point in his life. What would make someone live like this for twenty years?
Grigori nodded towards the diner. “I was just about to go grab some breakfast. Would you care to join me? My treat.”
The old man smiled. “I have to confess I would love one of Molly’s breakfast burritos, but I don’t go inside buildings. Well, except for the shelter at night.”
Grigori looked at him and decided not to push the man for answers right now. While he would love to hear his story and see if there was something he could do to help the man out, he had other pressing matters that needed his attention.
“I’ll be right back.” Grigori entered the diner and ordered two breakfast burritos and two cups of coffee, then had the waitress box up a homemade cinnamon roll.
He paid for the food, then balanced everything as he stepped back outside and headed for Dennis. He handed him a cup of coffee, one of the burritos, and the boxed cinnamon roll. He was standing directly in front of him, bent slightly at the waist to ensure the man’s food didn’t slip from his hands as he stabilized it, when he heard an unholy shriek split the air and the sound of feet running towards him.
Chapter 3
He straightened and turned just in time to catch sight of a little spitfire hurtling towards him. “Get away from him!”
“What in the world?” Grigori asked, holding his coffee cup to the side so it wouldn’t spill on either of them.
“What are you doing?” the spitfire asked, edging around him and placing her body between his and the old man. Talking over her shoulder, she asked, “Dennis? Are you okay?”
“Sure enough, Desi. I’m fine. Greg here was just—”
“Greg? How do you know Greg?”
Grigori had had enough, and he turned and narrowed his gaze at the small woman standing in defense of the old man and had to bite the inside of his lip to hold back the chuckle that wanted to erupt.
The woman Dennis had referred to as Desi was over a foot shorter than he was, with brown eyes that were currently shooting daggers at him and short brown hair that framed her heart-shaped face. She had both hands on her hips and was daring him with her stance and her look to make another move towards the old man.
Her hair was askew on one side and her T-shirt was slipping off a very delectable shoulder, and from what he could tell, she wasn’t wearing anything beneath it. He let his eyes travel leisurely down her body, then back up to meet her eyes. She was delightful in her anger, and he found himself stifling another laugh as she squared off against him.
Grigori wasn’t a small man, and even men who matched his height and weight took one look at him and usually turned away. This little sprite thinks she can take me on. All by herself!
“I think you may have gotten the wrong impression. I was just buying Dennis breakfast. Would you care to join us, miss?”
“Desi.”
Grigori inclined his head. “Miss Desi.”
“No, not miss. Just Desi.” She turned away and all at once realized she had made a complete fool of herself. Dennis had a breakfast burrito, cinnamon roll, and coffee cup from Molly’s in his hands, and a smile that never ceased to brighten up her day, no matter how tired she was.
Turning to apologize, she let her eyes travel up the length of the stranger’s body, and up and up. Gosh, he’s really tall, or I’m really short! Her eyes took in the black skintight T-shirt he wore, the long sleeves barely concealing the end of the full sleeve tattoos he wore. His deep blue eyes were visible, but only because his aviator glasses had been hung on the neckline of his T-shirt.
His thick black hair was cut short and spiked up at the front. She let her eyes travel back down, pausing at his full lips and fighting down the urge to lick her own as she wondered what it would feel like to be kissed by him. Where did that come from?
Shaking her head, she held out her hand. “Desi Addams.”
“Greg Walker. I’m sorry if you got the wrong impression. I didn’t mean him any harm.” Grigori took the hand she offered, marveling at how small she was compared to him and how soft her skin was.
“I realize that now. I’m just a little territorial about him, I guess. Usually I buy him breakfast.” Desi made a feeble attempt to withdraw her hand, but the stranger held tight to it.
“You have a caring heart,” Grigori told her with a smile. He let his thumb caress the back of her slender hand, watching as her eyes darkened and her breath hitched.
Desi couldn’t understand what was happening to her. All the man had done was smile at her and she was turned on! God, has it been that long since I’ve been with a guy that all one has to do is smile at me and I’m ready to fall into his arms? I’m pathetic! Determined to take back control of the situation, she pulled her hand from his own and then boldly wiped her palm on the front of her jeans.
“You’re new in town?” Desi asked, all of sudden becoming aware of the fact that she had just rushed from her car, where she’d been fast asleep. Her phone alarm had gone off, and as she’d opened her eyes and uncurled from her seat, all she’d seen was a very big, unknown stranger leaning over Dennis. She’d wrongly assumed he’d been trying to hurt Dennis, not feed him breakfast. So much for being impetuous. Dad always said it would be my downfall.
She wanted to shake her hand, the tingles from his touch still travelling up her arm and setting off fireworks all along her spine. When she lifted her eyes to meet his, he held her gaze and she found she was unable to pull hers away. After what felt like minutes, the man lowered her gaze, releasing her from his mesmerizing stare.
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Grigori murmured, trying to figure out what it was about this little woman that had his body humming and his brain wondering how long it would take him to talk her back to his hotel room. He’d been without a woman for far too long.
“He’s just in town for a few days,” Dennis answered her question, almost forgotten as the chemistry flowed around them.
Desi glanced over her shoulder with a smile. “Is that so? Well, it was very nice of him to stop by.” She turned her back on the large man and addressed Dennis directly. “After you finish your breakfast, I can drive you over to the free clinic, if you like?”
Dennis shook his head, swallowing the bite of food in his mouth before speaking. “No need, sweetheart. Mrs. Tompkins at the shelter took a look at my foot last night, and it was only a small splinter. She took it out and it was all better this morning when I awoke.”
“Are you sure?” Desi asked, hiding a yawn behind her hand.
Dennis narrowed his eyes at her and suggested, “Why don’t you head on home and sleep today? Ivan isn’t going to go anywhere. He’ll still be breaking the law tomorrow.”
Ivan? How do they know Ivan? The Russian name didn’t escape his attention. Grigori watched the interaction between D
ennis and the young spitfire and grew more intrigued. Ivan was the name of the middleman operating in this area. What did this little woman have to do with him?
Desi squatted down in front of the old man. “Dennis, I warned you about paying too much attention to what goes on around here. I don’t want to see you hurt, okay?”
“Girl, I’ve seen more in the last twenty years than I could even begin to tell you about. This mission you’re on is going to get you hurt.” He raised a gnarled hand and gently laid it against her cheek. “You’re the closest thing to family I have, and I don’t want to see you mixed up with the likes of him.”
Grigori watched as the young woman closed her eyes briefly, absorbing the touch into her like she was a dry sponge that had touched an ocean of water. When she opened them a moment later, he was stunned at the emotions that moved within them.
“Dennis…” Desi cleared her throat and tried again. “Dennis, you’re the only family I have left as well. And I wish I could leave things alone and get on with my life, but I can’t. Every time I close my eyes, all I can see are my dad and brother lying in those caskets as they closed the lids for the final time. I can hear the bagpipes playing, and it breaks my heart all over again.”
She sniffed back the tears and shook her head. “Someone needs to pay for what they did to them. I’m the only one even looking for their killer.”
Grigori took a sip of his coffee, wondering how long this little melodrama was going to play out. He couldn’t stand seeing a woman cry, and one that he felt a sexual connection to was even worse. She’s talking about catching a murderer, one that killed her father and brother.
Desi stood up, perplexed to find Greg still watching her and Dennis. “Was there something else you needed? Directions or something?” Dennis made a noise of protest behind her at the rudeness of her statement, but she ignored it.
Grigori had to give her marks for tenacity. “Not at the moment. I was curious about the conversation I just witnessed. Something happened to your father and brother?”
Desi nodded briefly. “They were killed two years ago.”
“And you’re looking for the murderer?”
“Got it in one.” She turned her back on him, annoyed that he was still around. She didn’t want to explain herself, and she was too tired to play twenty questions with a stranger. I could always ask the questions myself. In fact, I could skip tracking Ivan today and find some nice hotel with a comfy bed. Spending the day snuggled up against this yummy stranger wouldn’t be the worst idea I’ve ever had!
She let her eyes wander down his body once again, smiling when her gaze caught on the hint of his tattoos and stuck there.
Grigori let her look her fill, taking the opportunity to let his eyes roam over her slim little body once again. She was gorgeous in an understated way that called to him. The look on her face as she perused his body was more than curiosity, and he wondered if she had ink of her own hidden beneath her rumpled clothing. She looks like she just crawled out of bed.
Grigori shook his head slightly, pulling his thoughts away from that tempting image. I have definitely been without female companionship too long.
Chapter 4
The slight movement of the man’s head brought Desi back to the present. She knew she was staring, but the hint of ink beneath his shirt drew her eyes like a moth to a flame. She’d been on the fence about tattoos for most of her life. Now she found them fascinating and wished he wasn’t wearing long sleeves. She’d love to look at the various designs he’d found important enough to have permanently inked onto his skin.
Desi had never had the courage to go to a tattoo parlor. The thought of some strange man making her bleed was scarier than she could overcome by herself. Maybe if I had a girlfriend to go with me, I would have found the courage. But Desi didn’t do girlfriends. She didn’t do friends, period.
After the deaths of her father and brother, she’d cut all ties with everyone around her. Their sweetly sick platitudes had just irritated her already broken heart, like pouring salt in an open wound. The only thing she’d wanted to hear was the name, or names, of the men responsible for turning her life upside down.
Her would-be friends hadn’t understood her desire for revenge, and after spending weeks trying to change her focus, they had washed their hands of her. She’d bid them good riddance and forged ahead. Two years later, and she found she rarely missed them. Or at least she kept telling herself that.
The idea of revenge was a poor roommate and an even lonelier bedmate on those few nights when she actually made it back home to the small beach house she had once shared with her father and brother. Her mother had died giving birth to her, so she didn’t necessarily miss having her around, but that was not the case with the others.
Her dad had always been her confidant and protector, and once her brother had gotten big enough, he had assumed part of that task as well. Together, they had kept her feeling safe and secure her entire life. Two years later, and she was providing her own security and seeing to her own safety. It sucked. What would it be like to have someone else take care of me for once? To ask me how my day went, to listen to my fears and victories, and to hold me just for the heck of it?
Pulling herself from those depressing thoughts, she steeled her spine and locked her wants and desires away. She was rather good at doing that, and she was determined to continue doing so until someone paid.
“I’m going to grab some breakfast. Do you want anything else?” she asked Dennis, once again ignoring Grigori.
“No, sweetheart. I’m good for now.” The old man looked at Desi with affection and pride.
Desi smiled at him, then turned towards the door to the diner, taking a step towards the heavy wooden and glass structure just as another patron from inside pushed the door open harshly. The door caught her in the forehead, smacking her both in the nose and the chin before sending her careening backwards.
Grigori saw her collide with the door and watched in slow motion as she flew backwards, landing harshly on her backside before sprawling and hitting the back of her head on the concrete sidewalk.
He quickly tossed his uneaten food and coffee in the nearby trash canister and hurried to her side. “Hey, are you okay? Desi?”
He quickly took stock of her injuries, grabbing the napkins someone thrust at him and pressing them to her nose to stem the flow of blood. She blinked up at him in a daze, and he pulled his cell phone from his pocket, intending to call the paramedics, when she grabbed his arm and whispered, “Don’t.”
The man who had flung the door open stood nervously by. “Oh, my gosh! I’m so sorry. I didn’t even see you standing there. Does she need an ambulance?” Grigori glanced up to see a wiry little man with thinning hair and wire glasses falling down the bridge of his nose, wearing a button-down shirt done up to the very top button, a small bow tie wrapped around his neck, and the ugliest brown suit jacket he’d ever seen. Nerds! You have to love them. Doesn’t matter if it’s here or in Belgium—they all look the same the world over.
Other patrons of the diner were either watching, their noses pressed up to the glass windows, or flowing out the door of the diner to see what was going on. Desi could hear the voices gathering around her and just wanted to sink into the concrete. Great! I cannot afford to have someone call the cops. It would get back to my department in a flash, and then the game will be up.
She struggled to push herself up into a sitting position, grateful when Greg tucked an arm behind her shoulders and steadied her. After several minutes, she pulled his hand away from her face, pleased to see that her nose had quit bleeding. The comfort she was absorbing from his hand reminded her of what she didn’t have in her life, making her feel that much worse.
The back of her head was throbbing and she gingerly reached up to feel a large goose egg starting to form. When her hand didn’t come away covered in blood, she breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly assessed her other injuries and decided she would live. Taking a breath, she att
empted to rise, but Greg stayed her with a hand upon her shoulder. “Sit still for a minute.”
She started to shake her head, then thought better of it. “I need to get up and out of here.”
Greg gave her a doubtful look, but lifted her up and kept his arms around her shoulders until he was sure she could stand on her own. The urge to pull her close to his chest and keep her safe caused him to pause for a moment. Grigori didn’t normally do tender and caring. He was a Torpedoe for the Russian mafia. Tough as they come and used to taking care of the seedier side of things.
The fact that he had recently begun to hate his position in the organization flew through his brain, but he pushed it away. He was in the States to take care of business for Nikolai; there would be plenty of time when this job was finished to sit down and re-evaluate his future.
“I must look a fright,” she complained, dusting her rear off with her hands. Desi pulled herself from the warmth of his arms, the safety net they provided shocking to her senses. It had been two years since she’d let anyone hold her, and the closeness was almost too much to bear. The smell of his cologne, something earthy and masculine, lingered in her nostrils as she took another step away.
Dennis had risen to his feet and was standing a short distance away, looking uncertain and worried. “Desi? Girl, are you all right?”
Desi glanced around as the diner door opened again, emitting several more people who just wanted to get a closer look. She ducked her head and turned her back on them before saying softly to Dennis, “I think I’m going to take your advice and call it a day. I’ll be back sometime tomorrow.”
She glanced at Grigori from beneath her lashes, then quickly shuffled back across the street. Getting into her car, Desi put it in drive and pulled out before she could talk herself out of it. Her nose throbbed, her head was keeping up an alternate rhythm on the back of her skull, and for some reason she had the strongest urge to just put her head down and cry. But she wouldn’t.