The Lion in Russia Read Online Free Page B

in her line of vision. He
also moved much closer which was not at all good for her thought
processes or her libido. She looked up at him, at six feet she
rarely had to do that to anyone, but he had several inches on her,
and was thankfully much broader. His wide shoulders not only
blocked her view of Deringer, but of everyone else in the room as
well.
    “I’ll only be here for a couple of weeks, but
I’d like to spend that time with you,” he said.
    “Really? I assumed you’d come to town to see
Pasha.”
    “Pasha understands.”
    “You Russians,” Vries said with a shake of
her head.
    “So are you in agreement?”
    “In agreement?”
    “Yes. About spending the next couple of weeks
with me,” he said.
    “I suppose so.”
    “What, are you worried about your friend ? I can definitely make you forget about him.”
    Vries put on her dazzling smile again. Leo’s
English was usually flawless, as was his Italian, but when he was
irritated or angry, his slight Russian accent deepened
considerably.
    “I’m not worried about Dare. And, of course,
I’ll go out with you.”
    “In that case, are you ready to leave?”
    “Leave? You just got here,” Vries said,
annoyed at what she’d revealed.
    “Gianni will understand. Do you have a coat?”
he asked with a pointed look at her long white evening dress. It
was actually quite demure, save for the deep cutouts on either side
revealing quite a bit of the midriff that she fought a never-ending
battle to keep toned.
    “Must be nice to have so many people who understand you. I have a wrap. Where are we going?” She
asked as he took her elbow and began escorting her toward the
exit.
    “I’m not going to spend my very limited time
with you sharing you with others,” he said with an upturned lip. “I
have not yet dined, I thought I’d take you out for a late supper if
you’re in agreement.”
    Vries sighed. Eating at this hour would cost
her dearly, but she was hungry. She took the soft cashmere
wrap from the doorman, and Leo brushed the other man aside to help
her wrap the soft white wool around her shoulders. She looked
around expectantly as they walked through the door the doorman held
open for them.
    “Where are your bodyguards?”
    “I left them at home tonight. I wanted to be
alone with you.”
    Vries came to a dead stop on the walkway
outside the palatial mansion. “Are you kidding me? A man in your
position can’t just go roaming around without a security
detail.”
    Leo frowned, his pale brows stood out in the
streetlights. “I’m perfectly safe in Milan. Why would you think
otherwise?”
    Vries realized she’d overplayed her hand. She
should have only mild interest, if any at all, in his security. “No
reason. You always had them with you before, so I assumed you
traveled with them all the time.”
    “I do, but not when I’m going to the home of
a dear friend. Besides, Pushka is driving me tonight and he’s all
the security anyone could ever need,” he said.
    Vries looked at the enormous man standing
beside the dark luxury sedan. He dwarfed even Leo and his grim
expression was enough to frighten small children.
    “Pushka?” Working with Pasha and her nearly
all-Russian staff Vries had picked up a smattering of Russian, and
was perpetually confused by their affinity for nicknames, but
surely his name didn’t mean...
    “Cannon,” Leo said confirming her
suspicion.
    Vries raised her brows, but really the man
did look like a big gun with his bald head and bulky build. He
looked as though he could easily take on anyone foolish enough to
attack. Still, it was stupid, bordering on insane for Leo to go
without security especially given the current situation. Clearly
Lelia’s intelligence was dead-on and he was in dire need of
protection. She slid across the silky smooth leather of the car’s
seat, making sure to clutch her jeweled minaudière with its
lethal arsenal more closely. It would be a miracle if she didn’t
have to break it out