26: Dangerous Asset

VIKTOR

I hadn't stopped thinking about yesterday.

It was becoming a problem.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Katherine diving into the pool without a hint of hesitation.

The moment she came back out of the water in her swim suit, I knew all hope were lost for me.

I wanted her.

Beautiful.

Dangerously beautiful.

I let out a quiet sigh and rubbed a hand over my face.

I had meetings to think about.

A war brewing back in New York.

Shipments that needed rerouting.

Enemies who wanted my head.

Instead...

I was thinking about Katherine.

Pathetic.

I left my room and walked down the hallway toward hers.

Just as I was about to knock, I heard laughter.

Not just laughter.

Her laughter.

"...Gabby, stop!" she giggled through the phone.

"No, I'm serious!"

She laughed again.

"I am not blushing!"

A smile threatened to form on my lips.

It disappeared the moment I realized I was smiling because of a woman talking on the phone.

Ridiculous.

I knocked once before pushing the door open.

She looked over.

"Hey, Gabby, I'll call you later."

She ended the call with another smile.

"You really don't knock, do you?"

"I knocked."

"Half a second before opening the door."

"Still counts."

She rolled her eyes.

"What do you want?"

"Were you planning on staying indoors for the entire trip?"

She shrugged.

"I don't really know where to go."

"Get dressed."

Her brows lifted.

"...That's it?"

"That's it."

Without waiting for an answer, I turned and walked out.

This trip wasn't a vacation.

Not really.

It was just a necessary precaution I had to take.

The conflict back in the US had grown worse over the past few weeks.

Two rival families had decided they wanted my territory.

Meetings had become shootings.

Warnings had become funerals.

Lake Como was safer.

Anya would be safe here.

Natalia too.

My people could protect them while I dealt with everything from a distance.

As for Katherine, leaving her behind had never been an option.

Not while someone might use her against me. She was becoming a very dangerous asset to me.

At least...

That's what I kept telling myself.

Twenty minutes later, I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned.

Then immediately wished I hadn't.

Katherine walked toward me wearing a light summer dress that reached just above her knees.

The fabric hugged her figure before flowing softly with every step.

The dress wasn't inappropriate.

But it was...

Distracting.

Entirely too distracting.

I looked once.

Looked away.

Then looked again.

"I hope you're not wearing that"

She frowned and looked down at herself.

"Is there a problem?"

"Yes."

"What problem?"

I searched for an answer that didn't make me sound jealous.

None came.

"Go change."

Her eyebrows shot up.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

She folded her arms.

"I'm not changing."

"The dress is..." I paused "...too revealing."

She stared at me before laughing.

"You've got to be kidding."

"I'm not."

"It's just a dress."

"It attracts attention."

"So?"

"So change."

She smiled sweetly.

"No."

Then she walked right past me.

I stood there for a moment.

She had just ignored a direct order.

Romanov, who had witnessed the entire exchange, cleared his throat.

"I don't think she's changing, Boss."

"I noticed."

"I tried not to laugh."

"I noticed that too."

The streets of Lake Como were crowded with tourists.

Anya ran ahead with one of the guards while Katherine wandered beside Romanov, asking him endless questions about Italy.

"So you've been here before?"

"A few times."

"What's the best restaurant?"

Romanov answered every question patiently.

Meanwhile...

She hadn't spoken a single word to me.

Not one.

Interesting.

I slipped my hands into my pockets.

Had she figured it out?

The shopping mall.

The fake documents.

The trap.

I remembered telling Romanov to have men follow her that morning.

Instead of doing anything suspicious she had gone shopping with Gabriella.

Nothing more.

Had she known?

Had she played along?

The thought lingered in the back of my mind.

It wouldn't surprise me.

Katherine was smarter than most people gave her credit for.

"Boss?"

Romanov's voice pulled me back to the present.

I looked up.

Three men walking toward us had slowed their pace.

All three were staring.

Not at me.

At Katherine.

One even turned his head after walking past.

My jaw tightened.

Another man nearly walked into a street sign because he was too busy looking at her.

Enough.

I fixed him with a glare so cold he quickly looked away and hurried off.

The second man wasn't any smarter.

One look from me sent him crossing the street.

Romanov let out a quiet chuckle.

Then another.

Soon he was trying very hard not to laugh.

"What?" Katherine asked, looking between us.

Romanov shook his head.

"Nothing."

She narrowed her eyes.

"It doesn't look like nothing."

"It isn't," I muttered.

She looked at me.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

She looked unconvinced.

Romanov finally lost the battle and laughed outright.

Katherine frowned.

"Would someone like to tell me what's so funny?"

Romanov wiped at the corner of his eye.

"I'm afraid I value my life too much."

I shot him a warning look.

He immediately straightened.

"My apologies, Boss."

Katherine looked between the two of us, completely confused.

I simply kept walking.

If she hadn't realized why those men were staring, good, because I wasn't about to be the one to tell her.

I was already almost regretting my decision to bring her out. She was causing a lot of trouble already and she didn't even know.

Sometimes she could be so innocent and sometimes she could be very dangerous. And I honestly didn't know the one I liked better.

Liked?

Since when did I start liking this woman?

That was when it dawned on me. From the very first time I saw her.

I saved her life yes, but she could have still shot me the moment she realised who I was... but she didn't.