All Chapters of The Queen's Gambit: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

From a security point of view I could see why we had to haul ass back to New York, but from a pride perspective it felt like running away. I was pretty sure Murphy wasn’t about to hurt me any further. His pride had been restored when his men gave me a beating. But I couldn’t exactly explain that to Irina.Not that she was listening.Inadvertently, she’d put me in a place where I might have to turn to her brother for weapons. I might have been tempted to be suspicious if I thought she knew what she was doing. But she didn’t. All she wanted was to take care of me. I could see the worry in her eyes.It was disconcerting.I looked out of the window as we flew over the Atlantic, trying to ignore the pain in my body. I had refused painkillers because I wanted to be alert. Much as I thought it unwarranted, Natasha’s caution was infectious. I was pretty sure there’d be no trouble but I wouldn’t bet my life – or Irina’s – on it. She came in and sat on the bed, clad in a beautiful cashmere swe

We’re on our way home from the airport when the lead car explodes. I hadn’t even wanted a lead car. I’m not used to traveling in an entourage. That’s more of an Italian thing. Even Roman tends to go incognito when he moves.But I couldn’t quite convince him that the attack on me in Ireland was nothing to worry about and he didn’t want us getting caught with me weakened. So he sent some guys.Our driver immediately employs some evasive maneuvers, employing some badass defensive driving to get us the fuck out of there. He has pedal to the metal and is speeding down the middle of the highway when suddenly a car appears to our right, and another to our left.Irina pulls up her dress, exposing a sheath cradling a gun. She extracts it and takes the safety off, pointing at the window.The bullet proof window.“Don’t shoot.” I shout even as I’m already dialing my second in command. “Simon, someone’s after us on the highway.” I say into the phone before turning my attention back to Irina.Than

Irina had a smug look on her face that I didn’t understand.Like at all.She smiled as she arranged the plates on the table, insisting that Roman and I should just sit our asses down and ‘rest’.Roman and I exchanged loaded glances.“She’s up to something.” I murmured.He snorted. “When isn’t she?”I inclined my head in acknowledgement. “Point.”“What are you two whispering about?” Irina called to us with a wide grin.I shook my head. “Nothing. Just making small talk.”“Uh huh.” She nodded skeptically. “Anyway, food’s ready.”We both got to our feet and walked to the table.“I hope this isn’t a debrief. I’m kinda exhausted.” Irina said.Roman shook his head. “Of course not. That can wait. Let’s just eat like some civilians and make small talk about movies or some shit.”“Movies?” I raised an eyebrow at him.“Yeah. Isn’t that what normal people talk about?”I shrugged, one-shouldered. “I guess.”We sat in awkward silence as my cook served as lasagna and poured us some red wine. I took

My muscles ached and I was bone tired. I could party with the best of them but the last week had been too exciting even for me. I just wanted to lie down and sleep for a year. "Wake me up when September ends." I said, flopping down on the bed. "Aht aht," Irina said, catching hold of my arm and propelling me away from the bed. "Shower first." She pointed sternly at the door to the bathroom. I gave her a disbelieving look. "Girl...I'm tired." "Yeah, hurry up and shower so you can sleep. You're not contaminating my clean sheets with all of that..." She stretched her hand out; palm facing me and made a circle as if she was law roach describing why my outfit didn't work. "Outsideness." "Didn't know you were such a stickler." I grumbled, pulling my shirt off. "Yeah well, now you do. Congratulations." She said drily. I quirked my lip, pausing at the bathroom door. "You coming?" She froze, in the middle of flinging the extra pillows off the bed. "What?" I lifted my brow, inclining m

I found myself humming as I made breakfast for my wife. Once I realized what I was doing I really had to scoff at myself. A little bit of sex and the endorphins were making me giddy with joy.“This is such a scam.” I murmured to myself.“What did you say?”Her voice made me jump. I turned to see her leaning against the archway that separated the hallway from the kitchen, one leg bent, dressed in skin tight black distressed jeans, and a black Henley. Her platinum hair cascaded down her shoulder, creating a shining contrast to her dark outfit. She had a slight smile on her face, as if she too were suffering under the attack of endorphins that I was.“Nothing. I didn’t say anything.”“You sure? I heard you murmuring resentfully to yourself.”“To myself. Very important detail.” I pointed at her to emphasize my point.“So why did you say you never said anything?”I angled a sidelong glance at her. “This conversation is going round in circles.”She cocked an eyebrow. “Is it.”“I’d say so.”