Page 73 of Bratva's Mercy
A burst of laughter reminded me that we weren’t alone. I jerked out of Sergei’s arm and stepped back, but even as I fought to maintain my composure, I could feel my cheeks heating up.
“You two need some privacy?” Dezi asked, his grin wide and teasing.
“Yeah.” Sergei reached for my hand, managing to snag iteven though I tried to evade his grasp. “I’m taking Leo home.”
“Home?” I twisted my arm. “I have to monitor him. What if something goes wrong?”
“Dezi will monitor him,” Sergei said. “He’ll let us know if anything happens.”
“Sergei, I refuse to let my efforts have been in vain.”
“You need to sleep. I swear to you, if something happens, we’ll be back here ASAP. Just let Dezi know what to look out for.”
Dammit, I hated when he was right, but I did need to sleep, or I wouldn’t be able to function well on my upcoming shift. All I had to do was treat the situation as if I were on call at the hospital. There was no reason for me to stay at the warehouse and guard the patient. After all, if they really wanted the patient dead, they wouldn’t have brought him to me, right?
23
SERGEI
“We’re going the wrong way.”
Leo’s voice sounded exhausted, and I couldn’t help feeling guilty for waking him up this late to save a life that didn’t deserve it. He sat slumped next to me in my truck with his eyes closed. I’d thought he was sleeping because he hadn’t said anything since we left the treatment facility that I’d convinced Maxim to set up after Wren’s medical emergency. We already had a doctor, but seeing Leo in motion just now left me convinced he would be perfect to take over the role.
If only I could get him to stop hating Maxim. Or Maxim to trust him.
“We’re not going to your house,” I said quietly. “It’s too far away, and you’re exhausted.”
“Then where are you taking me?”
“My place.”
Where the walls were bare, and I hadn’t had the chance to purchase furniture, but there was a bed where he could sleepcomfortably, and the treatment facility was seven minutes away in case there was an emergency. At first, I’d not cared either way if the motorcyclist died, but upon inspecting the contents of his wallet and learning his identity, it was better for all of us if we kept him alive.
I’d expected some kind of argument from Leo when he learned where I was taking him, but he didn’t say a word. I had to check if he’d fallen asleep, but his eyes were wide open like he was cataloging every turn.
Soon, we pulled up to the two-story, five-bedroom house Jess had helped me choose. It was a lot more than I needed, but it’d seemed to impress her, so I figured it would impress Leo too. He had such class—more class than anyone I’d ever met.
“This is your home?” Leo leaned forward to peer up at the structure in front of us.
“Yes. You didn’t think I earn pennies from my job, did you?”
“I hadn’t given it much thought, but seeing it makes me wonder.”
I had wanted to have the place decorated before I asked him over but hadn’t been able to decide on an interior designer. Besides, I was leaning toward asking Leo to help me buy the furniture like Nik had suggested. Since the only reason I’d bought the house was to have somewhere nice for him to feel at home, his liking it was the most important thing.
I parked in the double garage but didn’t immediately get out. I turned to face him, waiting until he was looking directly at me before I spoke.
“Leo, I’m a simple man with simple tastes.” I took his hand in mine, noting how smooth, solid, and firm it felt. “Over the years, Maxim invested the salary I haven’t touched, and I’ve accumulated enough wealth to be able toafford nice things and give you whatever you want. I’m worth?—”
“Stop!” Leo’s hand came over my mouth. “Do you know how insane it is for you to tell random people how much you’re worth? How do you know I’m not a gold digger who will be attracted to your wealth?”
I smiled behind his hand and removed it from my mouth. “That’s fine by me. At least you’d be attracted to something about me.”
“God, you’re impossible.”
Leo pulled his hands away and got out of the truck. I hurried after him, wrapping an arm around his waist before he reached the steps. “What did I say wrong?”
He stiffened against me. “You assume by telling me you’re rich that it’ll make me change my mind about you? Do you think I’m that easy?”
