Wolf with Benefits
Page 103

Do you want it or not?
Dont get tense. I was simply making an observation.
Can your people start tonight?
Yeah. The company had a plan in place for last-minute protection teams. Ill take care of it.
Okay.
Is it just you?
No. The Jean-Louis Parker family.
Reece sat up. Tonis kin?
Theyre all okay and Tonis still in Russia.
Yeah. I got a text from Ricky. Theyre so far ahead, hes afraid of calling when I might be sleeping.
We need to keep the family safe, she said after a time. I cant have Toni coming home and
Dont you worry about it. If you think Toni will have your ass if something happens while shes away, itll be ten times worse where my brothers concerned. He grinned. Hes got a little thing for your friend.
I dont think its little, but youre maleI wouldnt expect you to understand that.
Reeces grin widened. Want me to toss this sheet aside and show you how male I am?
And with no expression at all, Livy replied, Do you want me to cut your dick off?
Reece swallowed. Not really.
Then Id suggest keeping that sheet on until Im in the next room. Okay?
Yesm.
Good. She walked out and Reece let out a relieved breath.
Either that girl is gonna end up killing me, he muttered,
or end up one of my best friends.
More like Ill end up killing you, she called out from the living room.
Reece shrank down into the bed, pulling the sheet up to his chin. Honey badgers are just mean, he whispered, praying she didnt hear him. Mean.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Vic stopped the Range Rover and turned off the engine. Everyone ready? he asked.
Yes, Toni said from the back. Ricky would say she looked brave, but she didnt. She looked determined. He found that much scarier than brave because when the woman made up her mind . . .
And remember the rules. Vic looked directly at Ricky. Keep your feet off the table.
Why do yall keep telling me that? he demanded.
Because youll put your feet on the table, Vic and Toni said together.
Fine, but I dont see what the big problem is. Bears and all their dang rules.
They opened the doors and stepped out.
Toni cracked her neck and moved her shoulders. She looked like she was about to step into a boxingring.
Ready? Ricky asked her.
She nodded. Lets go bag some bears.
They headed down the hallway to that room where the bears had continued to stick Toni every time shed come for a meeting. She let one of them lead her toward that room, Ricky and Vic right behind her, but she cast for a scent and when she locked on it, she immediately made a left and headed down another hallway.
You! Dog! Where you go? demanded the bear behind her.
Toni ignored him and kept moving until she reached a room where she heard male laughter and scented bear. Lots of bear.
Taking a breath, she pushed open the door and walked in. Morning, gentlemen! she said, smiling. How is everyone doing today?
The laughter and words died, but Toni ignored all that and moved toward the long table. She spotted an open seat and walked over to it like she knew it was just for her. She didnt ask permission, she didnt stop to look around. Instead she remembered what Ricky had said about always looking like you know where youre going, even when you dont. She sat down, placing her messenger bag on the floor beside the chair.
Okay, she said, making sure her grin was large and confident. Lets get started.
The bears looked at each other and then one with horrible facial lacerationsshe assumed he was Yuri Asanov since he was the only one in a wheelchairnodded his head.
Good, Toni said, reaching into her messenger bag and beginning to dig out papers.
While she pulled folders out, she saw from the corner of her eye one of the bears pushing away from the table and standing.
Toni looked up and said, Where are you going, Ivan Zubachev?
Walking toward the door, Zubachev didnt bother to look at her when he replied, I have business that cannot wait.
Then well just sit here and wait until you get back.
The grizzly stopped. What?
No deal gets made in this town without you, Ivan Zubachev. Ill be wasting my time talking to all these handsome but relatively useless bears if youre not here. So well wait for you. All day if necessary. All century.
He slowly faced her, but said nothing.
Lets be honest here, Ivan. This isnt about what Bo did to your boy. Toni looked over at the teams coach and said, By the way, the wheelchairs a bit much. And when Yuri Asanovs cheeks grew slightly red, she knew shed been right. But I do apologize, Yuri Asanov, for what he did to your face. Because that was bad.
She looked back at Zubachev. This is about what Novikov did to you. And what he did to you, Ivan Zubachev, is turn down your job offer.