Page 108 of Alik
“Hi,” I say, my lip quirking with just a shred of amusement. Obviously, he knows who I am. I’m not surprised. The red eye is a bit of a conversation starter.
Or did Olive tell him?
My smile falls.
“What are you doing at my house?” he asks, fumbling with thinly veiled panic as his eyes try to search for my hands. I pull them from my pockets and lift them up so he can see I’m unarmed.
“I take it you know who I am?”
He turns his head to quickly look inside before whipping back to me like he’s afraid to take his gaze off me for even a second. His eyes are frantically wide as he goes to slam the door on me, but I catch it with my shoe and push myself inside. He already has his cell phone in his hand, ready to call his friends for backup when I press him against the wall and put a hand to his mouth. He doesn’t make a sound or even move, which makes me think he’s heardgreatthings about me.
When voices drift down a hallway behind me, I turn my head that way.
Or maybe he’s quiet to avoid calling attention to us.
He kicks my shoe to bring me back to him, arching his dimpled chin for me in a challenging gesture. He’s also exposing his neck in the process. It’s like he’s saying,kill me already.
Wow, so brave.
I nod outside then take a step back, removing my hand from his mouth. He straightens his jacket but otherwise doesn’t budge, flicking his eyes to the door in a gesture for me to go first.
Maybe not so brave.
I lead the way outside, Arthur shutting the door behind us.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are coming to my home, but?—”
“What do the Irish have on you?”
His jaw hangs open as he looks at his window for the same sight I searched for earlier.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he grumbles, turning back to me.
My expression remains neutral as I stare at him, unflinching. I don’t speak until he starts to visibly sweat.
“Arthur… You’re playing a dangerous game here. Surely by now you know that the Bratva isn’t going to lay down while you beat us into submission. You know who I am. You’ve seen thework I’ve done… Whatever it is you think the Irish have on you isn’t worth risking your family’s lives over.”
He scoffs, turning his head away and tucking his hands in his pockets. “Well… I guess it’s a good thing you’re looking out for my daughter, then.”
My forehead wrinkles.
He knows.
She told him?
“I thought she was dead,” Arthur says, his voice full of emotion. “I almost killed you all myself.” He turns back to me with pure hatred ignited in his eyes. “Cormac told me about you and her. If he hadn’t shown me pictures, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
My eyes narrow to slits.
Cormac showed him…
Finn. He must’ve been following us.
Fucking asshole.
“I’m looking out for her, but I’m just a soldier. Nikita won’t be behind bars forever.”
Arthur laughs dryly. “If I have anything to say about it, yes, he will.”