Alexei And Grace

16 | You Can Always Fight

"SO, UM, DO YOU HAVE a name?" I asked hesitantly. We had just pulled up at the Docks and my quiet driver still hadn't said a word. He'd been whistling for most of the journey—some sort of jovial, upbeat tune that didn't match his harsh appearance at all.

"Vadim," he responded without turning around. I could hear Misha and Fedor's low growls just outside the car so I was hesitant to get out.

"Nice to meet you, Vadim," I said with as much warmth as I could convey. If I was going to be working for Alexei, I figured I should be pleasant towards his men.

Vadim said nothing. He started whistling again—that same, joyful tune. I sat in the back and wondered what the hell I was supposed to do next. If I got out of the car, I risked being savaged by the guard dogs, or wandering somewhere I wasn't meant to be. No, I concluded, I probably shouldn't get out. I should stay right here.

A knock on the window made me jump with fright as I turned around to see Alex. He peered through the glass and then threw the door open suddenly. Misha and Fedor were hot on his heels, but they both stood obediently off-guard.

"Grace," Alexei greeted. He wore a pale blue shirt tucked into his suit trousers and a red tie around his neck. If his gunshot wounds still bothered him, he showed no sign of it—in fact it was almost as though he'd never been hurt at all.

"Alexei," I nodded curtly, swinging my legs around the edge of the seat so that I could jump down. He arranged his lips into a crooked smirk that crinkled his eyes just enough to soften them. "You look well," I observed.

He caught my chin between his fingers and tilted my head. "You look tired," he said, "have you slept?"

The way his eyes lingered for just a second too long on my hair, I could tell he knew I hadn't brushed it. In fact, I probably still had sleep in my eyes. Pulling away from his touch, I shook my head, "not really, no."

"You should."

Without another word Alexei turned and strode away from me. Misha and Fedor took a moment to nuzzle into my palms before taking cover under their capsized boat in the middle of the yard. I watched Alex go and wondered if I was supposed to follow. "Are you coming?" he called back.

          I followed him across the yard and into the lofty warehouse, careful to stay a little behind. The prospect of walking side by side—of him being able to look at me, look into my eyes—sent my heart into a spasm. I had chosen to see Alexei over my old job; I had chosen the option that meant I didn't have to never see him again. But what that meant was something I was afraid of discussing.

          "You don't make things easy, do you?" I said lightly as he pulled the tile away from the floor in the tiny, hidden room.

          "Careless things are easy," Alex replied flatly. "I've no time for carelessness."

          He gestured for me to descend first into the darkness and so, pursing my lips, I stepped down. Just like it had the first time, the cool air chilled my ankles and made my hair stand on end. I could feel it prickling against the back of my neck, almost as though somebody's hand was hovering just a millimetre away. I clenched my fists to suppress the shudder that wanted to curl down my spine.

          When my feet finally hit flat ground I wasn't expecting it—I could feel the motion jarring my bones as they met more resistance than they should have. "Don't you have any bloody lights?" I cursed quietly, the darkness seeming to swallow up my voice.