Russian Mobster's Obsession by Bella Rose Read Free Book Online Page A

up and throw it. Unfortunately for Max, Katie was far too distracted to think about playing fetch. The most she could manage was to wander about the paved trail that circled the open field and served as a path for local joggers. Max paced next to her, stopping every few yards to sniff at the underbrush growing alongside the sidewalk.
    She had no notion of how long she’d been walking when she spotted a shape hidden off to the right. Coming to a stop, she watched Max to see what his opinion was. The dog dropped obediently to his haunches, but his stubby little tail was wagging as he stared into the trees. Apparently the shadow was a friend of some kind.
    “Viktor?” she called out hesitantly. “Is that you?”
    He stepped clear of the shadows beneath the big trees. The broad shoulders and trim belly took shape as he moved into the early evening sunlight. His dark hair was tousled and he looked tired, but there was a smile on his face.
    “Hey.” He held out his hand for Max to sniff.
    Her dog abruptly stood and nosed Viktor, wagging his tail and wriggling with eagerness.
    “Apparently Max has decided you’re a friend,” she commented. It seemed the only safe topic at the moment. She didn’t want to tell him about Sasha’s visit to the dental office earlier that day.
    Viktor patted Max’s silky head and scratched him behind his ears. “He’s a smart dog to reserve judgment.”
    “Want to walk with me?” She gestured to the path that wound through the heavily forested area of the park before turning and meandering back through the open field.
    He fell into step beside her. “As long as we stay under cover.”
    “Are we hiding then?” she wondered.
    “Karkoff is planning something.” Viktor seemed undecided about this. He reached up and snagged a twig off one of the low-hanging branches. “I just don’t know what or why. Everyone seems obsessed with keeping you and I away from each other.”
    She snorted. “Don’t you get it?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Karkoff wants you dependent on him for employment.” Katie thought of Sasha’s comments earlier that morning. “He wants you to believe that the only choices you have involve working for him. You’re a convenience.”
    “That’s a nice way of saying I’m an expendable resource.” He shook his head. “Thanks. I’m glad you don’t think I have any more value than that of a monkey.”
    She moaned in irritation. “That’s not what I said!”
    * * *
    Viktor’s pride was feeling a little battered. First Karkoff treated him like nothing more than a lackey with no better prospects. Now Katie was insinuating more or less the same thing.
    “Is that really what you think of me?” he asked. “You believe the only thing I can do with my life is to be Karkoff’s errand boy?”
    “That isn’t what I’m saying at all!” She sounded agitated and he couldn’t understand why.
    She shook her head at him, appearing to be downright disgusted. “I think you’re better than this. That’s what I’m saying! You always have been. And yet you’ve never been willing to believe that you can do better than what Karkoff is offering.”
    “Who told you that?” Viktor felt like she was hiding something.
    “Nobody had to tell me.” She waved a hand at him. “Look at you! You said you thought about going to school, but you never did. You considered a job at the grocery store, but never really followed up. You decided that you were okay just taking the odd jobs that Karkoff threw your way. That was a choice, Viktor!”
    “That’s what you think.” He shook his head at her, feeling angry with her for the first time in more years than he could remember. “You don’t believe that I ever aspired to more, or attempted to find some other work? You think I just settled in as Karkoff’s monkey boy and happily spend the rest of my time sitting on my ass and twiddling my thumbs?”
    “Ugh!” She wrinkled her nose at him. “Sometimes you are such a bonehead