Page 49 of The Wrong Monster

“It’s one in the morning.”

“So it is.”

I plant my hands on my hips, trying to ignore the soft push of silk against my fingertips.

“This couldn’t have waited until a civilized hour?”

“No.”

“Wonderful. I’m thrilled we’ve established your complete disregard for normal human behavior.”

That earns me a glance. A tired one, which has me pressing my lips together tighter so I don’t ask him what’s wrong. Because it doesn’t matter what’s wrong; for this relationship to work, we need boundaries.

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“I somehow doubt that.”

He’s bent over the map, hands on either side of it, shoulders bunched. He stands to his full height in the darkened room; it hits me again just who he is. Not only a handsome, wealthy business owner, but the kind of man who will hold another beneath lake water without flinching. The kind of man who put a needle to my throat.

“You’ll be seeing Isla.”

The sarcasm dies on my tongue. “What?”

“I’ve arranged it.”

“I thought you’d make me fight for that.” The confession comes fast, unwanted, and Vasily’s gaze flickers to me in interest.

“I considered it. I decided against it. Your friend sounds… inevitable.”

Something is off.

His composure is still there, but it’s thinner tonight, stretched tight over something simmering underneath. His jaw flexes every few seconds. There’s an edge to the way he moves, like every muscle is wound too tightly, as he reaches for another stained coffee cup.

“What happened?”

“Nothing that concerns you.”

“Bullshit. You wouldn’t have woken me up if you didn’t want to talk about it.”

His eyes narrow. “I said it doesn’t concern you.”

I fold my arms. “And I said, ‘bullshit.’”

For a heartbeat, the room goes perfectly still. Then he slams the mug onto the desk hard enough to make me jump.

“Enough.”

The single word cracks through the office.

“I have spent the last twelve hours cleaning up our problems, none of which you can begin to understand.” His voice isn’t loud, but it’s sharp enough to cut glass. “A boy who risked his life to bring me information has disappeared. My accountant is still facing prison. Yuri is tightening the noose around this organization.” Vasily takes one measured breath, visibly forcing himself back under control. “So forgive me if I have little patience for complaints about being awakened.”

I stare at him. Not because he frightened me, but because he didn’t say my problems, he said our problems.

He isn’t asking me to save his empire anymore. He’s trusting me to, and it isn’t just for him.

Slowly, my shoulders relax.

“I’ll get Mikhail out,” I say quietly. “I promise you that. I know that probably won’t make you stop worrying about it, but you don’t have to babysit me. Use the resources elsewhere.”