Katie called out to Sasha. “I think Viktor and I are just going to head back to the other side of the park. You have a great day and I hope you feel better soon.”
She grabbed Viktor’s hand and started towing him back toward the trees. She got maybe twenty yards before Sasha protested.
* * *
Viktor admired Katie’s attempt to walk away, but he hadn’t any ideas that Sasha would let that happen. They had barely made it past the edge of the parking lot before Sasha opened his mouth.
“I need to have a word with Viktor, if you don’t mind?” Sasha pushed away from his car and quickly closed the distance between them.
Viktor turned and raised an eyebrow at Sasha. “What did you need?”
“My uncle wishes to remind you of your duty to him and the family,” Sasha said in a snide tone.
“Really?” Viktor narrowed his gaze. “Because I spoke with your uncle less than two hours ago and he and I were just fine. And the truth is, I don’t need you to act as a go-between.”
“How dare you!” Sasha leaned forward aggressively, and that was when Max took grave offense.
The dog placed himself between Viktor and Sasha with his hackles raised and his teeth bared. He was only fifty or so pounds, but the sheer density of his muscle was impressive as he let loose a snarl that raised the hair on the back of Viktor’s neck.
“Get that mutt away from me!” Sasha said angrily, backing away with his hands held before him. “I’ll have him shot.”
“He feels threatened,” Katie said calmly. “And he’s not going to stand there and let you bully Viktor or myself. So I think you’d better just go before you get hurt.”
Viktor groaned softly. There was not a worse thing that Katie could have said to injure Sasha’s already wounded pride. Now Sasha bristled even more, pointing a finger at Viktor. “I don’t know what you’re playing at with your bullshit cargo runs. You handed me an empty van last night and you know it!”
Viktor shrugged. “As I told your uncle, I don’t ask questions about the cargo. I drive where I’m told to drive. The rest is none of my business. He was happy with my explanation and we are in agreement. I don’t know what your problem is, but I think you’d best take it up with your uncle and not me. As you’ve pointed out repeatedly, I have no power or rank within the family.”
Sasha clenched his jaw, but a glance down at the still growling dog decided helped him make a decision. He turned on his heel and retreated. Getting into his car, he squealed his tires out of the lot.
Viktor watched until he was gone. Then he turned to Max. “That was a brilliant display of fireworks, my friend, but if you get hurt in the crossfire, your mama is going to kill me.”
Katie knelt beside her dog and put her arm around his neck. “I don’t want either of you to get hurt. What are we going to do now?”
Viktor squatted down, petting the dog and gazing at the woman he would give his life to protect. “I’m not sure. But we’re going to have to figure it out fast.”
Chapter Eight
Katie couldn’t help but be a little jumpy after the crazy confrontation with Sasha at the park. Every time a loud car went by outside her house, she ran to the window to see if it was Sasha or one of his friends coming to make good on their threats. Not that she really understood what the threat was .
Finally she retreated to her kitchen. Max relaxed in a corner while she began making muffin batter. She hummed a little tune while she worked. Soon the familiar activity soothed her. She was just bending over to pull the piping hot muffins out of the oven when four men burst through her back door.
Katie screamed in shock. Max was barking furiously, growling and snarling as he lunged at the intruders. Her loyal dog caught the first guy on the wrist, ripping and tearing at the man’s skin while the guy tried to shake him off.
Her heart seized at the notion that one of these bastards might hurt
She grabbed Viktor’s hand and started towing him back toward the trees. She got maybe twenty yards before Sasha protested.
* * *
Viktor admired Katie’s attempt to walk away, but he hadn’t any ideas that Sasha would let that happen. They had barely made it past the edge of the parking lot before Sasha opened his mouth.
“I need to have a word with Viktor, if you don’t mind?” Sasha pushed away from his car and quickly closed the distance between them.
Viktor turned and raised an eyebrow at Sasha. “What did you need?”
“My uncle wishes to remind you of your duty to him and the family,” Sasha said in a snide tone.
“Really?” Viktor narrowed his gaze. “Because I spoke with your uncle less than two hours ago and he and I were just fine. And the truth is, I don’t need you to act as a go-between.”
“How dare you!” Sasha leaned forward aggressively, and that was when Max took grave offense.
The dog placed himself between Viktor and Sasha with his hackles raised and his teeth bared. He was only fifty or so pounds, but the sheer density of his muscle was impressive as he let loose a snarl that raised the hair on the back of Viktor’s neck.
“Get that mutt away from me!” Sasha said angrily, backing away with his hands held before him. “I’ll have him shot.”
“He feels threatened,” Katie said calmly. “And he’s not going to stand there and let you bully Viktor or myself. So I think you’d better just go before you get hurt.”
Viktor groaned softly. There was not a worse thing that Katie could have said to injure Sasha’s already wounded pride. Now Sasha bristled even more, pointing a finger at Viktor. “I don’t know what you’re playing at with your bullshit cargo runs. You handed me an empty van last night and you know it!”
Viktor shrugged. “As I told your uncle, I don’t ask questions about the cargo. I drive where I’m told to drive. The rest is none of my business. He was happy with my explanation and we are in agreement. I don’t know what your problem is, but I think you’d best take it up with your uncle and not me. As you’ve pointed out repeatedly, I have no power or rank within the family.”
Sasha clenched his jaw, but a glance down at the still growling dog decided helped him make a decision. He turned on his heel and retreated. Getting into his car, he squealed his tires out of the lot.
Viktor watched until he was gone. Then he turned to Max. “That was a brilliant display of fireworks, my friend, but if you get hurt in the crossfire, your mama is going to kill me.”
Katie knelt beside her dog and put her arm around his neck. “I don’t want either of you to get hurt. What are we going to do now?”
Viktor squatted down, petting the dog and gazing at the woman he would give his life to protect. “I’m not sure. But we’re going to have to figure it out fast.”
Chapter Eight
Katie couldn’t help but be a little jumpy after the crazy confrontation with Sasha at the park. Every time a loud car went by outside her house, she ran to the window to see if it was Sasha or one of his friends coming to make good on their threats. Not that she really understood what the threat was .
Finally she retreated to her kitchen. Max relaxed in a corner while she began making muffin batter. She hummed a little tune while she worked. Soon the familiar activity soothed her. She was just bending over to pull the piping hot muffins out of the oven when four men burst through her back door.
Katie screamed in shock. Max was barking furiously, growling and snarling as he lunged at the intruders. Her loyal dog caught the first guy on the wrist, ripping and tearing at the man’s skin while the guy tried to shake him off.
Her heart seized at the notion that one of these bastards might hurt
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