Page 33 of Sinful Betrayal

Nina sets all the dishes on the table, and I get to work plating both of us up some food.

I fail to mention that I’ve already eaten, not wanting to hurt her feelings. Plus, the lasagna smells incredible, and it’s making me forget the dozen or so pelmeni I wolfed down barely thirty minutes ago.

I get to my feet. “Do you want some wine?”

Nina hesitates but then nods, and I grab one of the bottles of red from the small selection I keep in the kitchen and grab a couple of glasses from the cupboard.

“How did your exam go?” I pour us both a glass.

Nina looks at me with a puzzled expression.

I frown. “What?”

“You’re genuinely asking?”

“Yes, I want to know.”

Is she not used to people taking an interest in her?

The thought has my chest tightening.

She’s the most interesting woman I’ve ever met, and she deserves to feel important.

“Uh, well, it went well, I think.” She reaches for her wine. “There were a few moves in the middle where I almost lost my balance because someone barged in late halfway through and knocked my concentration.”

“Oh shit.”

“Yeah.” She scoffs. “But I managed to save it, so I think it’s fine.”

“And the rest of your day?”

“It was interesting…”

“How so?”

“Well, when a giant of a man is following you everywhere you go, people like to stare and ask questions.”

“Ah, so Yakov was the issue.”

“No, he was fine.” She sighs, pushing her food around her plate. “It just caused a lot of unwanted attention.”

“I bet. But hopefully, it won’t be for much longer.”

“Is there any update on those men that attacked me?” She looks hopeful.

I shake my head and a pang of guilt hits me as her smile fades.

“Notyet.” I take a sip of my wine.

“Oh…”

“It might be nothing more than a coincidence.”

“Maybe,” she mumbles.

“Just a classic case of wrong place, wrong time.” I try to make her feel a little more at ease, though I know better than to believe in coincidences,especiallywhen you’re dealing with Igor Ivanov.

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