Chapter 3

My nose is immediately hit by his scent,I greedily take it in, inhaling and exhaling more times than necessary, I feel the warmth of his gaze warming my body instantly. The room suddenly feels so hot, my gaze falls on the cool glass of water sitting a few feet from me. Maybe it will cool the warm waves moving through my body.

Before I can reach for it, it's already in front of me,with strong large fingers wrapped around it making it seem like a toddlers cup. Not lifting my eyes from the glass I grab it, my fingers brush against his in the process sending chills through my body. Maybe it's the morphine being pumped into my veins because my body is reacting in an odd way. I drink the water in one swig, my body feeling no effect of the water, if only it burns up more. I place it on the table beside me, and my eyes scan him from head to toe until our gazes clash. I lose my heartbreak for a second.

His eyes, something about his eyes make my heart thump in familiarity, one eye is flaked golden brown and the other green. I once knew someone who had the same set of gorgeous eyes. I shake my head of those thoughts, that was in another life, a life I fought so hard to leave. Anyone could have eyes like these, it's not exactly uncommon, nor is it not rare. My chest tightens.

Tanned skin, long dark, thick black curly hair, his Roman nose and half-dome cheekbones sit above an oaken jaw which is covered in a trimmed full beard. Knowing that I'm checking him out, his eyes tinkle with amusement.

I don't turn away in embarrassment or look instead I continue staring into his eyes, unashamed that I was in fact checking him out.

My first power move.

"I see you're up and good as new." He says.

"Good as new not so much, up well, you could say so."

His eyes rake across my body until they meet my gaze again. He takes a seat in the chair beside my bed. His scent is more intoxicating when he's near.

"Well I'm glad you're doing okay."

I arch my eyebrows. "Why the keen interest, Mr….." I pause to allow him to fill in his name.

"Mr Valkov."

The name rings a bell in a way I don't want it to. He's looking at me intently, waiting for a reaction. I, however, don't give him the satisfaction of getting one. Silence. The only sounds are the beeps of the machines and the ticks of the clock on the wall.

"Well Mr Valkov, you went out of your way for me, the protection and all I truly appreciate it, I can't help but think you're making up for stealing my parking space."

I arch my eyebrows. The air is thick with tension. I'm being careful with my words, fishing around for information in a subtle way. Like my father taught me.

He's also being careful with his.

"I'm in the festive mood after all, there's no harm in being kind right?"

His words hung in the air. It's mid October, men like him don't look like they eagerly count the days till Christmas so they can open presents. I plaster a small smile on my face. "Ofcourse not, you've made me feel like a princess with all the bodyguards, you're quite popular aren't you?"

He folds his arms, then says " You've mentioned my men twice now, why the interest," he lets out a chuckle before continuing "maybe you want to join the crew"

That laughter was anything but casual, it was more icy and unnatural like the kind of laughs serial killers let out before they kill their victims. The laugh of a predator. He avoided my question. Although his words may come off as a joke, hidden behind them is suspicion.

I let out a fake laugh. "I might take you up on the offer Mr Valkov, I'm just a curious person that's all."

"Curiosity did kill the cat after all, miss…."

"I'm sure you already know my name Mr Valkov."

Silence fills the room.