Read Online The Rule of Luck by Catherine Cerveny - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Catherine Cerveny
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situation with the right outfit and the right makeup. Even wearing the right color was often enough to move things in my favor. (The intuitive kicks I got in my gut didn’t hurt either.) While some people could use tech to make temporary modifications to their appearance for things like eye color, skin tone, or even hair texture, I had to compensate the old-fashioned way. It was hard work, but I was good at it thanks to years of practice. Except now; damn it , I couldn’t even do that right! I groaned aloud. Gods, what did it even matter? I wasn’t supposed to care what Petriv thought about how I looked.
I unlocked the door and stepped out into the hall. The blond chain-breaker was waiting. Despite his bravado, Petriv hadn’t trusted me after all. I almost laughed out loud, then caught myself. I shouldn’t be getting such a charge from this. Yet there I was, following my familiar patterns—allowing my gut to lead the way and letting what felt right dictate the situation. It felt right to go with Petriv. Forget Roy, my friends, my business partner, even my mother. Right now, being with Petriv was what I most wanted to do. Sometimes, I hated this side of myself, where logic fell by the wayside. I didn’t want to be that person; she got me into trouble. And yet…I could feel myself getting lost in the moment in a way I hadn’t in ages. Being with Alexei Petriv was scary and exhilarating. Everything else in my life felt drab and colorless, and even though I knew it was a horrible thing to do, I couldn’t help but measure Roy against Petriv. How could I not? And Roy, gods help me, was starting to pale in comparison.
I gestured extravagantly down the hall. “Lead the way.”
The move seemed to irritate the giant, and with a jerk of his head indicating I should follow, he marched us back the way we’d come. A few turns later I found myself in a room at the end of a long hallway. I noticed other doors—all closed—and heard muted voices, but hadn’t seen other patrons. Presumably they wanted privacy too.
Petriv and the waiter were there, making idle chitchat in Russian about gods knew what. When they saw me enter, the waiter bowed and backed away.
“I’ll return in a few moments,” he said, then ducked out through the set of sliding doors, which closed behind him.
Unsurprised, I found Petriv and I were the only ones in a small dining room that was about the size of my bedroom. There was an intimate table set for two with wall-mounted candles providing soft lighting. There were no windows and no door other than the one through which our waiter disappeared.
“Well, this is cozy,” I said, voice throatier than I’d intended.
He smiled at me and somehow managed to look innocent and wolfish at the same time. “They know what I like,” he said, and stepped to the sideboard to pour a drink. The liquid was clear. Given all I’d seen so far, I guessed vodka over water. “Something to drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m still feeling the whiskey. No need to add to the mix.”
“Very prudent.” Somehow he made it seem like a tease. That rankled.
“Look, this is all fascinating, but let’s get to the point. If I can do whatever it is you want, I will. And if you see fit to do something about my blacklisted status, even better.”
He walked toward me, stopping a few steps away. I held my ground, refusing to back down. “Not everything needs to be a personal challenge, Ms. Sevigny. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t enjoy ourselves while we work.”
I swallowed, nerves kicking in. “I think it’s best if we just stick to why I’m here.”
Another step closer. “Is it always business with you?”
The heat was back in my belly and nudging lower. I wanted to slap myself, if only to snap out of it. I had a boyfriend. Roy. Crime lords were not part of my world, no matter how good-looking, rich, or powerful they might be.
“Honestly, I’d like to forget the last few days ever happened,” I said. He
I unlocked the door and stepped out into the hall. The blond chain-breaker was waiting. Despite his bravado, Petriv hadn’t trusted me after all. I almost laughed out loud, then caught myself. I shouldn’t be getting such a charge from this. Yet there I was, following my familiar patterns—allowing my gut to lead the way and letting what felt right dictate the situation. It felt right to go with Petriv. Forget Roy, my friends, my business partner, even my mother. Right now, being with Petriv was what I most wanted to do. Sometimes, I hated this side of myself, where logic fell by the wayside. I didn’t want to be that person; she got me into trouble. And yet…I could feel myself getting lost in the moment in a way I hadn’t in ages. Being with Alexei Petriv was scary and exhilarating. Everything else in my life felt drab and colorless, and even though I knew it was a horrible thing to do, I couldn’t help but measure Roy against Petriv. How could I not? And Roy, gods help me, was starting to pale in comparison.
I gestured extravagantly down the hall. “Lead the way.”
The move seemed to irritate the giant, and with a jerk of his head indicating I should follow, he marched us back the way we’d come. A few turns later I found myself in a room at the end of a long hallway. I noticed other doors—all closed—and heard muted voices, but hadn’t seen other patrons. Presumably they wanted privacy too.
Petriv and the waiter were there, making idle chitchat in Russian about gods knew what. When they saw me enter, the waiter bowed and backed away.
“I’ll return in a few moments,” he said, then ducked out through the set of sliding doors, which closed behind him.
Unsurprised, I found Petriv and I were the only ones in a small dining room that was about the size of my bedroom. There was an intimate table set for two with wall-mounted candles providing soft lighting. There were no windows and no door other than the one through which our waiter disappeared.
“Well, this is cozy,” I said, voice throatier than I’d intended.
He smiled at me and somehow managed to look innocent and wolfish at the same time. “They know what I like,” he said, and stepped to the sideboard to pour a drink. The liquid was clear. Given all I’d seen so far, I guessed vodka over water. “Something to drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m still feeling the whiskey. No need to add to the mix.”
“Very prudent.” Somehow he made it seem like a tease. That rankled.
“Look, this is all fascinating, but let’s get to the point. If I can do whatever it is you want, I will. And if you see fit to do something about my blacklisted status, even better.”
He walked toward me, stopping a few steps away. I held my ground, refusing to back down. “Not everything needs to be a personal challenge, Ms. Sevigny. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t enjoy ourselves while we work.”
I swallowed, nerves kicking in. “I think it’s best if we just stick to why I’m here.”
Another step closer. “Is it always business with you?”
The heat was back in my belly and nudging lower. I wanted to slap myself, if only to snap out of it. I had a boyfriend. Roy. Crime lords were not part of my world, no matter how good-looking, rich, or powerful they might be.
“Honestly, I’d like to forget the last few days ever happened,” I said. He
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