Chapter 21

What had she been thinking? Anya shoved the door to her favourite midnight coffee haunt open with a huff.
Honestly, teasing a cage fighter and then taking off, leaving him with a dick that could pound wood. She hadn't meant to make out with the guy. He was just so arrogant and masculine, with a body built like a tank and a deep voice that probably made panties drop everywhere he went. Who could blame a girl for getting a little carried away?
Anya dropped into a chair, crossed her legs and tried not to squirm. Just the thought of Ash running naked through that change room after her had her body amping back up again, ready for more of those delicious orgasms. She had never felt anything near this level of attraction before and she wasn't certain she liked it.
"Thanks babe," she said absently, when her friend Claudia placed a steaming cup of hot chocolate in front of her.
Claudia raised her eyebrow, sensing something was off with her usually chatty, sarcastic friend. Claudia's ability to read people was how she made such a successful waitress in a bizarrely eclectic coffee shop catering to nighthawks, artists and gamers. The owner of the coffee shop had offered her partnership more than once, because she was so well loved by the patrons, but she always laughingly demurred. Anya never asked Claudia why she was content simply waiting tables, but she sensed a mystery surrounding her beautiful friend.
Claudia searched Anya's face and opened her mouth to comment when the shattering of plates interrupted what could have been a very awkward conversation. The two women were friendly, but they hadn't made it to the ‘let's share our sex lives over several bottles of wine' stage yet.
"Fuck," Claudia grumbled, hands going to hips. "I blame Catan. That damn game gets more stuff busted in this place than a breakup fight."
Anya snickered as her friend bore down on the culprits. Claudia Cantore looked like a Greek Aphrodite statue with her tall, goddess-like frame and long blond hair. But when she was pissed off, no one was safe. Claudia could make a sailor's ears bleed with her explosive temper.
Preferring to daydream about tall, ripped and handsome, Anya let her mind drift while she absentmindedly blew on her hot chocolate. She wondered if Ash was thinking of her, and if his thoughts were amorous or murderous. She really had been there to vet him. Having heard Ash might be available for rent, her brother had sent her keen eye to the warehouse, along with several of his men. Thank god those guys hadn't seen her slip into the change room. Or go running back out like a scalded cat. Blue balls would have been the least of Ash's problems if her bother had gotten wind of that.
"Anastasia Sitnikov?"
Anya's back went up immediately. She was always extremely careful to come to Knight's Out café without the presence of her shadows. She had gotten very good at slipping away from them. So good, in fact, that her brother no longer bothered to have her guarded unless she was going someplace dangerous, like the cage fights.
There was no reason for anyone around here to know who she was. Brows lowered dangerously, Anya swiveled in her chair to confront the idiot that was about to get tongue blasted. Or kicked in the junk. Or maybe both.
Her frown turned to surprise. A very clean-cut, totally out of place, gorgeous in a no-nonsense-sort-of-way woman was standing behind her. She wore a pair of jeans, tan leather knee boots and a dark sweater. Her jet black hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail and she wore no makeup.?
Anya sighed and began scowling again.
A cop.
"I have nothing to say," Anya announced, swivelling back around.
The woman walked around her table and dropped into the vacant seat, levelling a stern look at Anya. "But you are Anastasia Sitnikov, correct?"
Anya rolled her eyes. "Christ, stop calling me that in public. Just Anya is fine."
The woman jerked her head in a nod. "Okay then, Anya. I'm Detective Jane McKinley," she said, holding out her hand.
Anya sighed and took the proffered hand, barely giving the tips of Jane's fingers a squeeze before dropping her own hand back to the table.
"I'm here to talk to you about your brother."
Anya snorted. "Really? I wouldn't have guessed."
"Sarcasm isn't necessary Anya, I just have a few questions."
Anya laughed out loud. "Of course you do and yes it is. Without sarcasm I would probably be peeing myself right now."
Jane tried to look gentle. Anya could tell it wasn't an emotion she was used to. Damn, she was starting to like the, what she suspected was, tough-as-nails cop.
"You don't have to worry Anya," she said soothingly. "Anything you say to me will be kept completely confidential. No one is going to hurt you."
"Oh, I'm not worried for myself Janie." Anya smiled sadly, enjoying the other woman's flinch at the nickname. "I'm worried about what happens to you when my big brother discovers you searched me out and questioned me. He doesn't take too kindly to any kind of threat to his sister. And while you don't exactly pose a threat, he's the shoot first and ask questions later kind of guy."
Jane sat up so straight her wooden chair scraped. She opened her mouth to speak, but Anya cut her off.
"And no, I'm not threatening you, nor is my brother by extension. I'm giving you advice from one woman to another." Anya took a long sip of her hot chocolate and said nonchalantly, "He secretly digs the professional ball-busting type. So if I were you, I'd fly under the radar where Vlad is concerned. Way under, if you know what I mean. Like, drop whatever it is you think you got on him, because you won't make anything stick. Oh, and never, ever mention this little incident to anyone. Not even your cop buddies, because you just know some of those little piggies have got to be in his pocket. This town likes to talk and it could easily get back to him. He would love to get his hands on someone like you, and trust me, you don't want that."
A slightly panicked look flashed across Jane's face before she plastered her cop look back on.
Well shit.
"You've already talked to him, haven't you?" Anya asked more seriously.
Jane nodded, her eyes dropping from Anya's for the first time. No direct stare from a cop? Oh, something happened between Jane McKinley and Vladimir Sitnikov. She would bet money on that. Very interesting.
For the time being she had her own problems to ponder. Like how to recover from making a total ass of herself with Ash, and then get him on board with fighting for the Russians. Vlad wouldn't be happy if he found out she'd lost their bid on the best up-and-coming fighter in the city. Especially if he found out how she'd scared Ash off.
"Nice chatting with you," Anya said brightly grabbing her camo purse and standing up. "Take my advice and either lay off my brother or move to another city." Anya paused, considering. "Maybe another country, just to be safe! Do svidaniya Jane."