Anna Asanova stepped out from the shadow of the doorway and onto the porch, the shotgun pointed at Oleg’s chest. “I’m settled. What do you want?”
“What do you think I want?”
“I don’t know where she is.”
“Are you telling me that Tatyana hasn’t made contact with her own mother?” Oleg shook his head. “I don’t believe you.” He’d also been tracking her mobile phone usage. She was getting calls from someone in Georgia, but he couldn’t be sure it was his prey.
“I didn’t say she hadn’t been in touch. I said I didn’t know where she was.”
Oleg shrugged. “You know that gun will not kill me.”
“I’ve been told you can die by losing your head,” Anna said. “I’m willing to fire a few times if that’s what it takes.”
She wouldn’t be alive by the second shot, but Oleg didn’t have any desire to kill her. Not if he could help it.
He stepped forward and lifted the package in his left hand. “I brought you a cake.”
Silence.
The dog noticed the bright pink pastry box and let out a high whine. A second later, Oleg saw a drop of drool fall from his dark jowl.
“Dymka.” Anna’s disappointed tone made Oleg smile. “You glutton.”
“It’s chocolate smetannik,” Oleg continued. “I think it might be your favorite. And maybe Dymka’s too.” He put his hand on the gate, and this time, Dymka stepped forward, but he didn’t growl. His eyes were fixed on the pink box.
“Stoyat!” Anna barked, and the dog started growling again.
“Anna,” Oleg warned. “We both know I could have come here with a dozen vampires if I wanted to harm you. All I want is to talk. I’m worried about her.”
“Why?”
Oleg put his hand on the latch for the gate and Dymka started barking again. His hackles went up, but Oleg kept his eyes fixed on Anna. “Your daughter became a vampire because of me. Because my people did not protect her. She may not technically be under my aegis, but that doesn’t mean I am indifferent to her.”
Far from it, but Anna didn’t need to know that.
Tatyana Vorona haunted his thoughts. It had been over a year since he’d laid eyes on her, but her piercing blue eyes met Oleg every time he fell into day sleep. Her voice whispered in his mind. And her blood moved in his own veins.
He couldn’t rid her from his thoughts, and the last thing he wanted was to hurt her mother.
Oleg wanted Tatyana back, and he was a very patient predator.
He lifted the pink pastry box again and Dymka quieted, but he didn’t sit.
Anna sighed. “I am going to regret this.” She lowered the shotgun. “Oleg, you may come in.” She looked at the dog. “Dymka, priatel.”
Immediately, the dog relaxed, and walked to the gate with a wagging tail, sitting down as Oleg eased open the latch and swung the gate inward, keeping his eyes on the shepherd.
“He won’t bite you unless I tell him.” Anne waited for Oleg to approach the porch.
Oleg held his hand out and petted the dog’s black ears. He was a handsome animal with a shoulder that reached Oleg’s waist and a head that nearly came to his chest. That said, once Anna had called Oleg a friend, he appeared completely relaxed.
“He’s well trained.”
“Did you come here to ask about my dog?” Anna leaned on the door frame as Oleg approached the house. “Or did you come about my daughter?”
Part 3 coming next week!