Chapter Fifteen

After her shower Kalina came downstairs, attracted by the smells of cooking. She followed them through several rooms before she found herself in a long dining room dominated by a huge dark table. Like the rest of Redwood, it was decorated in a medieval, almost feudal manner, with big dark paintings on the walls and complex-patterned heavy rugs across the floorboards. It would have been cosy and inviting despite the slight draft from an empty fireplace, except for one thing. Gregorovich was sitting at one of just two place settings, obviously waiting for her.

He stood slightly as she entered, striking her with his ingrained politeness even though he probably hated her guts.

Still a gentleman…she thought wryly, then quickly banished the thought in case the Russian should detect any mockery on her face. If he wanted to play politeness, so could she.

"Yassen" she said levelly, nodding at him in greeting and taking the spare seat opposite. She shifted its heavy weight up to the table and regarded her setting. Silver service, of course. Enough for four courses. Kalina swallowed hard at the thought of sitting with Gregorovich for four courses.

"Where is Charles?" she said, not just to break the silence. She honestly wished he were there.

Gregorovich hadn't been looking at the woman; he wanted to fulfil his duties as uneventfully as possible. Just because he had to keep an eye on her round the clock didn't mean he had to practice his conversational skills. He shrugged almost laconically. "I do not know. He said he had business to attend to"

Kalina's eyes narrowed.

I bet you warned him off…

She was surprised to find herself slightly upset that Charles had abandoned her. And slightly angry at Gregorovich for making him. As if the assassin could decide what she did or who she saw…

But then, dragging her around the city and to his safehouse in the hills, that was exactly what he'd been doing, and she knew he was perfectly capable of doing it again. How did he manage to look so comfortable in a situation she found excruciating? Kalina wanted to squirm in her seat; Yassen looked like he was about to take out a pipe or perhaps have a nap before the fish course arrived.

Of course, Yassen's outward demeanour and his inward thoughts didn't have to correlate. He was relieved when a small door opened and the butler arrived with their food. Eating would make the silence less obvious. If he could look at his food he wouldn't have to look at her…

"Are we to eat together every night?" she asked now, tone light and innocent. Yassen nodded, keeping his face expressionless.

"And every morning. And afternoon" he replied.

"What about if I want a midnight snack?"

"You are to ask me first" Yassen said sternly. He knew she was playing a game, trying to get a rise out of him. He would play too if that was how she wanted it.

"You are to report to me at 8 o'clock sharp every morning" he continued, "so I know you have survived the night"

Kalina's slender eyebrow rose fractionally. "Of course" she said flatly. "Would you also like me to come and say goodnight?"

"Yes. I will check your bedroom before you go to sleep"

Yassen was beginning to enjoy his food. He felt he was needling her for once. Kalina was pushing a piece of fish around her plate with a fork.

"And I'm afraid there will be no more walks with Monsieur de la Coeur" Yassen went on, almost managing to sound apologetic. "Should you wish for exercise, I will accompany you"

Kalina's lips pursed as she stared at her plate. Yassen smiled the first real smile he'd managed all day.

"Gregorovich?" she said after a long silence. He waited. "What was on that disc?"

"Why?" Yassen said before thinking. It was the last question he'd expected her to ask; changing the subject away from her persecution. He felt suddenly wrong-footed.

Misdirection! his brain shouted. Kalina shrugged.

"I just wondered what all the fuss was about, why so many people want it"

So it was a genuine question after all. No room for making her uncomfortable here either, unless…

"I do not know" Yassen said. Kalina met his gaze.

"Yes you do. You know everything"

Sarcasm? Probably. Still;

"Yes" he replied. "I do. The disc contains information from the U.S. Military, details of a new weapon, to be precise. Unfortunately for them, someone inside the military leaked the data in the form of a protected disc. It was meant to be sold to the Russians but somehow ended up in Peter Klunt's hands. He was willing to sell it to the highest bidder. That is where Scorpia and your employers come in. Patel wanted it for free."

"The disc is protected?"

"It cannot be copied. There are no more leaks from the U.S. Military either. They do not know it is still in circulation, not for sure."

"What kind of weapon is it?"

Now Yassen felt like he was being drawn into saying too much. He just gazed at the girl instead. She sighed.

"I'm not hungry. I think I'll go and watch some television"

Anything to get away from this mind-numbing dinner…

"Do not go far" Yassen reminded her. "I will join you shortly"

He was beginning to realise a way to assuage his own anger and discomfort at his behaviour towards Kalina. Get her back. And no matter how confused and unsettled her proximity made him feel, it seemed to unsettle her a lot more. Revenge, sometimes, could be a cure, and even though Yassen wished he had enough control not to play petty mind games, he knew at that particular moment that he didn't. He would be childish and vindictive and make Kalina as uncomfortable as she had made him. Having the upper hand felt wickedly satisfying.

Of course, he'd also keep her alive. But in a hell of his own choosing.

A/N: Retaliation! Thank you everyone who always reviews, it really helps me keep writing! I now live alarmingly close to a prison, i get to hear sirens all hours, and share a front door with 7 other flats. Not to mention feeding and clothing myself. All for the bargainous price of one hundred pounds a week (bursts into tears). How character-building university is!