The Final Hour (Volkov Bratva #3)(9)

Since then, Mishca had made it a point to have Luka shadow Lauren wherever she went. Unlike Vlad, however, Luka didn’t stick to the background, keeping pace with her instead.

It hadn’t been so bad at first, at least not until Luka began to annoy her.

“When he said you had to watch me, I don’t think he meant for you to actually follow me inside,” Lauren said dryly as Luka got more comfortable in the desk, stretching his long legs out in front of him, oblivious to the double-takes by some of her classmates.

When Mishca had told her that Luka would be her new guard until he could find somebody he trusted more, she didn’t argue with him, knowing there would be no point after what they’d just faced. She was actually grateful for it, but she had almost forgotten how badly Luka teetered on the edge of sanity, at least until he showed up today.

It wasn’t his attire, that was relatively normal. Jeans and a T-shirt, scuffed boots on his feet. No, it was the fact that he made a point to glare at any person that came within three feet of them. Two seats on all sides of them were empty, no one daring to sit any closer. By the time class was over, Lauren was sure the professor would tell her to drop the class or leave Luka at home next time.

“Just doing my job,” he said with a big grin, leaning back in his chair, stacking his hands behind his head as he whistled softly, a song she was growing used to, though it appeared that the noise was only irritating her professor.

He was a tiny guy, with a round stomach and thick glasses, and despite his irritation at the constant interruption that was Luka, he didn’t say a word. If Lauren were him, she probably wouldn’t either.

It didn’t just stop in class though. Luka literally stayed with her all day, purposefully crowding her space, grabbing for doors before she could—the latter she didn’t mind as much. By the time they got back to Mishca’s apartment, Lauren was ready to take him out herself.

Mishca was on the phone when they entered the apartment, but one look at her face had him telling the person on the other line he would call them back.

“What is it?”

“As much as I appreciate what Luka is doing—“ That made Luka raise his chin proudly, waving like they had any doubt she was referring to him, “—maybe we can find somebody else.”

Mishca looked amused even as he shook his head. “There is no one else. There are only two people I trust with your life, Vlad and Luka. I need Vlad for work.”

Lauren took a step closer to him, not wanting Luka to overhear what she was about to say. “You do realize that he’s insane, don’t you?”

He bit his lip, scratching at his facial hair as he tried to stifle a smile. “That’s his way of saying he likes you.”

She narrowed her eyes on him, stabbing him in the chest with her finger. “This isn’t funny, Mish. Do you know how threatening he looks? Hell, they probably thought he was going to kill them.”

“Is that not the point?”

“No. It would make more sense if he didn’t look threatening because if he does, people will wonder why I need a personal bodyguard all the time, thus attracting more attention.”

“That may be true, but he’s all I have at the moment.”

“Mish.”

“Lauren.”

It wasn’t the first time he’d started trying to intimidate her into agreeing to his terms, but she refused to be bullied. She might have been the only person that didn’t fear his wrath.

“No.”

“This isn’t up for discussion,” Mishca said slowly, his earlier amusement vanishing. “You’re not going out alone.”

“You’re right about that. It’s not up for discussion.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger, grappling for patience. “Why are you making this difficult for me?”

“You’re saying that as though I’m telling you I don’t want anyone at all. I didn’t say that.”

Luka cleared his throat, raising his hand. “I have a—”

“Shut up, Luka!” They both shouted back at him.

The enforcer wasn’t offended, instead he smiled in good humor and went to grab one of the apples Lauren had left out, stretching out on the couch to watch the ensuing fight.

“Just listen to what I have to say,” Lauren said.

Nodding, Mishca waved her on.

“If you’re going to leave me with Luka, you have to make him stop doing the death glare at anyone that comes near me.”

“Death glare?”

Lauren looked back at Luka. “Show him.”

Anyone else might have looked confused by the request, but not Luka. Instead, he made the exact face he did when they were in her class, proving her point that he had been doing it on purpose.

“Anything else?”

“What about my demands?” Luka piped in.

Mishca looked like he was dangerously close to doing them both harm, but he obligingly turned to face Luka, waving him on in the same fashion as he had Lauren.

“Oh shit…I didn’t actually think you were going to listen.”

Mishca barked something at him in Russian, making Luka laugh as he went back to eating his apple. Sometimes Lauren wondered if it were all an act, or if something was really wrong with him.

“Is he even getting paid for this?”