Evgeni (Siberian Ambush Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

it. Evi’s shock provided the split-second that she needed to pick up the chair and swing it at him.
    Even with her advantage, Evi was able to throw up a muscular forearm, shattering the chair as it slammed into his arm and shoulder. He caught the open handcuff dangling from her wrist, swinging her around and crushing her against his bare chest, but she threw a heel into his shin, knocking him off balance. A further crack to the ribs with her elbow sent him stumbling backward, cursing nastily in Russian.
    Snatching her chance, she dove for her gun but he beat her to it, kicking it across the room and catching her chin with the side of his bare foot. Still sliding across the floor, Celia latched onto his ankle and pulled, felling him.
    She jumped up quickly and snatched the handcuff key from his desk, hastily ridding herself of the cuffs. Flying to his feet, Evi followed and grabbed the blade, carelessly flinging the scabbard to the floor. Obviously unused to knife fighting, he clumsily brandished the long blade. Scoffing, Celia gracefully withdrew the dagger from her left boot, her left wrist masterfully rolling the knife into a ready position as she crouched and rocked her weight from foot to foot.
    “Well, come on, big boy,” Celia taunted, flicking the fingers of her right hand and daring him to charge.
    He did. She had to give it to him. The man had balls. Still, she evaded his advance and swiped the edge of her blade against his abdomen, purposely inflicting a superficial wound. There was something about being cut that quickly altered the mindset of an opponent.
    Whatever their past, Celia had no desire to kill Evi. She couldn’t shoot him earlier, and she really didn’t want to open an artery on him now.
    Clutching his oozing abs, Evi stared wide-eyed at Celia and then the blood dripping from his fingers. “You cut me!”
    “What the fuck did you think I was going to do?” she asked incredulously. “You’re the one who pulled a knife first. I was just defending myself.”
    As she spoke, Celia noticed Evi’s jaw tighten and watched in awe as the incision healed. Rolling her eyes, she roughly exhaled. “This is fucking pointless, Evi! I have the fighting skills and stamina of a Navy SEAL, and you can regenerate. We’ll be here all night. I don’t have time for this!”
    “And what, exactly, do you propose we do?” Evi lashed out, clearly exasperated.
    “Just tell me what you want for the blade and we’ll make the trade.”
    “You can’t be serious.”
    “Fine,” Celia panted, desperate for a resolution. “Then just let me borrow the damn thing until morning.”
    “Oh sure,” Evi said condescendingly. “I’ll just let you waltz out my front door with my family’s most precious heirloom with nothing but your word that you’ll bring it back? I don’t think so, Celia.” He gave her a hard look. “Why do you want it so badly?”
    “I told you before that it’s complicated.” She knew that if she named Didier as her “employer” for this job, Evi would refuse to cooperate, even if she told him about Bianca’s predicament. There were few people within the underworld as loathed as Didier, and she couldn’t chance alienating Evi, not with so much riding on a successful transaction. “Please, Evi, just let me take the blade.”
    “Forget it,” Evi callously said. “I’m not particularly keen on charity.”
    “Well, I can’t buy the blade…but maybe I could just rent it for the night?”
    Evi gestured to their opulent surroundings. “I’m rather well covered in the finance department.”
    “Then what, Evi?”
    He studied her for a moment before stating his terms. “You. For the night.”
    Eyes popping, Celia tilted her head. “Excuse me?”
    “If you’ll spend the night with me, I’ll let you have the blade for one day,” he explained.
    “I’m not a whore, Evi,” Celia disdainfully spat.
    “No, you’re a thief.”
    Visibly jolting, Celia frowned. “That was