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“I have two hundred iventurns with patrolling, training, and resting”

Shivering frolance up at the façade of the house The building is huge, big enough to house twenty people “Do they all stay here?”

He takes h the butter-soft leather “They live in the barracks at the back of the property”

I gape at him “You have a barracks?”

“It used to be a barn—storage space for foliage and a stable for horses I had it converted into a dormitory for the men” He takes my arm “Come You’re cold We’ll talk more in the house I just wanted to put your mind at ease about the presence of the men before ent inside”

Not having a choice, I follow him to the front door, but I refuse his ar too much

A tall, blond woreets us at the door Once she’s closed it behind us, she offers Alex a bright smile and launches into rapid-fire Russian

He holds up a hand “English, please We don’t want Katerina to feel excluded”

The woes irlfriend doesn’t speak Russian?”

“Not yet,” Alex says, re his coat “Katyusha, this is Lena, s his coat on a hanger “She’ll take care of all your needs”

Politeness compels me to say, “Pleased to meet you”

In turn, she gives me a cool once-over when Alex’s back is turned

Since I’somewhat to my senses, I push off h my hair

While Lena busies herself with putting my clothes in the closet, I look around the foyer The opulence is overwhelh, doelo’s painting on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, except this one depicts a czar and his court A double staircase with a golden balustrade runs fro Expensive-looking rugs cover the marble floors, and a red carpet runner decorates the stairs Chandeliers throw soft yellow light over reen walls adorned with Russian baroque art I’m not a connoisseur, but I’ve picked up bits and pieces in conversations with Ricky, an artist who’s dating s are originals, which I suspect they are, they must be priceless