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“We talk business over the vodka.” He said, nodding at the bottle. Hamish shrugged, leaning over to pour one for himself, and shot it back.
“I am not going to say no to a drink after tonight. So, we are all here sitting calmly. Care to tell us how you ended up here?” He said as he pointedly looked at Katerina.
“How did you find me?” She shot back, going into her usual reaction of avoiding the question with one of her own.
“I called in some favors and we traced you from the car wreck. We did a perimeter check of anyone that may be associated with you in the general vicinity of the wreck and his name came up so here we are.” Hamish said calmly, his British accent more relaxing than the expression on his face.
“If they found me, others will too,” I said as I looked at Alexsei who nodded. I guess his cover was about to be blown. I just hoped it lasted long enough for me to get the answers I needed.
“Why the fuck are you calmly sitting next to the man who shot at you, wearing his clothes and covered in bruises and cuts?” Leo snarled and I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Because despite our differences, I knew Alexsei would help me, and I needed someone who could stitch me back together without taking me somewhere that would mean whoever did this could find me again.” I spat and his eyes went to my arm where the angry wound was barely being held together.
“So, he wasn’t the one who did this?” Riley said softly, looking between us like he was trying to figure out what had gone on in the hours since he saw me.
“No. At least that is what he says.” I said with a hint of a smile, and Alexsei rolled his eyes at me, pouring vodka for everyone.
“Thanks to you three and your band of motorbike-riding merry men, I am sure my cover is now blown.” He said before tossing back a shot.
“Yes. Those motorbikes are a nuisance and I can’t wait to hear the story behind why a well-to-do lawyer is connected to them.” I said with a wicked grin at Hamish, reminding him that I was still the same woman who slashed his tires and could do it again.
Hamish shrugged.
“I am a legacy member, but I stayed away from the brunt of it to be a lawyer and try to keep them and others who are misunderstood out of prison. My brother is in line to become the next President of the club if he doesn’t get himself locked up.” Hamish said as if that was the end of that conversation.
“So what is the deal with Alexsei then? I thought he was on the other side of your civil war?” Leo said as he looked between us.
I sighed, knowing that this was going to be a long night and I didn’t feel comfortable staying here like a sitting duck now I knew his home was also on the radar.
“I am undercover and you just made my job a hell of a lot harder.” He said and Riley frowned.
“Like with the police?” He asked and Alexsei chuckled.
“No. I am undercover on behalf of Katerina, though she only just discovered that I was. Drink and listen.” He said before he sat back and told them what he told me.
“So you’re in love with her,” Hamish said and I glared at him. The man had no tact and Alexsei hadn’t actually said that outright, choosing to leave that confession between us.
“What? Why would you say that, man?” Leo said and Hamish smiled slowly.
“Because a man doesn’t do all of these things for a woman out of the goodness of his heart without a reason. No matter how good his soul is. No. A man in our world does these things when he is hopelessly in love and doesn’t want to see her hurt.” He said with a look at Alexsei who shifted in his seat.
I was still reeling from that confession, though now that I looked back on all the years we had known each other, I could see it in the little moments between us that I hadn’t seen because I was too blinded by my love for Yuri.
“Yes. I am in love with her.” He said quietly and it was Riley who shocked me with laughter.
“Join the club man. We are all in the same boat of foolish love waiting for her to trust us.” He said with a pointed look at me.
So he was annoyed that I didn’t trust them right now. I had thought he would be, but I also hoped he would understand.
“You have to understand that the world Katerina has known has been full of people backstabbing each other from the beginning. It doesn’t matter that you are family, lovers, or friends. Everyone bleeds and everyone wants power. So she was right to suspect that perhaps the three of you were in on it.” Alexsei said with a shrug.
“Do you trust us now?” Riley asked, looking at me with an unreadable expression.
“Yes. I’m sorry I doubted you.” I said quietly, still feeling that tiny bit of doubt in the back of my mind.
If Ivan could do what he did to my father, anyone could do that to me. The only person I had trusted completely was Yuri and he left me too.
“I have a friend I’ll contact to see what we can get about the package and the White Fox. Now we have that out of the way, let’s move on to the important stuff.” Hamish said, clapping his hands together.
