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“If you didn’t want to be caught, you shouldn’t have set foot in the country.” I glance at the nightstand drawer. “Damn shame you didn’t figure it out sooner. You could have reached for the gun you keep in there.”
“Watch your mouth.” Yuri glares at me.
I stand straighter, determined not to let him see any weakness. “You would have liked to kill me the way you killed Sarra Rhodes, wouldn’t you? I’ve been trying to catch you for a year. I knew sooner or later you would leave Russia and return to the States.”
“This was all a setup.” Yuri shakes his head and spits at my feet. “You’re going to regret this, you fucking bitch.”
“Such a sweet pet name.” Sarcasm drips from my voice as I nudge the bed with my foot.
“You’re fucking dead. Release me now and I’ll make it quick.”
The door bursts open and two FBI agents rush into the room. The agents move quickly, detaching Yuri from the bed and getting him on his feet. They read him his rights as he heads for the door.
Yuri stops and looks at me, a sinister smile on his face. It does nothing to dull the anger he has bubbling to the surface. “Nik will kill you for this.”
“I doubt that Nikita Orlov wants to try his luck.” I wiggle my fingers in a slight wave as the agents force Yuri out the door. “But if he does, send him my way.”
Yeah, that’s it, Hazel. Taunt a member of the mafia. Tell him to send his boss after you. Smart.
Twenty-three is too young to die.
Nikita Orlov can come after me if he wants. I’m not scared of him.
At least, I’m going to pretend not to be.
Chapter 2 - Nik
“Anyone want to tell me what this fucking meeting is about?” I stride into the conference room. My tone is sharp as all the men turn to me and stand.
There is something about being able to walk into a room and command the attention of everyone in it that makes a man feel good.
However, that feeling won’t linger for long. If Dimitri, my second in command, is calling a meeting, then someone is undoubtedly going to make me want to kill them.
I nod to them, and they take their seats. Gazes avoid mine, glancing around the room. Others look down at their hands or out the windows.
Nobody wants to tell me what the fuck is going on.
Fucking cowards.
Bright sunlight streams through the windows. It’s too early in the morning to be dealing with this shit. If none of them want to speak up, I’ll have Dimitri teach them a lesson.
These men are trained to be killers. Unafraid of anything that the life of the Bratva may throw at them. And yet, here they all are, sipping their cups of coffee and pretending that everything is alright.
Chairs roll across the gleaming hardwood floor as the men shift closer to the table. I stand in the doorway as they play a silent game of chicken with each other.
Great. I was hoping for a day that wouldn’t be a flaming pile of dog shit.
After a long night of pouring over another business deal with a casino for money laundering, all I want to do is avoid the very people who give me the largest headache.
If Dimitri hadn’t said the meeting was critical, I could have been in bed right now. And I could have been there with a gorgeous woman.
Dimitri glowers from where he reclines in one of the chairs. Tension chokes the air as the men look at each other.
“Enough of this fucking shit. None of you have the balls to speak up?” I scoff and look at the men gathered there. “Pathetic. Dimitri, tell me what the fuck this is about.”
I cross the room and take my seat at the head of the table. Dimitri sits to my right, facing the men. His eyebrows pinch together and his mouth presses into a thin line.
Dimitri folds his arms. The men who were speaking to each other fall silent with his icy glare. “Yuri has been arrested.”
