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"Yes, anything. Like I said, we want to see your workflow and process and to just see how you operate and your means of obtaining information. So, work away." His smile was innocent, unlike his voice, which held an indiscernible edge to it.
"Ooohkay, remember, you gave me the okay." One last chance for him to change his mind before I pulled my strings.
When he showed no sign of backpedaling, I shifted my focus off him and Lev to the computer to type away at the keyboard. Starting from the bottom up, I started generally with a Google search before going to specific records websites and then my own private ones with the law enforcement agencies. Once those avenues were exhausted, I pulled out my phone to get in touch with my contacts, showing my screen to Stepan, who wanted to see exactly what I did and who I talked to.
I'd gotten most of the information I needed from my usual sources and means, but a few required an expertise I wasn't versed in. Of course, I outsourced that to my good friend, Bao, who was our little friend group's techy. I could get the information needed by myself, but that would take longer than I would like. So, more often than not, I turned to Bao to jump through some red rope for me.
Tapping my phone screen a few times, I dialed him and held the phone up to my ear, only to have a hand stop me. Confused, I looked over at Stepan with a tilted head and furrowed brows as the phone rang.
"Speaker." There was a smugness to him with how the corners of his lips curved slightly into a smirk.
Frowning with a soft pout, I let my phone clatter onto the desk after putting it on speaker, showing my clear disdain. I needed to keep this short and to the point; otherwise, I would end up in an endless pit of embarrassment like Angel when her husband made her take our phone call on speaker. Guess Karma's a bitch biting me in the ass now.
After the third ring, a female voice answered. "Hey Hanna, he's not here right now." It wasn't who I expected, but they'd do.
Chuckling softly, I threaded my fingers through my hair. "Nicki, hey, that's fine, you could probably help me with this if you have time." Bao's sister was just as good as him, if not better.
"Sure, who is it this time?" There was no beating around the bush with her.
"Jorge Hart," I replied, tapping my fingers against the desk. "You can just send it to my phone, I'm not at my computer right now."
"Alright, give me a few and you'll know this guy better than his own mother." She laughed softly but heartedly.
Unable to help it, I cracked a smile and laughed. "You're the best."
"Of course, and don't you forget that. I'll catch you later, bye." She replied before hanging up after I uttered a 'goodbye' in response.
Usually, I'd stay on the phone and go over things with the other side, but I wasn't too comfortable with the idea of Stepan and Lev sitting here and watching me like hawks. Also, if I stayed on the phone longer than needed, I'd end up talking nonbusiness things with Nicole, or whom I liked to call Nicki. The last thing I wanted was for these two bozos to hear things about my private life and my little fascination with a certain someone in the room.
The brief awkwardness in the room disappeared when my phone buzzed to life minutes after the call ended as the files flooded through.
Lev looked at my phone wide-eyed after snatching it off the desk. "Holy shit. Who did you call? An FBI hacker?"
"Better." A wide smile spread across my face as I held back the temptation to brag about Nicole's uncanny hacking abilities. The damn woman could find out anything and everything on the net as long as she had a connection and means. If it were ever on the net or in some electronic system, then it would be fair game to our two hackers.
"Well, it might take some of my sources some time to get back to me with the necessary info, but you were just testing my means of obtaining information no? I mean, I have no doubts about the information being good once it actually gets to me, and of course I'd follow up on the leads and such." No way could I do all of that within seven days.
I might be a great hunter, the fact supported by many people always flocking to me with their bounties, but I wasn't some miracle worker. Information took time to shift through; unfortunately, I couldn't control that.
"Well, either I've underestimated you, or you're a cop." Stepan's dry chuckle and slightly narrowed eyes sent a sharp chill down my spine.
My heart shouldn't be racing in my tightening chest that struggled to pull and push my breaths. I wasn't a damn cop or anything near one, so I shouldn't be ready to bolt for the door as if I'd have any chance against two of the bratva's second and third in command if I were caught with my pants down.
Shoving my nerves away, I plastered a smile on my face as I leaned back in the chair to regain my air of comfort. "I can assure you I'm no cop, just a girl with a crap ton of connections because of my upbringing." My voice came out smoothly as the corners of my stretched lips relaxed to a more natural smile.
"I doubt you're a cop, you're too… Unorthodox to be one." The way Stepan's eyes darkened as they swept over me made my stomach tighten with my hitched breath, which I barely hid along with my wondering gaze.
Then, his eyes flickered to a sharper but lighter edge. "Well, if you are one then we'll find out one way or another. But also, a cop wouldn't survive a day with us, let alone a week, not with what we'd make them do." His little half-smirk made my nerves grip my body again before I shook them off.
"Either way." I breathed deeply while sitting back up straight again. "I did what you asked. What next?"
Surprisingly, I managed to drag out the whole thing for nearly three hours. Unfortunately, I had at least five more hours to kill before my 'shift' was technically over.
Rubbing his stubbled chin for a moment, he let his eyes linger on me before replying to me. "Hmm, why don't you take an extended lunch break today and meet us at Cozy Cup at 1? There's some things Lev and I have to do, and it's a little too early for us to go out on surveillance. So, unless you want to sit around the office for the next hour before your scheduled lunchtime, I suggest you take the chance of fresh air I'm giving you."
My words stiffened with my tongue when I bit it to prevent my snark from coming out. I didn't like how he worded the last part. No doubt he did it on purpose because Stepan seemed like the type who spoke after carefully crafting his words before manipulating them with his tongue.
The smug little smirk on his face was all I needed to confirm he worded things purposely. "Well? What's your choice? I wouldn't mind having you sit around the office while I do some work, but for your sake, a little breather is needed." The smug edge to his voice slowly softened with his words. His tone changed to an almost caring one, as if he was doing me some favor by letting me have a long lunch.
