Page 116 of To Catch a Sub

“Do either of you know Indrek Novak? Started in the NCB in Estonia, stationed in Germany for a while, now in Poland.”

Both Andrei and Rolf shook their heads, though Rolf was frowning.

“He’s the agent in charge of the human trafficking investigation.” Landon shoved his hands through his hair. “I just talked to him.” Before this, information had been filtered through Barry. It was the first time Landon has spoken directly to the agent in charge, and it had not gone well.

“And?” Andrei asked.

“And he wants me to send him a current picture of Colette.”

Rolf and Andrei both stiffened.

“According to him, Damien Tarasov has hired people to find a dark-haired woman who’s either Irish or French and goes by the name Colline.”

“He took a hit out on her.” Andrei shrugged. “You knew they were after her. It’s why she came to us for protection.”

Landon shoved his hands through his hair, stepping closer and lowering his voice, though there was no way Colette could hear their conversation from her room at the other end of the hall.

“It’s not a hit. It’s a bounty. He doesn’t want her killed, he wants her brought to him.”

Rolf grimaced, while Andrei’s expression went flat.

“You think he plans to kill her horribly, to make an example of her.” There were ghosts in Andrei’s voice.

Landon shook his head even as he swallowed, needing a minute to get the next words out. “Novak doesn’t think so. He says the contract specifies she’s not to be hurt. It says if she’d injured, Damien will personally whip the man who hurt her.”

Rolf and Andrei now stared at him with the same dawning horror he’d experienced during the phone call with Novak.

“And the contract says…” Fear and rage choked him for a minute. “In the bounty contract, Damien refers to Colette his wife.”

Rolf’s eyes went wide, while Andrei turned away, his back to Landon.

“Novak wants to use that to get more information about Damien’s organization before they move in.” Landon was holding on to his control with both hands.

“He wants to use her as bait,” Rolf said grimly.

The door to the storage room burst open and Colette stumbled out.

Landon had only a second to think what the fuck, followed by, oh shit she heard that.

Colette raced out of the room, eyes blind with panic. Andrei was ready for her, catching her around the waist even as Landon lunged forward to grab her.

Andrei had turned to face the door not because he needed a minute to gather himself, but because he’d anticipated Colette’s actions. Andrei, who’d been in the store room a minute ago.

“You fucking prick,” Landon snarled. “You knew she was in there?”

“Let me go,” Colette demanded, thrashing in Andrei’s hold. “I have to go.”

“Don’t let her go,” Landon commanded. “She’ll run.”

“Please, Andrei, please.” She tipped her head back, trying to look at the man who held her tight against his chest. “I can’t go back.”

Landon ached with the need to grab Colette away and hold her himself. The way she was looking at Andrei made him want to beat the ever bloody fuck out of the other man.

“Stop.” Rolf’s voice cracked with command. “We’ll sit, and you’ll explain.”

Landon wasn’t sure who the “you” in that sentence was. Hopefully Colette, and hopefully now she’d answer some fucking questions.

The first thing he was going to ask was, “Are you married?”