Unable to control my grin, I felt the tiny pricks of anticipation on my skin as we drove down the darkened Brooklyn streets.
Chapter 10
Leo
Katia jogged to meet my car at nine a.m. on Saturday. When I hopped out and opened her door, I noticed her playful smile.
“You don’t have to do that, you know?” she said, sliding into the passenger seat.
“My dad would have a fit if he knew I let a lady open her own door. Just humor me.”
As we drove, she turned her head to study me. “So, is your dad the one responsible for turning you into a nice Catholic boy?”
She’d called me that before, when we’d met in the club to share intel, and I felt my lips twitch. “Both of my parents are responsible for that, actually. Mom was a teacher and Dad was a cop. Church on Sunday was a requirement, and so was following the law and being ethical.”
Her teeth gnawed her lip as she pondered. “I know I tease you for being conflicted about informing for Michael, but I don’t think I’ve taken the time to understand how big of a decision it must’ve been for you.”
I nodded. “I hate informing for the mafia, but I realized a long time ago that it could help me in ways I just couldn’t access otherwise. Michael has helped me save so many lives. We’ve worked together for years to bring down Victor’s human trafficking ring, and it’s finally slowed down immensely. If Michael goes to prison, that gives Marco Nunez ampleopportunity to step in and resume it, and I refuse to let that happen.”
“And your new boss is a jerk who doesn’t get it,” she said, arching a brow.
“He’s a strait-laced agent all the way. My impression is that he deals in black and white and will never see shades of gray, even if it saves lives.”
Her throat bobbed. “Are you going to get fired?”
Shrugging, I grinned. “Maybe one day, but until then, I’m going to keep saving people and doing it my way. Daniel can fuck off for all I care.”
“Fuck Daniel,” she said, scraping her hand under her chin. “Ta on jobu.”
My grin deepened. “I assume you’re cursing him out in Russian.”
“Estonian, but close enough,” she said with a nod.
We chatted until we neared the apartment building where the supposed hacker lived. I found a parking spot a few blocks away so we could approach on foot. We hid in the alley, near the dumpster where Katia had been assaulted, and I cupped her shoulder.
“Are you okay waiting here?” I asked softly.
“Yes. I don’t let jerks scare me away from my purpose.”
Admiring her grit, I stood behind her as we both peered around the corner of the building. Her perfume, or lotion—or whatever the hell she wore that smelled so good—wafted around me, and I felt myself harden in my jeans. I’d dressed more comfortably today since I wasn’t on duty, but I was hard as a fucking rock as the front of my body bracketed her back against the brick wall. God, I hoped she didn’t notice.
Accepting my uncontrollable reaction to her, I concentrated on observing the building entrance. We waited for what seemed like hours, but it was really only about forty minutes. My earsperked when the door swung open and a scrappy teenager in a hoodie and worn Converse sneakers stepped out.
Katia’s head whipped around, her eyes connecting with mine as I lifted my finger over my lips. She nodded, and we waited until he’d rounded the building to follow him.
We walked slowly, staying a block and a half behind as he walked toward a busier street with businesses and shops. He entered one of the coffee shops that Alexis had mentioned, and I gripped Katia’s arm. Tugging her between two buildings, I spoke softly.
“We’ll go in and buy coffee and sit at the table next to him. You and I will just talk normally and let him get used to us. After a few minutes, I want you to turn to him and introduce yourself in Russian.”
“Got it,” she said with a nod.
“When you start talking to him, he’s most likely going to recognize you. I don’t think he will beforehand because he won’t be focused on us, but once he actually dials in, we won’t have a lot of time.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll show him my gun and I want you to tell him in Russian that we just want to talk. We’ll hope that he doesn’t run. If he does, I can detain him and question him, but we don’t want it to come to that.”
Her eyes darted between mine. “So, what’s the goal?”
