Blaire only asks once why Lachlan didn’t get the wounds seen to.He tries his best to explain, but it sounds psychotic saying he didn’t want anyone else seeing them, asking how he got them, because then he’d have to describe the cold, procedural way Alistair Penhalyx penetrated him while telling him who he belonged to, and the fact that Lachlan, trained killer that he is, allowed it.
She looks so sad when she understands.
In early December, he meets with the three people Sorrenko offered and is surprised despite himself.They’re ideal for what he wants, the gaps he needs to fill, and the expertise required when fielding a replacement for Carrigan.
Of the three, Danya Yashin is, on paper at least, everything Lachlan could want in a second, which is why he’s taking all of it with a dump truck of salt.Sorrenko may be genuine when it comes to his sons, Lachlan doesn’t know enough to be sure, but he’s still Mikhail Sorrenko.
Lachlan meets with Yashin and the other two anyway.
The twenty-five-year-old corrects the use of his last name quickly.
‘Danya.I’d cut Yashin off if I could,’ the Russian says cheerfully.
He offers Lachlan his hand across the table as they stand to shake.He’s built like a boxer with broad shoulders and thick forearms.He carries a kind of dense, easy strength that looks natural on him, not overworked.Short, blonde curls with dark brown eyes.He’s wearing an honest to God lilac crop top with board shorts and sandals.
‘Is good to meet you, Lachlan Tanner.’
‘And you.’Danya’s file sits in front of Lachlan, who can’t help but ask, ‘You just fly in from somewhere nice?’
‘Oh this?’Danya asks, looking down at himself.‘I thought you’d want to check for ownership ink.I made it easy, see?’
Lachlan scans for visible tattoos, notes the absence of the ones that’d give him pause.‘Could be on your ass for all I know,’ he mutters.
Danya grins cheekily.‘Only thing on my ass is dimples and a cool scar.’
Lachlan doesn’t ask.
‘So, why do you think Sorrenko sent you to work for me?’
‘I think you need good people.’
‘And you’re good people?’
‘OK, I think you need people who are good at their jobs, and that’s us.’
‘Sorrenko bought your contract, is that right?’
‘Man like him can buy whatever he wants.’Danya’s smile doesn’t dim, but a little of the cheekiness fades all the same.‘You must know that by now.’
‘Money doesn’t buy loyalty.’
‘What does?’
‘You tell me.’
‘Loyalty cannot be bought.I know that much.’
‘Hm.Walk me through your service history.’
Danya gives him the unglossy version of the transcript, which Lachlan appreciates.It tallies perfectly, but that doesn’t mean much because Danya, whatever else he is, is clearly a professional.
Even so, Lachlan likes him right away.
But he’s also not stupid.
There’s doing someone a favour and then there’s gift-wrapping a big fuck-off wooden horse.Lachlan takes all three of them on and keeps their assignments low-level, controlled and deliberately unimportant.It’ll take roughly two weeks for him to know with certainty whether Danya and the other two, Nina Belova and Sergei Zaitsev, can be trusted.
In the meantime, it’s coming on Christmas.
