Page 147 of Bleed with Me

Her forehead wrinkled.

“They are?”

“I just passed someone asking.” I pointed toward the door. She immediately rushed outside.

“Two minutes,” I muttered and slipped into Malin’s room before fate found another way to stop me. I quietly closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a brief second, listening for footsteps in the corridor.

“What are you doing here?” Malin asked, his voice tired and his eyes closed.

“Where’s the file you told Dorian about?” I asked, not wasting a second explaining. “I can deliver it to Detective Mallory for you.”

Malin’s eyes snapped open, and he turned his head toward me.

“You’re a Valentino,” he said after a pause. “It’s too risky.”

“No one will see me,” I reassured him, checking my watch. “You know I can pull this off without revealing my identity.”

“Dorian?” he asked, as if he'd suspected the answer before it left my mouth.

“Doesn’t know about it.” I shrugged. “But I don’t take orders from anyone.”

“And,” he exhaled, the exhaustion slowly winning over his concentration. “What do you want in return?”

For a second, I hesitated.

“Acceptance,” I replied carefully, holding his tired look. “You know how hard it is for people like us to fit in.”

“People like… us?” he mumbled, inhaling deeply.

“Murderers,” I clarified.

“I prefer… protectors.”

“Softer term, same meaning.” I walked to the side of the bed. “Part of the package is great skills to accomplish the mission.”

“You’re good,” he confirmed quietly, as if he was ashamed to admit someone impressed him. “Backup?”

“That’s taken care of,” I said, tapping on my watch. “I don’t have much time. If Dorian finds me here, the deal is off.”

Malin stared at me as if he were trying to read my soul. Yet all he could see was a determination to help him.

“If you get caught—” he whispered, but I quickly interrupted him.

“I won’t.” I almost grasped his hand, but stopped myself because he hated physical touch. “Just tell me where the file is. I’ll deal with the rest.”

“If you fail…” he gripped my hand in an iron grip, surprising me, “the boy will die.”

“Malin,” I ground out, leaning closer so that even if someone walked in, they wouldn’t hear me. “Matilda and Diana Santangelo are my friends. I spent countless days with them and Amelia.” A flicker of sadness crossed his face at the mention of her name. “I want to help save that boy, too.”

He held my determined look for another long moment before he exhaled in defeat.

“Queens. The access code is four zeros.”

“Seriously?” I straightened to my full height, glaring at him. “We don’t have time to play hide and seek.”

“Take it or leave it, Nina.” His lids fell shut, and he pointed with his long finger toward the door. “Now go. Dorian will have my balls if he knew about this.”

He was right, of course. Not only were his balls at stake here.