Page 104 of Lethal Obsession

“Man of mystery, huh?” But he has a gleam in his eye that tells me he’s more than just in. “Mickey and I will have some fun with this.”

“Not Mickey.” My response is out before I can stop it. “No offense,” I say, when his eyebrows shoot up again. “I just—this needs to stay underground. For now, and maybe for a lot longer. Until I’ve nailed it down, I don’t want to discuss it. Not with anyone.”

His eyes narrow. “I’ll respect that. So long as I know that you are respecting his sister.”

“I heard you the first time, Lars.” I can’t keep the edge of annoyance out of my tone. “Don’t hurt Ofelia. I got it, loud and fucking clear, okay?”

“Yeah, well, I mean it.” Lars’s permanent smile is more of a thin line. “Get her off that yacht, then you get good and gone. You need to hit pause on whatever you’ve got going on until it’s safe.”

“Copy that,” I say tightly. “For what it’s worth, I’ve got no intention of letting Ofelia go.”

He visibly tenses.

“But I agree that she can’t be anywhere near me,” I concede, “until things have gone quiet. I need to set her up with secure comms, but I can’t send any of our guys into her house without sending up a fucking smoke signal a mile wide—and the last thing I want is to set off Roman’s radar, especially with all this shit going on.”

“I have an idea.” Lars gives me an evil grin. “You won’t like it.”

I shake my head resignedly, already knowing what he’s going to say. “Mickey will just tell Roman.”

Which is also why I don’t want him anywhere near my tech ideas. I like Roman. He’s family.

He’s also fucking Roman.

“No, he won’t tell Roman. Not if it’s Ofelia’s secret.” His eyes narrow slightly. “You underestimate that kid, Lex, and his loyalty to his sister. Mickey will do anything to keep her safe. And they’ve been keeping each other’s secrets for years.”

The thought of asking Mickey for help twice in as many months pisses me off more than is at all comfortable, but the only alternative is asking Mak, and my gut tells me that request would be one step too far over the line for his unshakable loyalty to Roman.

“Fine. But I want to talk to Ofelia first, clear it with her.”

Lars nods. “Fair.”

I frown at him. “And while we’re still on the topic of Ofelia—how the fuck did you even know she was here, anyway?”

“Oh, you sweet summer child.” He gives me a pitying look. “For a geek wielding a very big gun, you do sometimes forget what I’m capable of, motherfucker.”

19

Ofelia

“You want me to go back to Granada?” I sip my gin and tonic, trying to conceal my disappointment.

“I don’t want you to go anywhere.” Alexei is wearing sunglasses that do nothing to disguise his grim expression. “Unfortunately, this isn’t about what either of us wants. I’m sorry—I wish it was different.”

It’s almost sunset. We’re seated on the wide sofa on the upper deck of the yacht, looking out over the water.

Alexei has been locked in the secure room since this morning, and by the way he looked when he emerged, whatever news came through isn’t good.

I nod slowly. “Okay. When are we leaving? Tonight?”

“That’s it?” He takes his sunglasses off, looking at me curiously. “You’re not going to ask why?”

“I already know why.” I slide my hand over his, twining our fingers together. “You forget that I grew up with this,” I say quietly. “I know it’s business. I know you can’t talk about it. And before you say it”—I place a finger over his lips, shivering at their touch on my skin—“I know you’re making me leave for my own safety.”

Alexei turns my hand up, his thumb stroking my palm, and for a moment we just sit there, watching the purpling dusk.

“You should go tonight,” he says eventually. “But we’re too far offshore for a run out, so it will have to be early tomorrow morning.”

So soon.