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“Go directly to Sevastyan’s office.” As if she needed direction, he pointed up the back stairs. Her gaze slowly raked over the two guards positioned on either end dressed in black from head to foot.
A set of sunglasses and their mysterious stone-cold look would be complete, she thought. On any other day, she ignored the sense of someone’s emotional aura but the new guys were nervous and it rolled off them until the air in the small room grew stale.
She stopped her escort with a light touch on the elbow and lowered her voice. “What’s this about, Roman?” Being left in the dark felt about as good as it sounded and grated on her nerves as expected.
“Go. I’ll explain later.”
She knew a dismissive tone when she heard it but before she could argue, Roman turned and walked off in the opposite direction and toward the main entrance where the security rooms were located.
She tucked a stray curl behind her ear and wished she’d opted for a bun or something that would have tied the thick nuisance out of her way. She glanced at her watch. Just past ten at night. She forced herself not to wipe her sweaty palms on her dress slacks. Sevastyan and the men would be on the main floor at this time since she and Roman had run late this evening. Indigo, well, she wouldn’t be in Sevastyan’s office since Rhia would be there. So, that took care of her. And now that she knew how to work the monitors, she could get a closer look at the books and watch for any of the men’s return. That solved the issue of needing backup, but it didn’t solve the problem of not knowing where her friend was.
Rhia turned to the back entrance and walked between the guards, their posture about as flexible as stone statues. Their expressions were closed off, brooding, and slightly menacing in appearance.
She wouldn’t want to run into them in a dark alley.
A rush of energy skittered up her spine and made her shiver. She held back a huff of humor at the random thought. She swallowed and placed her foot on the first step, when a familiar boisterous voice bounced off her eardrums.
Rhia turned on the ball of her foot, backtracked so fast she didn’t have time to think if her actions were smart. Several long strides carried her across the back room. Palms flat, she pushed through the inner door with a flurry of energy on her wake, spilled into a section of the main floor away from the larger group, and paused.
She narrowed her eyes on the oversized bear of a man and suppressed the surge of panic meant to send her fleeing for her life.
Feet planted solid, she flicked her finger in the face of the wide-eyed Viking, and Rhia hurled her demand with the effect she’d aimed for. “Where is she, you piece of shit? I know you left here with her. I saw you. Now tell me where my friend is!”
Bjorn, cocky as the night was hot, leaned back in his chair and leveled a surprised wintery gaze on her in shock.
“Where who is?” His Scandinavian descent was obvious in his height, blond hair, and pale blue eyes, and over the course of the few weeks she’d heard him speak, she had his country narrowed down to Norway. With an accent she considered sexy on other men, he left her senses raw whenever he opened his mouth. Or was it because arrogance made his voice sound like live wires on her eardrums? She brushed the thought away.
“Maya. Where is she, asshole?” She closed the little space between them, and the men that stood around him looked on in silence. Screw them. “Just tell me where you have her and I’ll be out of your hair.”
The longer he stroked that damn beard of his, considering her, the more she contemplated cold-blooded murder. There had to be a way to kill a man three times her size, and tonight every fiber in her being wanted to be the one to find out.
He gave a shake of his head and shrugged. “Maya. I know no Maya.” He drew out her name like a taunt, obviously toying with her.
He pushed to his feet and lorded over her like a freaking Norse god ready to repeat himself. Well, screw him twice.
He wrapped strong fingers around her throat and sneered in her face. “But maybe we could get to know each other.” Fumes of alcohol filled her nostrils.
The good thing about growing up with three brothers was that they taught a girl how to fight dirty.
With a flexed foot, she aimed first for the side of the knee and went in for another crotch shot. One gasp and he was at her level, his hand falling from her throat.
Everyone took a step back. Feminine shrieks carried over the music but she paid no mind. Maya needed her; she didn’t care what Roman or Sevastyan, Lucian, or Matteo thought or said.
To her right, a hostess tried to ease by unnoticed with a half-full tray. Rhia latched onto a large pint of beer, reared back, took aim, and heaved. Frothy foam sloshing everywhere. Her arm moved all of two inches before a beefy hand wrapped around her wrist. Her gaze rose to find a set of raised brows over simmering amber eyes.
Her breath locked in her lungs.
She turned in time to see Sevastyan pluck the mug from her grip.
“What the—back off, Sevastyan. This has nothing to do with you.” She turned to find his eyes fixed on hers.
“You never cease to amaze me, kroshka. Sometimes I wonder if that’s a good or bad thing.”
So did she.
Her chest heaved with the effort it took to get air in her lungs and probably enough adrenaline in her veins to fuel her during an MMA match.
Heart pounding in her chest and the need for answers clawing at her, it took several seconds for his words to take root in her fogged brain.
