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Under her touch, she could feel Sevastyan tense the longer Dimitris spoke, and the pulses of awareness to his simmering anger flared where their skin made contact.
“I think that is a wonderful idea. Connections are everything in this business, am I right, kroshka?” She leaned in and hovered her lips close to Sevastyan’s ear and whispered, “Let me go.” With her new information, she had something to go on, but that still left Maya in hot water.
Sevastyan’s fingers only tightened. Rhia clenched her teeth to hold back the curse she wanted to whip out.
Dimitris chuckled and pointed a heavy finger her way, decked out in a chunk of gold with what appeared to be an emerald on top. “Feisty—I like that in woman. A strong will is an honor to break.”
Fear of what his words meant trickled down her spine and left a cold path of trepidation in its wake. If what he said was true, and this guy was partners to Sevastyan’s dead brother, what did that make him? What did that make Sevastyan?
One thing became painfully clear at that moment. Whatever she stepped into had officially become too deep for her to handle alone. Moreover, what had Maya walked into? Alone and with no one the wiser of her whereabouts? She had to help her friend, and then she would help herself.
She forced herself to move, slow, and let her gaze fall to Dimitris’ with a sultry dip to her lashes as she leaned closer to Sevastyan’s ear. “Let me up.”
“Milaya, there’s no way in hell I’m letting you out of my sight,” he retorted gruffly.
“Or, you won’t like what I say next. The little war room you have downstairs that you use to spy on your members? I know about it. I wonder what the authorities would have to say about all the recordings.” She uncrossed her feet at the ankle and made a move to stand.
Her message was received loud and clear. His grip on her thigh loosened, and the pads of his fingers brushed against the skin of her lower back where her dress slacks dipped low. Beneath her, Sevastyan’s chest expanded with a deep breath before he nodded once.
“I agree,” he said, covering their true conversation. “Have Indigo prepare the gold room for our esteemed guests here at Haven. Make sure every element is seen to.” He helped her stand and followed suit.
“Enjoy your time at Haven. Please allow me to see to the preparation of your room now.” She inclined her head a small fraction and didn’t wait to see which body part of hers he wanted to caress with his eyes next.
“Another drink, my friend, while we wait. There’s so much more to discuss.”
“Da. I agree with this.”
She made a quick exit to find Indigo sitting behind her desk, Bjorn nowhere to be found. She didn’t question the small miracle and instead came to a dead stop by Indigo as the heavy door to Sevastyan’s office swung closed behind her.
She reached out and shook the other woman. “Hey,” she hissed low. “What the heck are you doing? How long has Bjorn been gone? Aren’t you going to help Maya?” Rhia looked back at their friend, or at least hers, who hadn’t moved where Bjorn had left her kneeling on the floor. She cut her gaze back to Indigo, who held a look of disregard for her concerns.
“You don’t know what you’re doing.” Indigo’s voice could shatter glass with her frigid tone. “I told you.” Her lips pursed into a sour pucker of disparagement. She rubbed at her arms and tried to force the taste of metallic from her mouth so she could tell Indigo off without choking over the terrible bitterness in her mouth.
Well, if she wasn’t going to help, then Rhia would. “Fine, have it your way. Whatever is up with you, you need help.” She crossed to Maya and took her hand. Looking at Indigo over her shoulder, she said, “Mr. Volkov wants you to prepare the gold room for Dimitris.”
Rhia ignored the blatant dismissal Indigo swung her way with a simple look. “Now,” she gritted. “He wants you to see to every detail or you’ll be finding another position.”
Lies were just another part of her job by now and this one came off her tongue with a flourish of elegance that no longer surprised her.
She received a glare in return but Indigo did as instructed.
Rhia turned to Maya. “She’s gone now. Let me help you up.” With a hand to her elbow, she helped Maya to her feet.
“What are you doing with these people, Maya?”
Maya shook her head firmly. “I needed money. I thought I knew what I was doing, but never mind that. You need to listen. I hoped and prayed I could get you alone long enough. Thank you, God! You need to get out of here as soon as you can. Don’t look back. Just leave. No one is as they seem. None of them. Do you hear me?” Footfalls sounded outside the door and Maya clutched Rhia’s arms, fear as real in her eyes as it was in her own gut.
“I know. But I need proof. Something I can take to the police. Tell me, Maya. I need to know.” She tried not to push too hard too fast, but time didn’t sit on their side at the moment and she knew Indigo wouldn’t take long.
Cold metal slid into her palm, and Maya held her attention with her eyes. “Here, take this. I don’t have much time. This is why they broke into your apartment in the first place. They suspected I took this and hid it there. I’m so sorry I dragged you into this.” She paused when another set of footfalls carried down the outside corridor. Gaze pinned over Rhia’s shoulder; Maya continued when no one turned up.
“You didn’t cause me any trouble. I walked into it knowingly.”
“Hide this flash drive for now and let no one know about it. Especially the kings.”
“What’s on this, Maya? Let me help you.”
Maya sliced a hand between them. “I don’t know what is on it. Something big. I know it. But they haven’t let me out of their sight since they discovered it went missing. Until now.” Maya’s fingers trembled where they clutched Rhia’s forearms for balance. “I’ve seen Dimitris murder for it when he discovered the flash drive missing. He doesn’t know I took it, but like I said he suspects. It’s a risk, a gamble, yeah. I figured a guy like him only has a flash drive if it’s important stuff. He needs to be stopped, Rhia. That’s how you can help me.”
