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I glared at the photographs again before rubbing my aching jaw. “She means nothing to me.”
“Don’t lie to yourself, Alexei. That’s my best and only piece of advice. Yeah, Candy is a weakness that will cost me dearly one day. I accepted that the day I fucking fell in love with her, but I wouldn’t change it. The devil can sweep my ass into the fires of hell and that’s fine. For what she’s given me, for what joy she brought to my life, I’d gladly accept my penance.”
I’d never heard him talk this way. Sharing personal information had never been our strong suit. “I’m glad you’re happy, but you’re not in the same position as I am.”
“Is that really the truth, Alexei, or are you simply too broken to accept you might actually give a damn about someone other than yourself?”
Laughing, I moved toward the bar, furious with myself for losing my temper. While Kirill and I weren’t friends, his mere tolerance of my orders a constant jab in my side, he was vital to our organization.
And he was right.
“Was there any indication of why the photographs were sent?”
“There were two words,” he answered. “Be warned.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“If I had to venture a guess, I’d say the mysterious assassin I heard about is playing a dangerous game.”
“If they are trying to play a game of extortion,” I countered, “then the asshole can go fuck himself.”
“I don’t think this has anything to do with money, Alexei.”
I didn’t either.
“Then what, revenge?” I could tell that’s what he was insinuating. “Did you locate anyone else that could provide a goddamn scrap of information about this shit or the supposed assassin?”
He grinned as only Kirill could do. “Yeah, I found a couple people. I used one for target practice, but I left the other one for you. He has an interesting story to tell.”
I gulped half the drink before pulling the glass to my forehead. “Does that mean this asshole knows the identity of the motherfucker responsible for the photographs?”
“I doubt the piece of shit I caught is high enough on the food chain to know the identity of the man giving the highest orders, but you’re still not going to like what he has to say. I knew you’d want to hear it yourself, which is why he’s still breathing. Unfortunately, I checked and what he told me is true. If I’m right, the warning means the responsible party already set his plan in motion. Finish the rest of your drink. You’re going to need it.”
I returned to my desk, lifting the most evocative photograph into my hand. “Just tell me what the fuck you’re talking about.”
When he did, all I could think about was Stephanie. This was about revenge and whether the beautiful lioness was ready or not, she’d been dragged into my life.
“That means her life is in danger. Fuck.” And somehow, I doubted the freaking tattoo would matter.
“As well as yours.”
“Take me to this asshole. Now.”
CHAPTER11
Stephanie
Four hours earlier
I glared at the rose, a tremendous part of me ready to toss it into the ocean, allowing the waves to sweep it out to sea. That was how I felt waking up alone, the rose placed on my pillow just like I’d found in the hotel in New York. The note itself was as telling as it was terrifying.
One word—mine.
While there was no indication he was gone for good, given he hadn’t allowed me into his room, I knew any search would prove to be futile. And I doubted he’d checked in under his real name. My instinct told me he was gone, disappearing because we’d gotten close.
Oh, who was I kidding? He’d been using me. Even though almost every moment with him had been a foray into pure ecstasy, I was a big girl, wise enough to know that his initial seduction had been his method of revenge on Gregory.
But you allowed it to happen.
