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Finnegan backed off, removing his hand. “I was going to warn you, but I can tell it’s already too late.”
As he glared down at my arm, I realized his earlier action had exposed the tattoo. He wasn’t the only one staring at it.
I tried to act nonchalant as I pulled a portion of the sleeve over it, although I wasn’t certain why I bothered. “It’s none of your business.”
“Maybe not, but your mark puts you in even more danger. You’re a smart girl. I’m not telling you something you don’t already know.” He glanced at his partner, the two men sharing a look.
“What the fuck is it with those tattoos? Didn’t that freak the Ghost also have one?” Luke goaded me.
I refused to take the bait.
When I backed away even further, Finnegan came closer. “I’m sorry. I just want you to know what you’re getting yourself in the middle of.”
He wanted me to believe he cared about me? Did he really believe I was that stupid? “Duly noted, Detective. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to attempt to find evidence to clear Alexei’s name.”
“Don’t do anything else you’re going to regret.”
I shifted my attention toward Luke, a plastic smile crossing my face. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”
A flash rushed into my mind, a single image but I couldn’t ascertain where I’d seen it. The nagging feeling swept a wave of butterflies into my stomach.
The two men continued to stare at me for several seconds before walking out. When they did, a cold shiver raced down my spine. I moved directly to Kirill, who was eying me with a mixture of discord and curiosity.
“Where is it?” I asked, unable to control my breathing.
“What are you talking about?”
“The tattoo. Don’t you have a dragon?”
Kirill narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
“Please. Just humor me.”
He half laughed as he turned away from me, yanking up his tee shirt, exposing his back. “The dragon is an important symbol.”
“The color is black, not viridian.”
Kirill snorted. “Because we’re not family.”
“Do you have one?” I asked, tossing my head in Cassian’s direction.
“Yeah, not as intricate given my position, but when you’re accepted into the organization, that’s the first thing that’s required. They are status symbols, or so I’ve been told.”
I found it difficult to swallow. I couldn’t be certain, but I had to find out if I was right one way or the other.
“Cassian. I’ll be ready to leave in a few minutes.”
CHAPTER18
Stephanie
Humiliation.
I’d felt it before. Who hadn’t? But as I walked through the hallowed halls of the attorney general’s office, it was obvious all eyes were on me. Of course having one brutal enforcer trailing behind me, another waiting in the reception area did nothing but enhance the heat that had shot into my face the moment I’d walked inside.
I kept my head held high, refusing to make eye contact with anyone, but I caught several looks, the mixture of sympathy and disgust not easy to miss. I kept telling myself I hadn’t done anything wrong, but even the basic standards of the office mentioned scandalous behavior as being a reason for termination. I expected it. There would be no shock, although there would be some sadness when it happened. However, I was a big girl. I’d made my bed of my own free will.
When I headed to Gregory’s office, I noticed several people watching everything I did. All it took was for Cassian to snarl to force them to scatter. One good thing about Gregory was that he’d always insisted on keeping files from his old cases. While most had been computerized over the last few years, I remembered the case involving Sergei had been handled the old-fashioned way—paper files.
