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“You’re secure?” he asked. The man was almost as emotionless as I’d become, although I’d heard his recent acquisition of a woman had changed his mental outlook.
“As I can be. You owe me more than one favor, Alexei. You will do what I ask without question.”
“What the hell do you need?” I was certain he was as surprised at my request as I was in making one.
Favors usually led to requirements. That didn’t work in my world.
“A safehouse for an ailing woman.”
Yes, it was obvious he was perplexed I’d give a shit about anyone. “Who is she?”
“Her name is Sharon Shephard, although she’s currently living under the name Janine Pepper.”
There was no doubt he recognized the name.
“What the fuck are you doing, Kostya? That woman should be dead, not coddled.”
“I’m acquiring a bargaining chip. She had no part in her husband’s unscrupulous undercover operation and you will honor me with this request. Period.”
He cursed under his breath. “As I said, she should die for being associated with that piece of trash.”
“You will not take out your continued need of revenge on a woman with stage four cancer. That’s beneath even you.” I tossed back every drop of my drink, uncertain there was enough liquor in the world to calm my anger.
“You’re stretching your ties with the Bratva, Kostya.”
“So fucking be it.”
“What are you hiding?”
“At this point, nothing.”
He chuckled. “Which means you need information. Is this woman in danger?”
“Undoubtedly. There are many who would like to use her as a pawn. That can’t happen. Understood?”
When he hesitated, I tossed the glass across the room, enjoying the sound of it shattering into dozens of pieces.
“This will cost you, Kostya. You know exactly what that traitorous agent did to our organization. And you will give me the respect of telling me the reason for your request in the near future. I don’t think you want our relationship to be severed.”
“And you will never threaten me again, Kozlov. You should know by now I’m not a man to be fucked with.”
He laughed, although I could hear the aggravation in his tone. As if he had the fucking right. “We will settle this in person one day.”
“I look forward to it.” I ended the call, still seething from being questioned by anyone.
There was no additional sound in the room, but I sensed her presence. When I lifted my head, it was evident she’d heard at least a portion of the conversation. She looked entirely different, her freshly scrubbed face and wide eyes providing me another glimpse of her purity, even though I knew more about her capabilities than she would want me to know.
Wearing jeans and a bright crimson tee shirt, her ebony hair pulled into a ponytail, I thought she had to be the most beautiful woman in the world. She remained in the entryway, studying me so intently her brow was furrowed.
I moved around my desk, sitting on the edge and folding my arms. “You can come closer. I promise that I won’t hurt you.”
“I assume that comes later.”
Laughing, I rubbed my jaw. “I assume you found everything to your liking.”
“I you mean if I approve of what clothes the murderer selected for me to wear in his giant cage, then yes, they’re fine.”
“There’s the spunk that attracted me in the diner. I was hoping you hadn’t lost your ability to throw out insults as easily as you would give a compliment to one of your closest friends.”
