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Dash nods. “You have to be when lives are at stake. Nik does his own thing. It’s one of the reasons he quit the spy game. He doesn’t like following orders and his loyalties have been known to waiver.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Can you trust him?”
“Yes and no. But he’s the best there is and he knows everyone. He’s also intimately familiar with Anton Petrov and his family.”
“How so?”
“He used to work for them.”
“So this guy worked for the Russian government and the mob?” I ask in disbelief.
“They call themselves the Bratva here. It means the brotherhood,” Dash tells me and finishes his sandwich.
I’m not sure what to expect, but when Nikolai Vasilevsky arrives, dressed in black from head to toe, I have to force myself to keep my jaw from dropping. He’s just as tall as Dash, but that’s where the similarity ends. While Dash is hot in an obvious sort of way, Nik is attractive in a very different way. There’s a danger and darkness that emanates from him. His eyes and hair are blacker than a moonless midnight and he speaks with an accent just faint enough to be mildly detectable but specifically unplaceable, making it incredibly sexy.
Nik Valentine is the type of man who is very hard to read. If I were in trouble and he showed up, I wouldn’t know if he was there to rescue me or kill me. With Dash, on the other hand, I know he’s there to save the day.
“Petrov is a bad motherfucker,” Nik says, booted ankle propped on his opposite knee. He’s reclining in a chair across from the couch where Dash and I are sitting, and I immediately think of a black panther. Big, sleek and ready to pounce. I’d be willing to bet that nothing gets by him. Just like the stealthy cat, my gut tells me that when Nik stalks down his prey, they don’t have a chance. The black panther is called “the ghost of the forest” for a very good reason.
“That’s what we keep hearing,” Dash says. “But that isn’t going to stop us. We need to steal the T-Force back before he sells it. Because you know it’s going to be the worst scum out there who will bid the highest.”
“Always,” Nik replies evenly. He glances over at me then back to Dash. “How’s the lovely Eden, by the way?”
“Married and just welcomed a baby girl with her husband,” Dash states coolly. “Oh, and she also still thinks you’re a piece of shit for taking that shot at her.”
Nik smirks. “How many times can I apologize? Mistakes happen.”
“Except you did it on purpose.”
He shrugs a broad shoulder, looking completely unrepentant. “Eh. It was nothing personal. Just business.”
I can tell Dash is starting to get annoyed and I want to reach over and lay a reassuring hand on his leg, but I don’t dare. Whatever is going on between Dash and I is none of Nik’s business. I don’t completely like or trust Nik Valentine, and I wouldn’t ever want to inadvertently give him anything to use against us.
“Extend my congratulations to her,” Nik continues smoothly.
“I’m sure she’ll be delighted,” Dash says in a dry voice. His teal eyes narrow. “So are you going to help us or what?”
“Only if we do things my way,” Nik states.
Dash tenses up beside me and I have a feeling he’s on the verge of telling Nik to fuck off.
“I have maps and the schematics of Petrov’s estate,” Nik continues and Dash relaxes slightly. “You can have it, but what’s your plan? You can’t just waltz into his estate and expect to live.”
“Sailor and Maddox are arriving to help. We’re going to sneak in, find the T-Force and steal it.”
Nik drops his foot to the floor, laces his fingers between his long, splayed legs, and leans forward. “When do they get here? Because rumor has it Petrov is making a very big sale tomorrow.”
“Fuck,” Dash swears.
I know Sailor and Maddox are finishing a job and weren’t coming here for at least another day or two. “I can help,” I offer without thinking things all the way through.
“No,” Dash snarls and I flinch. “Not happening.”
“Do you work for the security company?” Nik asks, black gaze sliding over me like a predator studying his prey, deciding if he’s hungry enough to give chase.
A small shiver runs through me. “No. I’m a preschool teacher.”
His mouth edges up. “And you just offered to go into Petrov’s domain? Either you’re a complete fool…” His ebony eyes move back over to Dash. “Or you’re in love with him. Which makes you an even bigger fool.”
