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“He left his daughter rich, that’s all I know.”
Irritation flicks so quickly across her face, I almost miss it. “Nikolai, come on.”
“It’s true.” I smile.
Oh, all of this definitely ties together. I just have to untangle the strings and work out who’s holding them and why.
Then, I take them the fuck out.
The rage is boiling up, but I force myself to breathe normally. “The rest?”
“What’s in it for me, you mean? A gold star on my record and a promotion. Win-win, wouldn’t you say?”
There’s no fucking win-win. Someone, somewhere, wanted revenge, payment for things owed by Derek, that’s clear. Russians? I don’t fucking know. The fact that she mentioned Derek and Rose now, almost like it doesn’t matter, tells me this is more important than I thought.
Adelaide—whom I don’t fucking trust—might be out to further her career and wants to use me to do so, but she would only bring Derek up now if he was important. Rose as bait. Me as bait. My cousin as bait. Putting them in danger.
There was time for someone to try to take Derek out back when he menaced the planet, or to get payments due. This stinks of extortion, or of someone using his name, because opportunity and stars have aligned in a ridiculous way.
Right now, I don’t fucking care. First and foremost is Rush’s safety and freedom.
Still, I’m being put in the position of having to play with the FBI, which will burn me, destroy me, and she fucking knows that because she knows what I am.
She glances down, then back at me. “You know I can’t say much, but I have a case, and breaking it open is a big deal. I’m desperate, and Rush…”
“Isn’t part of it.”
“A cog.”
Her meaning’s fucking clear. I sigh and nod. “Looks like I have to help.”
“Just like that?”
I shrug. “You’ve got me trapped. I don’t know anything about this, but you want me to help you get information on this guy, this Field.”
I can’t lose Rush. He can’t go to prison.
“I work with a lot of different companies, and some might be held by these people. Probably most make donations to the charities I chair.” I snap my fingers. “I can help. Invite them to my wedding. Background checks and so on. Parties. I’m good at learning things.”
I stop and turn to her, letting the mask drop away.
Adelaide is smart enough to shrink back a little in her seat. I don’t threaten her, as much as I want to. My expression does that for me. “I’ll help, but only if you help me.”
“A deal?”
I nod. “Rose and I are getting married in Italy shortly. As long as Rush is released, charges dropped, and it’s all labeled a mistake, I’ll do it.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then no one will talk. He’ll look like what he is: a pawn. If it all goes away by this evening, then no one’s the wiser.”
She gets to her feet, frowning. “Italy’s out of my jurisdiction.”
“People might talk more. Besides, it’s where I’m getting married.”
“You know,” she murmurs, looking at me, and it takes all I have not to hurt her, “there was a time…”
“Briefly. Many years ago. Until I ended it.”
