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Viktor grinned, lupine and feral. “But of course.”
He placed three devices into Sophia’s hands. She moved toward the door, peering out into the back lot of the building. That was when Viktor slid in front of me, blocking everything else out. He brushed a strand of hair off my face. “Don’t forget to get some ice on this when you get back,” he murmured.
His touch was soothing, warm. I breathed him in deeply, calm flowing through me at his scent—sandalwood and frankincense. It was spicy, rich and exotic. Before I could blink, he was turning away.
“Damn, I could cut the sexual energy with a knife,” Sophia muttered, effectively shattering the moment.
I sighed. “Let’s go. You can explain in the car what the hell this is all about.”
My friend, the cute blonde who I’d studied and occasionally partied with for years, pulled a pistol from a holster on her thigh. I gaped. “Fuck! You have a gun too!”
“Well, duh,” she laughed. “Even if I wasn’t part of the underworld, normal people are nearly as bad. The only difference is that they’re better at hiding it. It’s my right to protect myself, Bri, and I’ll never let a man take advantage of me without a fight.”
I swallowed hard at that. Her outlook on life was something I needed to seriously think about adopting.
We pushed into the alley, then crossed the street to the parking ramp where the gallery’s valet service parked the vehicles. Sophia hopped the cement wall with the grace of an athlete. I managed to shimmy up, inelegantly but efficiently. I followed Sophia to the stairs, and we ascended to the second level. It was empty; no guests, no aggressors.
“How do you know where they parked?” I hissed.
Sophia held her phone up in answer. I mentally palmed my forehead. Sure enough, in the middle of a row of high six-and-seven-figure cars was Viktor’s sleek ride.
“Drive or shoot?” Sophia asked as we approached the sports car.
I stumbled. “What?”
“There might be Metak pricks at the main entrance,” she explained. “Do you think you can shoot them?”
Sophia’s voice was firm. This wasn’t the joking little brat I loved; this was the woman who’d grown up on the dark fringe of society. “Drive.” I strode with purpose to the driver’s side.I can do this!
I slid into the sports car and pushed in the clutch. Thank heaven my brother Mikey had a penchant for exotic cars and had taught me to drive stick.
“In heels too? I’m impressed,” Sophia teased, buckling up. When I shot her a look, she shrugged. “Just to be safe.”
I peeled out of the spot and hugged the curve tight as we descended. Sophia cheered, but a second later snapped her belt back open and grabbed something from the back. Before I could ask what she was doing, there was a lethal weapon sitting in her lap.
“Where was that?” I shrieked.
“Vik packs heat.” Sophia rolled her window down. “Keep it steady as we pass their van,” she instructed, leaning precariously out the aperture.
I narrowed my eyes at the closed gate bar. It would wreck the paint, but it wasn’t solid enough to prevent our exit. I floored the gas, and the car sprang from the garage.
Sophia pulled the trigger. Shouts of surprise and one scream echoed in the wake of the spray of her bullets.
“I can get them all! Whip the car around!” Sophia shouted.
The denial was on the tip of my tongue. In my mind, I rewatched the rubber masked men execute the soldier. How many more were dead inside? My inner fire bit back the refusal and I cranked the wheel hard.
Sophia squealed, sliding securely back into the vehicle until the car had straightened. I downshifted and floored the gas. The RPMs revved satisfactorily. We came in hot. Focused on the car, I didn’t see anyone, but Sophia didn’t miss a beat and rained bullets at three vans full of masked individuals.
“Left! Left!” she shouted.
I obeyed, seeing the attackers step out to return fire.
We sped down the road. Sophia did something with the clip of the weapon. My knuckles were white on the steering wheel, and I was breathing hard, but it was exhilaration that pulsed through me.
“That was epic,” I gasped out.
Sophia choked on a laugh. “Who knew you were a bad ass, Bri.”
