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Translation: if we can somehow prove that Raizo is feeding slaves into Oleg’s ring, that will connect Greg to the darker operations in Russia.
And, simultaneously, threaten to bring down the entire international circuit.
“It won’t be enough.” Clara’s voice is soft. She clears her throat and sits up straighter, pulling more confidence into herself. I pray every day I can keep instilling more of that into her—one way or another. “I mean, definitely do all that. Please. But my father? He doesn’t care. That’s just a job to him. He’ll talk his way through any investigation and be back on the streets before the next case file hits his desk.”
I despise that she might have a point.
“But,” she quickly adds, “he does have a weak spot.”
We both look at her, remaining silent so she’ll continue.
She ducks a little under the attention, but I feel her squeezing my hand back for that added boost of support. “He’s a hero. He wears that imaginary cape more prominently than his badge. He’s the guy on the news telling people he caught the bad dude. He’s the detective giving talks to kids in elementary schools. He’s the man who runs into fires to save puppies and he’s literally overturned rubble with his bare hands to dig out the elderly from a collapsed building.”
I grimace. Such bullshit. They tell you never to meet your heroes. In this case, I’m going to do one better than simply steer clearof Greg Everett—I’m going to bury him so deep that no one ever finds him again.
“You want to hurt him? You want tocripplehim?” The tiniest of smirks dances across her face. “Ruin his image. Take all of that away from him. Expose him for what he truly is so no one will ever see him the same way again.”
Tolya looks impressed. I can tell he’s feeling a sudden, growing respect for her. “Damn. Alright. How do you suggest we do it?”
She instantly deflates. “I have no idea.”
“It’s okay,kiska.” I press a kiss to the side of her brow. “We’ll figure something out.” Leaving my mouth close to her ear, I whisper, “Do you want to go back out to the car? I need to chat with Tolya a bit more. I’ll be quick.”
She looks up at me. I see the doubt, the uncertainty and self-consciousness in her eyes, and I feel sick to my stomach that I’m the one who put that there. So I tug her close and remind her that I love her with an unabashed, not-at-all-discreet kiss.
“Okay,” she murmurs a bit more dreamily. To Tolya, she blushes again and looks down. “I am sorry for everything.”
“Me, too.” He reaches across the table to offer his hand. To both our concealed surprise, she takes it. “I am grateful to you for taking care of my little brother. If he ever gives you trouble, just remember: he wet the bed until he was nine.”
“You fuckingmudak…”
Clara’s giggle makes the humiliation worth it. Tolya winks at her, and I’ll take his teasing if it means mending bridges between them.
She stands. Then, before she leaves, she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek. “Don’t worry,” she whispers in my ear. “I can think of a few better ways to ruin your sheets.”
And with that, she follows one of the guards out of the visiting room.
I’m glad I decided to stay behind.
I need a few minutes before I can stand up again.
21
DEMYEN
“She is not at all what I expected.” Tolya pauses for dramatic effect before he adds, “… She’s way hotter. Too hot for your surly ass, that’s for damn sure.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Watch it.”
“Oh, I am definitely watching that sweet ass walk away.” Tolya grins. “Please tell me you’re taking every opportunity to enjoy that insane body.”
I’m not loving this turn of conversation.
He can tell. “Listen, little brother. It’s been fifteen years since I was thrown in here and fourteen years since my last conjugal visit. Forgive a thirsty man for eyeing an ice-cold glass of water.”
I sigh and roll my eyes. “Just try to keep your thoughts,and your hands, to yourself.” I tilt my head to one side and smirk. “So how is Narissa doing these days?”
“Fuck if I know,” he snorts. “Bitch divorced me before they even finished probing my ass for contraband. No love lost there.”
