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Ipress my fingertips to my temples, but it doesn’t do a damn thing to stop the blood from pulsing between them. “You want me towhat?”
Mercer’s hazel eyes glitter with challenge. “It’s the only way for you to get inside.”
My jaw sits on the floor where it dropped only a few seconds earlier. “So I actually have to—”
“You need to do anything and everything to get noticed by Branko.”
“What the fuck does that even mean?” Quinn growls. “And stop staring at her like that. We’re married, motherfucker.”
Alek rolls his eyes. “Relax, Quinn. This is business.”
“Why should we trust this guy, anyway?” Quinn’s face twists.
“Because I specialize in tracking scumbags like Branko.”
“So why didn’t we go to him sooner?” Quinn’s eyes spit flames at Alek. “What the hell have you been doing for the past five years?”
I can practically smell the smoke pouring out of Alek’s ears. “Don’t question my methods, Quinn. Mercer isn’t my hired gun. He handles very specific targets in his own way based on his client’s requirements. He’s here because he has knowledge of Branko’s sex trafficking ring activities here in Vegas. He knows people in that network, and because of that, I pulled him in. I could have farmed out the assassination years ago, but nobody other than us will get Branko. His head isours. I’m not paying anyone to take that away from us.”
“Besides,” Mercer interjects, directing a smug grin at Alek. “If I did this for Alek, he’d owe me. And Alek doesn’t like to owe people.”
“Fucking A right,” Alek mutters.
“Then if we know where he’ll be, why not ambush him on the way in or out?”
Okay, I can’t lie. I love how protective he is. But my God, there’s no lack of reason for why people are so frustrated with him for going off the deep end. He’s so fierce and fearless. He’d run into the flames for anyone he cares about.
And that passion runs so deep within him. He channels it with every word and every action. It makes him even sexier and the fact that I’m inwardly drooling over that when I should be focused on what the hell I have to do to stop that bastard Branko is more than a little disturbing.
“You think he travels alone?” Alek rolls his eyes. “He’s got handlers in all positions. Only his most trusted know who the fuck he even is. The guy’s like a ghost.” His jaw tenses. “Mercer has the way in. It’s now or never.”
“Nobody’s gonna put Val on display in that place doing Christ only knows what to get to Branko. There’s gotta be another way.”
As my stomach roils at the thought, Quinn’s anger comforts me. A tiny shiver ripples through me as he steps closer, blocking Mercer’s view of me.
The protector. The savior.
I put a hand on Quinn’s arm. His concerned gaze flickers over to me, and I give him a reassuring nod, even though I don’t know why the hell I’m trying to reassure him when I’m the one who’s going to be on display in the pits of some sex den. “Look, I will do whatever I need to do to find this guy. But once I’m inside, how will I find Branko if I’m so busy performing? What’s the draw?”
“You have the look he wants. That’s why I was checking you out. It wouldn’t work if you weren’t his type, and I’d have already been out the door.” Mercer takes another sip of the drink in his glass before answering. “If he likes you, he’ll pull you into his private room. He always brings his favorites into private rooms. Chooses the ones he wants to save for himself. The crazier the performance, the better. We’ll arrange for someone to perform with you, someone we handpick.”
“Fuck that,” Quinn mutters. “Put me in a different disguise. I’ll do it. I don’t want some other guy putting his hands… and… other stuff… all over my wife.”
“Fake wife,” Alek grunts. “There is no way in hell you’re going in there.”
“If you don’t let me go in there, Sev, I’ll lay you out with a very fucking real throat punch.”
Alek storms over to Quinn, and I quickly step in between them. Holding a hand against each of their chests, I look at Mercer. “Tell me how to get Branko’s attention.”
“An A+ performance will get you access. That’s when you get him. Of course, if your husband can’t handle the plan, I can do the job for you. But like I said, Alek doesn’t like to owe people.”
“Branko is mine. I’m the only one who’s going to pull the trigger on him. Nobody will take that away from me.” I stare at Quinn and by some miracle, he doesn’t lash out with a comeback. As much as I appreciate him standing up for me and my honor, he won’t ruin this for me. I’ve waited too long, and Branko’s too damn close for me to lose him again. “Nobody.”
“Good. Tomorrow night, he’ll be at SLK. There will be an auction in a secret hidden location of the club. Invite only. I’ll send Alek the details. You’ll go in there, and one of my associates will take care of you.” Mercer places his glass on the table. “You get one shot. It’ll be dark, but you’ll need a new look to get past the eyes he has everywhere.”
My eyes tangle with Alek’s. “What about Boris? Does he know?”
“He agrees it’s the best plan.”
