“Point taken,” Bryn said.“But for the record, when this is all over, I want details about everyone’s love life.It’s only fair.”He grimaced at Giles.“Except yours.I already feel sick, and don’t need to add to it.”
Giles smirked.“Trust me, my love life would split your head wide and have your brains leaking from your ears.”
“Gross and no, not happening,” Emmett said.
“We’ll see,” Bryn replied.
Giles shook his head.“Finish eating, then get some rest.Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
The last thing Bryn wanted to do was rest.What he wanted was for Gunnar to pin him to the bed and do whatever the hell he wanted to him.That was the therapy he needed.Not that that was something he ever intended to share with Giles fucking Delacourt.
Chapter Nineteen
The following morning, Bryn hovered behind Emmett in the office, peering at his latest whizzy spreadsheet.“I haven’t had enough coffee to get my head around this,” he complained.
“You’re on your third mug,” Emmett said.
“Not seeing your point.Tell me again how you’ve analyzed case priorities.”Bryn shifted from foot to foot, enjoying the dull muscle aches that had resulted from Gunnar paying him a lot of close personal attention the previous night.
“I could color-code everything better to make it visually easier for you?”Emmett suggested.
“Yeah, that might be best.I can do colors.”
“How’s your head?”
“Attached.”
“That’s good,” Emmett replied, all bright-eyed enthusiasm.Today’s sweater vest had a pale pink diamond pattern and his bowtie was a darker shade of pink.Bryn had, as usual, selected a wardrobe of all black and the contrast between them was extreme.
Gunnar’s expression was one of amused tolerance.His cell rang and he reached for it.“Oh hey, Bell.I’ll put you on speaker.Bryn and Emmett are here.”
“Morning all.I hope you’ve had your coffee because I have news.”
“Not enough,” Bryn complained, “you never call with good news like The Hammer got eaten by a shark or Everard Templeton’s parachute failed to open during a charity skydiving event.”
Bell snorted with laughter.“Nothing that good, Bryn.We had to release Katarina Kozlova this morning.We couldn’t hold her indefinitely without charges, and knowing someone’s planning murder isn’t the same as being able to prove it in court.”Bell’s sigh was audible over the connection.“She walked out of here an hour ago with a smug smile on her face.”
“Fantastic,” Gunnar said, untying then re-tying his messy bun.“So now we’ve got a revenge-obsessed murderous Russian loose in the city, and no way to track her.”
“Gets worse,” said Bell.“She made a point of asking the receptionist for directions to the nearest flower shop.Said she needed to pick up something for a memorial service.”
“Her brother’s memorial?”
“Yes.The Kozlov family is having a big service for their fallen prince.That’s why they’ve been gathering in the city.If Russo is planning a preemptive move, that’s where he’ll do it.”
“With half the Russian mob no doubt in attendance,” Gunnar said.“Christ, Bell, this could turn into a bloodbath.If the Kozlovs know what Russo is doing, why would they set themselves up as targets?”
“Russo has been out of the country.I think it’s a case of complacency.They don’t think he’s ready to take them on yet.”
“But he is!”Emmett exclaimed.
“Is it wrong that a bit of me says let them get on with slaughtering each other?”Bryn asked, sitting his ass on the edge of Emmett’s desk.
“No comment.”Bell’s tone was wry.“Ask me what else, I dare you.”
“Jesus, Bell, isn’t that enough for this time of day?”Gunnar was getting growly.
“You’ll love this.Fifteen minutes after we released Kozlova, one of The Hammer’s lieutenants walked into our office asking for protection.”
