His voice was amazingly soothing. Calm. Steady. Andrii was a rock she could rely on. She thought back to the moment Andrew McGrady had turned around to stare at her group at the table. He had a look of satisfaction on his face. He leered at her, something she thought he would never dare do just in case she complained to Billows.
“It was the way he looked at them and then at me.”
“Did you feel threatened?”
She had. Her fingers pressed into his rock-hard thigh. “Yes. But not because I thought he would report to my boss that I had friends Billows could threaten to harm if I didn’t cooperate with him.” She’d felt as if a snake slithered over her skin, giving her chills.
“He’s wrong, Andrii. Billows is clearly a criminal with no code or remorse. He wants money and power and is determined to get it at any cost. He rules through bullying and intimidation. I don’t think he would hesitate to kill someone simply because they were in his way.”
She pressed her fingertips deeper into Andrii’s thigh muscle as if clinging to him for support. He must have felt her dismay because he curled his fingers around her hand.
“That man. McGrady. He felt evil.”
There was a short silence while Andrii drove through the busy streets. Headlights and stoplights flickered through the windows as the BMW smoothly and easily maneuvered around traffic.
“Billows is an evil man, yet to clarify what I’m hearing, you believe McGrady is the evil one.”
Azelie wasn’t certain how to explain how she felt. “I know Billows is an evil, corrupt man with no conscience.His world is all about him. He doesn’t see anyone else in it other than those he wants something from. He isn’t nice about the way he gets what he wants either. I don’t think his friendships are real. He uses people to get what he wants. He’s a narcissist. He believes he’s superior to everyone around him. I’ve heard him say he’s smarter than anyone he’s ever met.”
Once more, Andrii’s eyes met hers briefly. “Does he honestly think he’s more intelligent than you?”
She found herself smiling, glowing even, at the obvious shock and disbelief in Andrii’s expression. As if no one could think they were more intelligent than she was. He made her feel good about herself all the time. She might not think she was beautiful, but she did know she had an above-average IQ. She might even be considered a genius when it came to numbers, but her passion was creating stories. Mysteries. Thrillers. All with a touch of romance.
“Billows believes he’s more intelligent than anyone.”
“But you fixed his books. You’re still fixing them for him.”
“I’m a woman, so I can’t possibly have a brain. I’m young in his eyes and don’t know anything. And he’s superior to everyone. You’ve met him,” Azelie pointed out. “There isn’t a doubt in my mind that you know exactly what he’s like.” She sent him a brief smile. “Doug and Carlton thought they knew what you were like, until I told them you took me to a bookstore on one of our dates. They were impressed.”
“We can talk about Doug and Carlton later. I wouldn’t mind their approval because they mean something to you, but it isn’t necessary. I want to know what it is about McGrady that gives you a worse feeling than you get from Billows.”
She thought that over before she answered him. “I don’t think Billows cares one way or another about hurting someone. He doesn’t seem to have feelings for anyone. He might pretend, but I don’t think he’s capable of feeling. That meanshe can be quite cruel and not ever think about it, but I don’t think he gets off on it. He isn’t sadistic in the sense heneedsto hurt others. Or humiliate them. He just does whatever it takes to get what he wants.”
“I understand what you’re saying. That’s a good assessment of Billows. What about McGrady?”
She glanced up at him, veiling her expression with her eyelashes. Andrii had been trained to read others almost from the time he was a toddler. He’d learned out of necessity as well as the training he’d received to become an asset to his government. He had to be able to size up his enemies in an instant.
“I feel a little ridiculous giving you my opinion on McGrady. I’ve been around Billows for years, so I know him fairly well, but I know nothing about McGrady.”
“Other than your instincts, and baby, you have great instincts. I’m very interested in your opinion, or I wouldn’t ask.”
She sighed. “I think McGrady likes hurting people. Not only hurting them but humiliating them.”
“You got that from him walking into the coffee shop and looking at you.”
Had there been the least bit of amusement or scoffing, Azelie would have clammed up and not given her opinion again. Instead, Andrii sounded admiring. Pleased with her. She got that now-familiar glow inside just from his tone of voice. As if he approved of her, thought she was the most amazing woman in the world.
“Not just looking at me.” She found herself gaining confidence. “It was the way he looked at Doug, Carlton, and the merry widows. As if he was assessing them and found them being with me amusing. I didn’t want Doug or Carlton to give away the fact that they were onto him. They believe McGrady is stalking me.”
“The moment he was spotted following you, research was done on him. Very thorough research. Your assessment of him is spot-on. I don’t want you going anywhere near him.He won’t have a chance to harm your friends. Whatever he thinks he’s going to get away with, he’s not.”
There was absolute conviction in Andrii’s voice. She didn’t ask him any questions about how he’d done the research because she knew he wouldn’t answer her.
FIFTEEN
The club Maestro took Azelie to was small and intimate. He liked it because it was classy and the music was always great. He appreciated good music. He had a surprise for his woman, and he hoped she would get the message he was trying to get across to her. He was taking a big chance tonight, mainly because his woman was extremely intelligent.
Several of his Torpedo Ink brethren would be at the club. He wanted them to see Azelie, even if from a distance, but he was certain Lana would pull off the meeting while he was at the piano. Lana would be there with her brother, Preacher. Of course, he would be introduced by his given name, Kasimir Popov.
