“No. I was in the office and then went straight to that club for the stakeout. No one followed me. I think I was set up.”
Damn. That was a hell of an accusation. “By your supervisor?”
He nodded, looking nauseated and nervous, rubbing his stomach like the anxiety was eating away at him from the inside out. “Yeah. Because when I found a financial link that led to my supervisor and my target once having a business account together…” He shook his head and stared at the wall. “Ever since I made that connection, I’ve been nervous about how deep the corruption goes around here.”
“Those are strong words, Aaron. That’s a big accusation to make.”
He backed up a step, frowning. “One you didn’t hear from me. I’m just saying…”
I heard him just fine. I didn’t need him to repeat a single word.
Corruption within our own agency. I could never dismiss it as a possibility, but I refused to let it interfere with my life, with my goals and career. I entered law enforcement and worked up to be an agent because my parents were killed in a gunfight between two Cartels. Chasing after crime lords was a personal goal. All my life, I’d carried this vendetta to make the world a safer place for everyone.
Not a single thing would stop me from doing that—not a potentially corrupt agency and not a too-handsome-for-his-own-good assassin, either.
5
EMIL
From Prague, I went to Cozumel.
All the destinations I went to were adventures, but when I didn’t spot “my” agent at either of the airports, everything seemed a little duller.
How twisted was it that I, the hunter, wanted to be hunted?
Maybe I need a vacation.
That was how Ivan reacted to my father marrying Gabriella. Seeing someone else getting married—and my father was the first one to marry in a long time—triggered him to mope and miss Raisa more deeply. But then after he and I flew to Milan for a little break, he came home to find her at my father’s mansion.
It was kismet, maybe, that they’d make their way back to each other.
As for me, I wasn’t sure that this stranger who wasn’t as stealthy as she thought she was could be a lasting presence in my life.
After I checked into a resort in Cozumel, I strolled the beach for a while, merging in with the rest of the touristy area. Music reached me from many bars along the waves, but nothing enticed me to venture closer for a good time. Smells of food carried on the breeze, but I wasn’t hungry.
That damn restlessness was back.
I dragged my hand over my face before stopping and turning to face the waves. Orange and pink streaks filled the sky as the sun set. The orb of light touched the horizon as I stared blankly.
It was gorgeous. A picture worth painting.
And it didn’t break through this dullness taking over me.
My phone buzzed, and I sighed at the thought of having to talk to anyone. If it was my father or cousins, I didn’t want to have to pretend that I was fine being the odd man out anymore.
It wasn’t. Simon was calling, and I knew better than to miss a message from him. With how skilled he was at uncovering information and how quickly things could change, I needed to always have the latest and most up-to-date intel. Not doing so could get me killed.
“The hit has been canceled.”
I furrowed my brow at his greeting. We never bothered with them, actually. He was my most-trusted and relied-upon member of the Dubinin organization, and I learned early on that pleasantries were wasted on the taciturn and serious computer genius.
“Huh.” It was all I could care to say for a reply. “Any specific reason?”
It happened. Hits could be called off. Or they could be expedited. I took jobs for money, adding to the Dubinin wealth, but I also had to follow the assignments my father gave me, the jobs where I was required to kill someone bothering our family. Sergei Romanoff was an example of a family job. But this banker I’d followed here to Cozumel was just a random hit. It’d pay well, but it wasn’t like we needed the money. Sometimes, I took these contracted hits just to stay sharp and busy.
“His wife decided to forgive him.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sounds messy.”
