Of course, he looked into me. Luckily, I know some people who cleaned that up a little bit.
“Yes,” I confirm with a curt nod.
“And now you work as a journalist and occasional security consultant.”
“That’s right.”
Dmitri pulls a folder from his desk and tosses it in my direction. “I’m prepared to hire you as a security consultant. You’ll help us identify weak spots in our operations and provide recommendations for improvement. In exchange, you’ll be paid very well and given access to certain aspects of our business.”
I open the folder. The proposed fee is suspiciously generous. “Why me?”
“You have skills we can use. Your military background, combined with your credentials as a journalist, means you can move in circles and ask questions that would raise suspicion coming from us. And because my sister seems to think you’re competent, despite her reservations about your honesty.”
“And if I decline?”
“Then you keep doing your journalism in Moscow, and we part as acquaintances.” The tone is pleasant, but there’s steel underneath. “But I suspect you won’t decline. The money is good, and the work is interesting.”
He’s right, though not for the reasons he thinks. I need to be inside to figure out what Adrian is planning. I need to understand why he’s so obsessed with Sasha and what he intends to do with the intelligence I’m supposed to gather.
“I accept,” I say.
“Excellent.” Dmitri presses a button on his desk phone. “Send her in.”
The door opens, and Sasha saunters into the office.
She’s wearing tight black pants that show off every bit of her ass and a cream-colored blouse that somehow makes her look both professional and hot as hell. Her blonde hair is pulled back into her default low ponytail, and her green eyes find mine within seconds. I see the wariness in them.
She doesn’t want to be here.
“Sasha will be your primary contact,” Dmitri explains. “She’ll coordinate your schedule, provide necessary access, and serve as liaison between you and our organization.”
The ploy would be genius if it weren’t so obvious. He’s using his sister as bait to see how I react, testing whether I’m professionally interested in the Kozlovs or personally interested in Sasha.
“When do we start?” I flash Sasha a full smile because, despite the situation, I expect that spending time with her will be the highlight of my time here in Moscow.
“Now.” Dmitri stands, and the meeting is over. “Sasha will show you around. You’ll provide initial observations, and we’ll discuss next steps.”
The muscles in Sasha’s neck flex, but she nods. “Of course.”
We’re escorted back downstairs, where a different car waits. A black SUV this time, with a driver and a security guard in the front seat. Sasha slides into the back, and I follow. The door closes, and suddenly, we’re alone in the confined space.
“So,” I begin after a moment, “this is awkward.”
She doesn’t look at me. “You have no idea.”
“Your brother doesn’t trust me.”
“My brother doesn’t trust anyone. It’s kept him alive this long.” She turns to look at me. “What are you really doing in Moscow, Tony?”
“Right now? Sitting in a car with a beautiful woman who looks like she’d rather be anywhere else.”
“Don’t flirt with me.”
“Wasn’t aware I was.”
She snorts, “You’re always flirting. It’s like breathing for you.”
“I saved your life, Sasha. Doesn’t that count for something?”
