“We hold it at the same time as one of our entertainment events. A bare-knuckle, no-holds-barred fighting competition. It provides cover and draws attention away from the main attraction. Plus, anyone who even looks like a cop will be spotted a mile away.” His smile turns predatory. “I need someone I can trust to oversee Emma’s transport and protection. Someone who’s proven they can handle themselves when things go sideways. Just in case.”
My mind races, even as I nod calmly.
Street fighting. Secret location. Revealed only a day before.
Caleb.
My brother has been working the underground fighting circuit for months. If the auction is held at the same venue at the same time, there’s a chance he’ll be there. Especially if the purse is a big one.
This might be our chance to finally get Kozlov.
But can I count on Caleb? If needed, would he help me or cause trouble? I honestly don’t know, not when my mate’s life might depend on it, and that’s a sorry state of affairs.
I can’t count on him. I can only count on myself.
“I’ll do whatever you need. And I won’t let her out of my sight,” I tell Kozlov. “Just tell me when and where.”
He claps me on the shoulder, apparently satisfied.
“Good man. Now, there’s one more thing I need from you tonight. The intruders we captured. So far, they’re not giving us any intel, but I need to know who sent them, how they knew our layout, and who is feeding them information.” Pursing his lips, he takes a deep breath to calm himself before continuing. “Traditional interrogation methods are not working.”
“You want me to do it.”
Intimidate. Bully. Torture. Use whatever means are necessary to extract the information he wants.
“Exactly.” His smile widens. “I have a feeling you’ll be very effective.”
I need to get a message to Chase. The auction is our best chance, maybe our only chance, and he needs to know it’s happening offsite. Maybe they can shortlist possible locations nearby. I have a feeling they won’t risk transporting these women too far.
“We’re just taking a break and letting them have a moment to reconsider their position. Take five, get a coffee, and then join us in the basement.”
“Meet you down there,” I say, veering off as though I’m going to pay the kitchen a visit.
Kozlov waves a dismissive hand. “Don’t be long. Dimitri is eager to begin, and I’d hate for you to miss the opening act.”
When he rounds the corner, I veer off, heading for my quarters instead, forcing myself to walk at a normal pace despite the urgency clawing at my insides. The corridor is empty. Theother guards are either dealing with the aftermath of the attack or preparing for the interrogation.
My room is small and sparse, with nothing personal on display. I close the door and immediately reach for my belt, sliding my fingers along the hidden seam until I find the compartment. The backup SIM card is exactly where I left it, thin as a fingernail, and untraceable.
I swap it into my phone, then compose a message to Chase. Short, cryptic, and nothing that would raise flags if intercepted.
Nest was hit. The package will be delivered off-site. Address revealed the day before. Will update.
I send it and wait, counting the seconds until I see the delivered confirmation. Then I delete the message, swap the SIMs back, and tuck the backup into my belt.
The whole process takes less than a minute, but when I open my door, Dimitri is standing in the corridor, waiting for me. Listening.
“Ready?” he asks, his tone carefully neutral. Dimitri’s gaze travels over me slowly, assessing. Whatever he’s looking for, he doesn’t seem to find it, but the doubt doesn’t leave his eyes.
“Kozlov wants you to take the lead on the interrogation,” he says as we walk.
“Does he?” I ask conversationally. “Well, I’ll give it a go.”
Dimitri’s smile is thin, knowing. I didn’t kill any of the intruders, just knocked them unconscious. But I could have, and I suspect Dimitri noticed my reluctance to shed blood unnecessarily.
“I think perhaps he wants to see what you’re made of. Whether you have the stomach for the unpleasant parts of this work.”
It’s a test. Of course it is. Kozlov wants to know if I’m willing to get my hands dirty. If I’m committed enough to hurt people who haven’t done anything to me, just because he says so.
