Kozlov glances at Dimitri, and I immediately know that questions are being driven by his head of security, and not Kozlov himself.
It’s Dimitri who doesn’t trust that I’ve done what I was asked.
“Worried they’re going to blab some other secret you shared with your girlfriend?” I taunt, turning to face Dimitri, letting him know that I’m aware of what he’s doing.
“I never told her anything.” Dimitri snarls. “But she had eyes, and a big mouth, apparently.” His gaze narrows. “I wanted to make sure she didn’t tell them anything else before you got rid of them.”
He’s attempting to save face by lowering Kozlov’s opinion of me, but I need to stay on Emma’s detail and show Kozlov I can be trusted to guard her on Saturday.
“Then you should have told me that instead of storming out like a fucking pussy and leaving me to clean up.” I shrug and look at Kozlov. “It’s a little late to tell me that now.”
Kozlov looks between the two of us, trying to decide whether this is just two cocky men measuring dicks and blowing off some steam, or if he actually needs to deal with something bigger.
“At the very least, we need to make sure he didn’t leave them somewhere fucking stupid, Boss.” Dimitri is imploring his boss not to trust me, and rightly so.
“By going back to the bodies and attracting attention to them? Genius move.” Raising my eyes to the ceiling, I pray Kozlov chooses to let sleeping corpses lie, but clearly, his faith in Dimitri, and his judgement, is rock solid.
Which is bad news for me.
“It’s not personal; I just can’t leave anything to chance.” His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. It never does. “Pavel and Piotr will accompany you. Show them the spot. If it’s as good as you say, we’re done. If not...” He shrugs, the gesture almost lazy. “Find somewhere better. Together.”
There’s movement in the doorway, then Pavel and Piotr appear as if they’ve been waiting for their cue, which they probably have. Pavel sports a purple bruise blooming across his jaw from the attack, his eyes dark with resentment. He’d love to report back that I messed up and get me in trouble.
“Fine. Let’s get this over with.” The wrongness prickles at the back of my neck, but I keep my expression bored.
As I stride out, Dimitri mutters something about watching Emma personally under his breath, trying to bait me. I don’t give him the satisfaction, but I do allow my bear to begin planningall the ways he’s going to hurt him when we can finally exact our revenge.
The three of us take one of Kozlov’s sleek black SUVs. Pavel immediately lights up a cigarette which chokes up the clean air and makes my bear uncomfortable and testy. I drive because it gives me control and time to work out what the hell I’m going to do.
The road winds north through sparse countryside, as I point the vehicle in the direction of the dense forests where I did, in fact, drop off the men. The location is remote, wooded, and teeming with wildlife. It’s the perfect place to dump two bodies, which I might have two more of if I can’t talk my way out of this.
As I drive, I keep my hands loose on the wheel and my posture relaxed, but every sense is sharp. Piotr’s breathing behind me is faster than normal, while Pavel’s fingers drum an irregular rhythm on his thigh. I feel the weight of their attention, even when they’re pretending to watch the scenery.
They’re waiting for something to happen, just as I am.
Unease blooms in my chest. Not my own, hers. Disturbingly sudden.
Emma’s anxiety bleeds through the bond, faint but growing. I grip the wheel tighter and force myself to focus on the road.
“Shame about Emma,” Piotr finally says, breaking the silence. His voice is casual, but I catch the glance he exchanges with Pavel in the mirror. “She’s going to need to toughen up before the Ashworths get their hands on her.”
I keep my grip steady on the wheel, and my voice monotone and unaffected.
“If.”
“What?” Piotr asks, brows dropping.
“If they get their hands on her.” I explain.
Silence. The engine hums. Trees blur past. In the rearview mirror, I catch Pavel shoot Piotr a warning look, so fast I’d have missed it if I wasn’t watching so closely.
“Right.” Pavel’s voice comes out too smooth. “If. My mistake.”
The wrongness that’s been prickling at my neck spreads down my spine, cold and insistent. They know something I don’t. And since I’m supposed to be her guard, that’s not a good sign.
Has she already been sold? Did the Ashworths offer enough money to satisfy Kozlov’s greed and bypass the auction entirely?
The thought makes me ill.
