"Good."
I walk over to her. I take the brush from her hand and set it down. I grab a rag and wipe the paint from her cheek. My touch is gentle, but possessive.
"We need to talk about your friend," I say.
"He’s not my friend," she says instantly. Her heart rate, which I checked on my phone before entering, jumps slightly.90 BPM.Not fear. Anticipation.
"Detective Kane," I say. "Luca ran a full background check."
"And?"
"He’s clean. He’s a crusader. His sister died because of a man like me. He thinks you are her reincarnation."
Ivy frowns. She leans back against the worktable, crossing her arms. "So he has a savior complex. That makes him predictable."
"It makes him relentless," I correct her. "He won't take a bribe. He won't be scared off by threats. He believes he is on a holy mission to liberate you."
I step into her space, caging her against the table. I place my hands on the wood on either side of her hips.
"He is going to come for you again, Ivy. He is going to try to get you alone. He is going to offer you a wire. He is going to offer you Witness Protection."
"I won't take it," she says. "You know I won't."
"I know," I say, brushing my thumb over her bottom lip. "But he doesn't know that. And that is his weakness."
I look deep into her eyes. I need to see if she is ready. I need to see if the wolf is awake.
"I can't kill him," I say. "Not without bringing the entire justice system down on our heads. I need him discredited. I need him stripped of his badge, his gun, and his credibility. I need him to look like a lunatic who is stalking an innocent woman."
Ivy’s eyes widen slightly. A slow, dark smile spreads across her face.
"You want to trap him."
"I wantyouto trap him."
I pull back, giving her space to breathe, space to think.
"He wants to save you," I say. "So... let him try."
"You want me to act like the victim," she realizes. "You want me to feed his delusion."
"I want you to call him," I say. "Use a burner. Tell him you’re scared. Tell him you found something—evidence that I killed Nikolai. Tell him you want out."
"He’ll want to meet."
"Yes. He’ll want to meet somewhere quiet. Somewhere private. To 'extract' you."
I walk to the window of the studio, looking out at the skyline.
"We’ll pick the spot," I say. "We’ll rig the room. Not with explosives this time. With cameras. With microphones."
I turn back to her.
"You are going to offer him everything he wants. You are going to cry. You are going to beg. And then... you are going to make a move."
"A move?"
"You’re going to seduce him," I say. The words taste like ash in my mouth. "Or make it look like you are. You’re going to offer yourself as payment for his help. And when he touches you... or when he hesitates... we will have it all on 4K video."
