Petrov leaned back in his chair. “You make it sound easy. We both know it isn’t.”
Edge shifted forward in his seat. “Pay us enough and it doesn’t matter if it’s easy or not.”
“I could kill you right now. You know that, right? I could have your dead bodies dragged out of here, and no one would ever know.”
Edge’s gaze zeroed in on Petrov’s face. “There’s a certain amount of risk involved in everything. You could kill us. Or you could take advantage of our skills.”
Petrov rolled the cigar back and forth. “How would I know I could trust you?”
“You can trust that we want to stay alive badly enough to obey your orders.”
Intrigued, one of Petrov’s black eyebrows inched up. He was clearly a businessman before anything else. Killing the two of them wouldn’t get him back the money he had lost.
“You’re right,” he said. “If I hire you and you make one move out of line, Dutch and his men will drive you and your lady friend out into the desert and make you disappear.”
Edge said nothing.
Neither did Petrov.
Edge took a chance and rose from his chair. “Why don’t you take some time to think it over.” He pulled out a Nighthawk business card with his cell number on it. “We’re staying at the Bellagio. You can reach us there.”
Skye rose to join him, and they started for the door. Dutch stepped in front of them, blocking their way. Edge turned back to Petrov. Black eyes locked with blue.
“Perhaps we might be able to do business,” the Russian said. “I will be in touch.”
Dutch stepped out of the way, and Skye walked past him out the door. Dutch returned Edge’s Beretta as he walked out behind her.
In front of the restaurant, Edge helped Skye into the first cab in line and followed her into the back seat. They didn’t speak until the taxi rolled off toward the Bellagio.
“You think Petrov will go for it?” Skye asked.
“From what I can tell, he’s a very practical guy. I’m thinking there’s a chance he might.”
They didn’t say more until they reached the hotel and rode upstairs in the elevator. You never knew who was listening.
“We need to talk to Cross,” Skye said as they walked out into the hall.
Edge nodded. “We’ll use the disposable, fill Cross in on where we are with Petrov.”
“So what’s our next move?” Skye waited while Edge flashed his key card to unlock the door.
Edge thought about the big bed in the suite. “If Petrov wanted us dead, we’d be dead. Until we hear from him, we might as well relax and enjoy ourselves.”
Skye’s slow smile said she agreed. Edge felt the heat of anticipation all the way to his groin.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
THE EXCITEMENTSKYE WAS FEELING DISAPPEARED AS THEY WALKEDinside. She was too much of a professional not to notice the room had been searched.
The subtle shift of a magazine on the coffee table. Drawers in the bedroom that hadn’t been completely closed. Toiletries in the bathroom moved from one side of the sink to the other.
“Well, he wasn’t subtle about it,” Edge said, his gaze following hers as they checked each room.
Skye looked up at him. “Doesn’t look like anything’s missing. You think Petrov was delivering a message? Telling us he can get to us whenever he wants?”
“Probably—and looking for anything that might indicate we were lying or working with the cops.”
“Which we aren’t,” Skye said clearly in case the room was bugged.
