“Yes,” I said, pretending to sip on my coffee. There wasn’t a chance in hell I was actually going to drink any of it.
Ever since we had walked into this room my instincts had been screaming that we were in danger.
“Mr. R,” I started, wanting to get this over with so I could get back to Cini and our vacation. “Mr. Amante has directed me to come and meet with you in order to ascertain what we can do to ensure you both become healthy business partners.”
“Indeed,” Mr. R agreed. “I have been in the business for quite a long time, lads, though these past few months have been filled with quite a few losses. Prior to this I worked with Volkov and the Russians to pursue my…endeavors.”
My insides went cold at the mention of the man who had kidnapped Cini.
‘You’ve gotta be kidding me,’Nico said, his dark eyes on mine from across the table.
‘Hush,’I said, trying to focus on the conversation in front of us.
Mr. R continued, oblivious to the conversation we were having in our minds. “Upon the dissolution of his facilities, much of my scientific research has been lost. You see, I was sponsoring a scientist who was making great strides in hormone research and I would like Mr. Amante, as a token of his desire to work with me, to retrieve parts of my research.”
Mr. R held up a hand and the butler placed a manilla envelope into it.
“Take a look inside.”
Reluctantly, I took it and opened it.
The first thing that slipped out was the picture of a thin, brunette woman standing in front of a white wall. She looked familiar and it took me a moment before I realized that I had seen her before.
The night we stormed Volkov’s facilities she had been the near-feral alpha that was taken by the FBI.
“What am I looking at?” I asked, frowning as I flipped through what looked like observation reports dating back nearly twelve years.
“Other than your hybrid wife, this is the crowning jewel of my research and I would like it returned to me,” Mr. R explained. “Tell your Mr. Amante that should he do this for me, then I would be more than willing to help him with his needs. I’ll even throw in a two-for-one special.”
Mr. R said the words like they were an inside joke we were supposed to understand.
“We will relay your message to our boss,” I said, putting the pictures back into the envelope and standing. “Though you do realize it may be impossible given that she is in FBI custody, right?”
Mr. R huffed a laugh that sent a shiver down my spine. “I have dealt with more secure institutions than the FBI, young man. Now, Lyle, will you escort these fine young men to the door? I think they will be quite busy from now on.”
I kept my expression neutral, but something about the older man wasn’t right. It was almost like he was a predator staring at his prey—a feeling even I could admit to not feeling very often.
There were very few things that scared me, but something about Mr. R made me very afraid.
“Oh, Elio,” Mr. R stopped us before we left. “Please tell Luscinia hello for me, she issucha triumph.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “Of course. Have a good rest of your evening.”
Our guns were handed back to us and I was gripping the phone in my pocket the entire way back to the front door and ignoring Nico’s battering questions in my mind.
‘What the fuck was that? Why was he acting like that? So he’s the guy who created that hell hole? I thought it was just Volkov being Volkov. This is so much bigger than we thought it was…’
I didn’t say anything in return.
We needed to get back to the car because my instincts were screaming at me that something was very, very wrong.
There was a reason they wanted all four of us to come to this house, and if I was right, Cini was in danger.
Twenty
Cini grinned at me as she won yet another round of Gin Rummy. Her hands waved in the air as she wiggled in her seat in victory.
I couldn’t even be mad that she had kicked my ass so soundly all night because that meant I got to watch her celebrate, which I considered a win-win scenario.
