“See you.” Seth tipped his chin and watched Tony—shoulders tense and head on a swivel—hurry out of the bar.
With a frown, Seth glanced at his phone. Their conversation had wrapped up earlier than expected, and now he was alone with his churning thoughts and a growing sense of apprehension.
Same shit, different day. But the systematic rot of corruption Tony had described made Seth doubly glad he’d given up his badge.
After finishing his beer, he paid the check and strolled out of the bar. Beck’s speech would likely run another hour, but after Tony’s revelations, Seth felt the urge to look in on Heavenly, make sure she was safe.
He crossed the opulent lobby toward the elevators, rounded the corner—and stopped dead.
There, Heavenly stood, looking wide-eyed and just a bit afraid at the massive, tattooed figure looming over her, pressing her against a wall.
Instantly, Seth recognized the man. Not only did he wear a flashy tailored suit that probably cost ten grand, his dark hair, icy eyes, and ruthlessly carved profile belonged on the big screen. He wielded power like a man meant to reign over boardrooms—but the thin scar running from his left temple to his jaw, his ink, and his thick Russian accent betrayed him as something far more dangerous.
Nikolai Volkov, Bratva boss. The deadliest man Seth had ever called friend—and one he’d never expected to see again, hovering over a terrified Heavenly.
“Nikolai!” Seth raced toward Heavenly and tucked her behind his body protectively. “What the fuck are you doing? You don’t talk to her.”
Instantly, the Russian’s four brutish bodyguards closed in. Seth didn’t back down. With a grin, Nikolai waved them away. “Seth Cooper, my friend. Why so hostile?”
Seth eyed the still-hovering bodyguards before turning his glare back on Nik. Christ, if the wrong people saw Heavenly with the Russian… “Whatever reason you’re here, she’s not part of it. You want to talk? You find me. You don’t approach her. She knows nothing. She’s off-limits.”
Nikolai stepped back and raised his hands in a gesture of mock innocence. “I did not think you want me to interrupt meeting with cop friend. A thousand apologies.”
That was who’d been watching him and Tony? Why? Nikolai didn’t surface in upscale places teeming with polite society without a fucking good reason.
“Heavenly, go upstairs. Text Beck that you’ll be in the room and to meet you there as soon as he’s done. Do it now.”
She frowned, her gaze ping-ponging between him and Nikolai. “Seth, what’s?—”
“Don’t argue, angel. Let me know the second you’re safely inside the room. Don’t open the door for anyone except me or Beck. No maids, no room service, no one. Do you understand?”
“O-Okay.” She looked shaken, but she nodded and pulled out her phone.
Seth watched her text Beck with trembling fingers before he guided her to the elevator. “Don’t forget to tell me when you’re safe. If I haven’t heard from you in two minutes, I’m coming after you.”
“I will.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and watched her disappear behind the closing doors. Once the car shot up, he turned back to Nikolai, his posture still tense. “We shouldn’t talk here.”
“You are right.” Nikolai adjusted his cuff links. “I have arranged small meeting room on third floor. Very private.”
Seth’s phone buzzed. Heavenly’s text confirmed she was safely in the room, alone. Relief flooded him. Now he could focus on the man who’d helped him track down his family’s killer eight years ago.
He pinned his glare on Nikolai. “Lead the way. While you do, tell me what the fuck you were doing approaching her?”
“Very beautiful woman, this angel of yours. Pretty diamond on finger. When is wedding?”
“You don’t need to know about her, Nik.” But he probably already did.
“She looks too sweet for pervert like you.” Nikolai’s eyes glittered with amusement. “But appearances deceive, no? Who knew that Seth Cooper likes to share his woman? Especially with important surgeon.”
Seth’s blood froze. Nikolai could only know about Beck if he’d been watching them. And he wouldn’t do that without cause. “What the fuck is going on?”
“Relax. I merely talked to your angel.”
“About what? I know your usual method of talking, Nik,” Seth whispered tersely. “With a well-charged battery and jumper cables.”
The big Russian laughed and led him to a stairwell clearly used by employees, bodyguards flanking them. “I would never talk to her like that. I only tell her to have you contact me so your detective friend would not ask, shall we say, uncomfortable questions.”
