Aleksei’s eyes narrowed into slits as his hands clenched into a fists at his side. “I don’t like secrets between us.”
“Believe me when I say it’s for your own good.”
“You and Boris, always keeping me in the dark,” he said to himself, but Zoe heard the bitterness in his tone. He was always treated like a child, kept in the dark for his own good, but in this case, it was.
Zoe didn’t like being compared to Boris, but she was doing it to keep him safe. “The less you know the better.”
“I don’t like this,” he pouted.
“I know. I’d tell you if I could.” Zoe wanted to tell him the truth. To confess everything, but not when she was so close to closing the case. She needed to keep him in the dark. As much as she liked him and knew he didn’t belong in this world, she didn’t trust him not to rat her out to his brother.
“Don’t you trust me?” His eyes turned sorrowful and looked almost teary.
The kid was driving a dagger straight into her heart. “Of course, I do.”
“Then tell me,” he demanded, a hint of desperation in his voice.
She couldn’t.. “Do me a favor,” she said instead.
“Of course,” Aleksei agreed easily.
“Don’t go tonight.”
Aleksei’s eyebrows puckered together in confusion. “But—”
“Aleksei, don’t question me on this. Please, just don’t go,” she reiterated.
“If Maxim tells me to, I don’t have a choice.”
She’d have a word with Maxim. “If that happens, then stay far away from the meeting. No matter what you hear.”
Aleksei looked even more puzzled. She was making a mess of this, but it was too late now. “I don’t understand. Do you know something we don’t? If you do, you have to tell Maxim or Boris.”
That was the last thing she was going to do. “It’s just a feeling, Aleksei, nothing more. I don’t trust Diego or Viktor.”
Aleksei nodded, finally taking her words to heart. “I’ll be careful.”
“Thank you. Now you should get to your post before Boris comes back.” Zoe nudged him down the hall, but Aleksei didn’t move.
“Be careful, Silver.”
“Always am, Tree.”
Chapter 23
Zoe was a bundle of nerves as the hours seemed to crawl at a snail’s pace until it was time to leave. Everyone was ready to go, Leo the most eager. Viktor just patted him on the back like he had accomplished some great feat, when in reality he hadn’t done anything.
“We’re ready. Let’s go,” Maxim announced before heading out. His group of personal guards surrounded him.
Zoe followed behind hoping, praying everything went smoothly. She stopped at the base of the stairs looking at an unfamiliar car and driver. “What is this?”
“We are taking my car to the meet.”
“How about you and Leo ride in your car and I’ll wait for my usual driver?”
“No, Leo is riding with his father. You and I will ride in this car. You aren’t scared, are you?” he asked, a challenge in his tone.
Zoe stiffened her spine. “I’m not afraid.” She could take this weak old man down with her bare hands if she had to.
