But as I kept reminding him, being neurotypical was boring anyway.
I eyed Maxim, who looked at me without blinking. Nowhewas the one we should all be concerned about.
“Surely, this Christopher guy gave you something?” I asked, that restless itch under my skin growing more unbearable the longer we waited. I had to dosomething.
“Hendrix has a lead,” Roman said, dipping his head in a single nod.
“Let me guess, in Germany?”
“Ty menya zaebal,”Maxim muttered, and I simply stuck my middle finger up without even looking at him.
“Shh, the adults are talking.”
“I ran the details through Police National Database, and we had a hit,” Hendrix added, his arms folded as he leaned against the far wall. “The driver and the dead guy were just generic Mercs. But the one in the suit, Christopher Van Der, is tied to known traffickers.”
“This is why you’re my favourite… wait, traffickers? As in…”
“Human.”
Rage flared hot in my chest, thickening the air around us. Shit. Just as Aeris had stated.
“What do your contacts say?” I asked, but Hendrix only shook his head.
“That’s all I’ve got. There’s nothing?—”
“What do you mean, that’s it?”
Hendrix’s gaze sharpened. “If I push any further, I’ll blow my cover. If that happens, I risk everything.”
“Wouldn’t want to lose our favourite corrupt detective,” Roman muttered.
He bared his teeth. “Fuck you, Antonov.”
A knock on the door, stealing my attention. Violet opened it slowly, the rising tension deflating at her presence.
“Hey, blondie,” I said, reaching over to touch her arm.
She looked up at me, colour tinging her cheeks as everyone’s eyes were on her.
“How’s your mum?”
She looked like she’d been crying, the skin under her eyes blotchy. “Sleeping,” she said, clearing her throat before adding, “Am I able to speak to Mr Antonov?”
Hendrix left without question, but Violet’s eyes lifted expectantly.
“Alone,” she added.
I bit back the sharp sting of jealousy that twisted low in my stomach. I don’tdojealousy, and yet I glared at Roman before reluctantly leaving.
Violet
Ryder was angry; I could tell by the way his jaws stiffened and the sharp glare he shot the guy sitting in the back. I’ve never met Roman Antonov, but Elena had warned me about him. Not that she needed to warn me, of course. His presence alone radiated danger.
Roman watched me with blank, green eyes, only responding when I asked to speak to him alone. Even now, as Ryder’s lingering touch burned my skin and the door atmy back clicked closed, Roman watched me as if I was a bug that may do a trick.
My gaze drifted to the older man standing to his right, his expression so blank he could’ve been carved from stone.
“Maxim won’t repeat anything you say in this room,” Roman said, his deep voice somehow suffocating the small space.
