I blink. “Just like that?”
“Two month trial. Impress me, and it becomes permanent.”
The way he says it makes something low and restless twist in my chest.
“I will need a background check.”
His tone is mild, but the words carry intent. He will search, not to pry, but to understand. It should worry me. Instead, it thrills me.
“Of course,” I say quietly. My voice stays even, though my pulse refuses to.
CHAPTER 2
AMALIE
“Sit tight.”
Roman disappears into his office like he owns not just the room, but the air in it.
Of course he does.
I’m perched on the edge of a leather bench in the hallway, clutching my tote like it’s the only thing tethering me to reality.
Full background check.
My stomach hasn’t unclenched since he said those words.
Now that I’m alone, my brain does what it does best.
Catastrophize.
There’s nothing on me they can find. I’m clean. Boring, even.
But Kyle…
A man like Roman doesn’t use some cheap online search.
No.
He has people.
The kind who dig.
The kind who don’t stop.
The kind who find things that are supposed to stay buried.
Like the fact that my brother is a cop working deep undercover.
My heart slams into my throat.
If Kyle gets exposed because of me, I will never forgive myself.
I hear his voice in my head, calm and steady like always.
“It’s buried in IRS payroll. Internal documentation. No one is going to find it unless they’re looking for it.”
And Roman Barinov?
