I brush a hand down her arm as I hand her a plate. “Everything’s fine,” I murmur, low enough that only she hears. “Trust me.”
She studies me for a second longer. “Okay,” she finally whispers, but it feels like she’s definitely filing this away for later. It was unexpected, and I did handle it like a fucking idiot. I press a kiss to her temple anyway, because I need her to believe me. I need her not to dig. If she digs…
My world collapses straight into hers.
And I’m not ready for that kind of destruction.
Chapter thirty-one
JUDE GRAVES
The last thing I wanna do is be here on a Sunday when I could just be with Em. Alexei’s penthouse perfectly reflects the darkness in his soul, that’s for fucking sure. Even though I’ve been in here before, it still feels like standing in a place where I could be murdered without a second thought.
He doesn’t even turn around when I step off the elevator and into his office. “Sit,” he says, like he’s talking to a dog.
I lower myself into the chair across from him, noting that neither Nolan nor Adriana is here. My hands stay in my lap, fists hidden, jaw tight. I don’t bother trying to look comfortable. He’d see through it.
He finally turns, a glass of something clear in hand. He studies me for a moment before setting something on the table between us. My gaze snags on it, and it immediately makes my stomach turn. A bone-white mask that has no real human features. The surface material resembles bone, and the “eyes” are jagged slits, dark, claw-like gouges that sink deep into the face. And the mouth...a sealed, too-wide grin carved in cracked lines, stretching almost ear to ear. It almost reminds me of a fucked up, smiling Slenderman mask.
“Another job?” I ask, even though it’s obvious.
He smiles, purely predatory. “You’re smarter than Nolan gives you credit for.”
I clench my fists at the insult.This piece of shit.
He sits across from me, crossing one ankle over his knee. “There is a distributor here in Portland,” he says. “A man who thinks he can run product in this city as a newcomer.” He sips his drink. “I need him gone.”
The wordgonehas me focusing on my breath.
I nod once. “Let me get this straight,” I start with a sigh. “ARussianis running drugs through some of the major cities in the US now?”
Alexei just stares at me, and it’s answer enough. He leans forward, elbows on his knees. “Don’t be stupid. It’s more common than you think. This is just the beginning for you, little rockstar. There are men in Seattle who will need cleaning up as well.” His gaze darkens. “The city is mine for the taking. Someone needs to help me take it. Nolan has a lot of contacts in this country, and our partnership allows for him to benefit. You, too. And I like you, Jude. You have a particular fire that interests me.”
“What do you mean by that?” I ask flatly.
He grins. “There’s an anger deep inside you, boy, that I admire. One that could help us expand all over the world if wewant to. With my help, you’ll become way more than you are now. If you can believe it.”
My pulse thuds in my throat.Seattle. Portland. States, borders—he’s not talking about a few jobs. He’s talking about a fucking career.
A goddamn life sentence.
I force the words out evenly. “Did Nolan okay this?”
Alexei’s expression doesn’t change. “I don’t work for Nolan,” he says quietly. “Nolan works for me now.”
The meaning cracks down my spine like a hammer. In pursuit of money and power, Nolan has sacrificed my life.
“I don’t need Nolan’s permission for anything.”
I swallow hard. There’s no air in my lungs, but I still nod.
He slides the mask closer with one finger. “Tonight.”
I pick it up, and he watches me with amused approval, like he’s training a new pet.
“Good boy,” he murmurs. “Now, let’s go over the details.”
My skin crawls, but I listen.
