His face gives away nothing. “I am not going to kill you, Kelly.”
My name in his mouth makes my stomach drop. He grabbed my ID card that night, looked at it, then basically told me he’d kill me if I didn’t do what he said.
He’s known my name this whole time. Probably knows where I live too.
Which means—he didn’t just randomly show up here tonight. He came looking formespecifically. Christ, I’m so screwed.
Chapter 5
Alexei
Should have admitted I was lying when I told myself I could be normal about this. A week of following him everywhere, watching every moment of his day. I’ve memorized the face of every man who’s looked at him twice and just broke the nose of the one who touched his arm.
My version of interest looks a lot like stalking.
Semantics.
The second I saw him walk into the club my family owns, I couldn’t stop myself. Too easy to get him into the club, to get Mikhail to pull his girl off to the side so I had room to move in.
Now Kelly’s sitting in front of me, chewing his lip bloody, looking at me like I’m about to rip his throat out. Questioning me with his eyes. His sandy-blonde hair curls from the sweat on his forehead, green eyes locked on mine. He looks good in what he’s wearing tonight. Too good.
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop thinking about it.Focus.
I need to know everything about him. Need the truth. To crack him open and figure out what he is involved in.
“If you’re not going to kill me, then what do you want?” he asks.
“What are you involved in? Your file doesn’t show you as an informant, so why didn’t you call the cops when I passed out?”
His brows pull tight, and he looks confused. “What? I’m not involved in anything. Why would you think that? And wait, file? What file?”
“Answer the question.”
He opens his mouth, then shuts it again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just a vet. I work at a clinic. That’s it.”
“You are lying.”
“I’m not—” His voice cracks slightly, and he clears his throat. “I’m not lying. I swear.”
I don’t buy it.
He sighs. “Oh my god. Is this a joke? Are cameras about to come out and tell me I’m being punked right now?” He laughs nervously, looks around, then freezes. “Right?”
I stare at the shape of his mouth, the way he moves.
“Tell me what you’re involved in.”
“This isn’t a joke?”
“No.” My voice stays flat. That seems to scare him more than yelling would.
“Well, if you want answers from me, then I want answers too.”
I rub my jaw. “Fine. Truth for truth.”
“Okay. Sure. I want to start.” He swallows, then locks those green eyes on me like he’s trying to be brave.
“What’s your full name?”
