“She’s quite terrified,” Konstantin continued in his mock sympathetic tone. “Poor woman doesn’t know why she’s tied to a chair and men with knives keep taunting her.”
Simone’s whole body shuddered. “You bastard.”
He shrugged and glanced toward Logan. “You didn’t kill Ryan Quinn.”
“No.” Gritted from between Logan’s clenched teeth.
“I sent you in to kill him.”
“Yes, well, you thought the only way to get Simone away from the guy was to kill him. I got her without killing him, so there. Job done.”
She did not like Konstantin’s slow smile. Actually, there was nothing she liked about him. A true monster.
“Don’t worry.” Konstantin lounged against the seat as the car zipped through the city. “I have a new employee who will be completing the job. Fun detail, he made the connection with the broach and earrings, too. The man could not wait to tell me all about Logan Sterling. Of course, I’d already made the connection, thanks to Alexei.” He glanced at his watch. “Still, my new employee is promising. He should be taking care of the situation with Ryan Quinn at any moment.”
Someone was about to kill Ryan? Oh, hell, no! “Call him off!” The words exploded from her. “If you’ve got someone going after Ryan, call him off!”
Konstantin’s attention shifted back to her. “You aren’t the one giving orders, lisichka.”
Little fox.
“I’ll do whatever you want,” she promised, meaning those words. “Just do not hurt Ryan. Call off any attacker. Keep Ryan safe. Keep Nana safe.”
“Oh, you’ll do what I want. You’re the best at the job, after all.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You retrieve things that have been taken. My egg was taken, along with something very special inside the egg.”
“I know all about the damn chip! I was in the room when you gave the freaking thing to Frederick in the first place!” Simone huffed. Did he not remember this?
“Good.” A shrug of his shoulders. “Then you know where it is now.”
Jezebel had it. “It’s with the CIA.”
He brought his face in close to her. “You will retrieve it. You will get it away from them, or I will cut off your fingers. I will cut off Nana’s fingers. I will make you watch while she dies.”
Simone swallowed. “You don’t have to keep adding threats. Just one is enough, thanks.” A slow exhale. “Ryan stays alive. That’s a condition for me.”
He shook his head. “You have no conditions.” Then, “And your spy is dying as we speak.”
No!
“Hugo was going to shoot him at their restaurant meeting. Hugo wanted to impress me, so I’m sure that he made no mistakes.”
Your spy is dying as we speak.
“He’s not dead.” Her whole body hurt. “He’s not. You’re wrong. There is no way that Ryan is dead!”
A phone rang. A loud, shrill cry that had her jumping. The ringing sound came from Konstantin’s suit coat. A fancy coat to hide the monster he was. Taking his time, Konstantin put his gun back into the holster beneath his left arm. Tucked beneath that coat…
The phone kept ringing.
Slowly, Konstantin pulled out the phone. He swiped his finger over the screen and put the call on speaker. “Hello, Hugo,” Konstantin greeted. “Is it done?”
“Ryan Quinn is a dead man,” Hugo fired back. “Mission accomplished.”
A scream tore from her throat. She launched at Konstantin, going straight for his eyes. She would claw out the fucking bastard’s eyes. Her fingers curled, and she went in hard for him. She made contact. She clawed and she fought, and he threw her back against the rear door near her. She grabbed for the door handle, intent on jumping out because she could do it. She’d get away. She’d go find Ryan because he was not dead.
