Niklaus Varro.
“Breaking and entering is a crime punishable by law.”
I flinched at the sudden sound of his voice, especially because I didn’t hear him come in. By the time I raised my head, he was already walking over to me, suited up in a way that made him look good.
Fuck.
I panicked. I thought I had more time because he wasn’t supposed to be back until midnight. Yet, here he was, in the flesh. Hot and very attractive.
My jaw tightened as I braced myself, watching him draw nearer. “It’s not breaking and entering since I didn’t break anything,” I said, my voice steady. “The door was unlocked.”
“The cabinet wasn’t.” He glanced at it before his eyes settled on me. “Sooner or later, we’re gonna talk about where you learned to pick a lock.”
His presence occupied the room, enough to trap me in place without touching. The scent of him invaded my senses, a subtle reminder of the way he’d handled me the last time.
I stared at him, my heart pounding like a drum, wondering what he was up to. Was he going to try to touch me again? Would he begin with a kiss or something more subtle?
Would I be able to resist him if he made the move? Did I have it in me to say no? Did I even want to say no?
“What’s that you’re holding?” he asked, his voice deep and husky.
I swallowed. “Who’s Niklaus Varro?”
Silence.
“He’s not in any of the court records, but he’s somehow linked to the Vetrov case,” I said. “And his name appears multiple times in your cabinet.”
He still didn’t say a word.
“Who is he, Karik?” I pressed on. “Is he the man you’re protecting?”
He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving my face. My heart raced even faster as he leaned in, his breath warm against my skin. “This case is closed for a reason. Leave it alone.” He snatched the file from me.
His eyes bore into mine a bit longer than necessary, as if searching for something. Or warning against something.
I stood there, frozen in place, unable to speak or move. Heat spread across my whole body, mixed with tension and anxiety. Right now, I was so vulnerable and weak that if he touched me, I’d surrender to him, not putting up a fight.
A part of me was hoping he’d make the first move and put me out of my misery. The other part was wishing that he’d just back away.
Karik straightened, and without another word, he turned around and left. It wasn’t until after he closed the door behind him that I realized I’d been holding my breath.
I leaned back against the cabinet, my heart pounding loudly in my chest. My fingers combed my hair as I struggled to stay composed.
As I glanced at the closed door, one question lingered. Was I relieved that he walked away, or disappointed that he didn’t touch me?
Chapter 18 – Karik
I underestimated her ability to get to the truth sooner than expected. She never passed up the chance to prove just how smart and resilient she was.
In under five days or so, she’d already figured out the one name nobody outside the Bratva inner circle had heard of.
Should I be impressed or worried?
Was I not careful enough at hoarding that information? Or was she simply too good at what she did?
Niklaus Varro.
The mere thought of that asshole made my blood boil, and my fingers clench into fists. He was the reason for this whole scandal, the reason Vetrov was convicted in the first place.
