Scandalously Expecting His Child(44)

                “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t leave this office and go eliminate this woman’s threat.”

                Silence detonated in the wake of Numair’s tranquil words.

                Feeling his heart about to do the same, Raiden drew in a sharp breath. Once Numair made up his mind, nothing could stop him. So Raiden had to stop his mind in its tracks before it latched on to a course of action.

                “One reason. Me.” His voice was a steel blade as he transferred his gaze from Numair to the others, letting them know Scarlett was one line he’d never let anyone cross. Not even them. Then he let the lifetime of history and empathy between them enter his gaze. “We survived hell, then conquered the world by trusting each other absolutely. You depended on me and my instincts countless times. I now ask you to trust the instincts that never led us wrong.”

                “They led you wrong in her case,” Antonio pointed out.

                “No, they haven’t. I now believe she’d been forced to spy on me. And this is why I called this meeting, why I told you about her. I need you to help me find out exactly who she is, and how Medvedev found her, and what power he had over her.”

                “She was a professional honey trap with a long history behind her before Medvedev hired her,” Antonio dismissed.

                “And I want to find out how that happened, how she’d entered this life, the life she’d gone to such lengths to exit.” He gave them a moment to absorb his demands and the new considerations, then went on. “Promise me you’ll do everything in your power to help me settle this issue once and for all.”

                “I can certainly settle her issue with no effort at all.” Numair’s voice was laced with chilling, hair-raising humor.

                “Numair.”

                At Raiden’s booming growl, Numair held his enraged gaze for seconds before he shrugged. “It would be better for you and for all of us if she just...disappeared. If this were my call, I wouldn’t forgive anyone who betrayed me. Not for any reason. If I were you, I wouldn’t care why she did.”

                “You’re not me, Numair. Now give me your word.”

                Numair inclined his head vaguely, looking like a malevolent genie from an Oriental fable with his shoulder-length black hair, slanting eyebrows and striking features.

                “Give me your oath, Phantom,” Raiden gritted.

                He had to have that, or Numair would leave his office and fulfill his not-so-veiled threat. When it came to protecting their brotherhood, Numair would do, and had done, literally anything. But he also had an unswerving code of honor, would give his life to uphold an oath he’d made. But he had to make it first, unequivocally, not just imply it, before it became binding.

                Pursing his lips, Numair regarded him with the same steadiness he had since Raiden had first seen him when he’d been five, that of the stern older brother who knew best. He didn’t approve, but he now realized that Raiden wasn’t defending his mistakes in the past or his whims now. He was defending the woman he wanted with every fiber of his being.

                Though he still had no reason to make that oath, none but Raiden’s conviction, Numair finally said, “You have it.”

                * * *

                “I don’t have good news.”

                Raiden’s heart rammed his ribs viciously at Numair’s declaration.