Stolen from the Hitman: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance(94)

But I have a sinking suspicion this is about the matter I came here for, so I follow after, into the back room, with its reinforced walls. It’s empty but for a simple metal table with some chairs, and he helps himself to a spot there while one of his men pats down the underside of the table, checking for any listening devices.

I stand back, fold my arms as another of the guards pats down Vasili as well, checking him over. Gregorovich trusts no one.

When they come to me I don’t budge, and they back off, knowing better.

“What is the issue at hand?” I ask brusquely.

“You fucked up,” Vasili says with malicious glee, but I don’t so much as grace him with a glance.

Gregorovich clears his throat, cutting off Vasili, preening at his expensive suit. I leave him the dubious honor of being the only one sitting.

“There are some loose ends from your job,” Gregorovich says.

“I do not leave loose ends,” I say firmly, an edge to my voice to let them know I’m serious. But I want more info, so I’m careful not to be too rough with them.

“Well, this time, the police think you have,” Gregorovich responds carefully. “And they’re looking for a potential witness seen entering the hotel with the party.”

“That no-women no-kids rule of yours has finally fucked you up, Volkov,” Vasili says with sneering relish, fidgeting a lot. Probably because he’s constantly wired on a cocktail of different drugs.

“Was there a woman there when you did the job?” Gregorovich asks calmly, and I know it won’t be easy to lie to him. He’s perceptive, for a greedy little shit.

“I agreed to take on this job, knowing it might lead to a bad place,” I say firmly. “But I did the job, and no one survived.”

“Then how do you explain this?” Vasili says, pulling out the picture of Allie with the men I’d slain. It’s not great quality, clearly taken from a security camera. But it’s her. I take a moment to soak it in before Vasili gets into my face, that greasy weasel so full of himself.

I take a moment to slam my fist into his throat and send him choking and sputtering back against the wall.

“Why is this little rat fuck in here with us?” I ask Gregorovich pointedly.

“I’ve tasked him with finding this woman. And making sure she can’t talk,” he replies, ignoring the coughing and cursing of Vasili as we engage.

“She has nothing to tell anyone,” I insist calmly, not overplaying the point. I can’t give him reason to suspect me. “I did a clear sweep. Every single person in there when I did my hit died by my hand. And when I was done, I double-checked. Triple-checked. And calmly walked out.”

Vasili is gasping for air, making a noisy distraction.

“Then there is nothing to worry about, and this is just an added precaution,” Gregorovich assures me with a placid, fake smile.

“Too many added precautions can land one in trouble with the feds,” I say, knowing to add anymore would let him find me out. “But do as you need. My work is done.” I turn to leave, but one of the guards is in my way, and I have to stare him down.

Which gives Vasili enough time to choke out a few words.

“When I find that girl, I’m gonna cut her into ribbons. She’ll be more useless to the cops than a shredded document,” Vasili says, and my fists clench, my jaw tightening.

I turn my head slowly, stare down that weasel shit.

“Everyone knows what it is you like to do with women, govnjúk. But if I catch you laying a hand on one,” and I walk over to him, making him back against the wall as I stare down at him, “the only ribbon you’ll be worried about getting cut is the one between your legs.”

I don’t give him time to snark back, I just plant my knee into his groin and make it so that he won’t think about women for a few days without a lot of pain.

“You should not trust this little govnjúk, he’ll land you in trouble someday,” I caution Gregorovich before I just walk out, knowing I was in a precarious position and might’ve just overplayed my hand.





4





Alicia





This safehouse wasn’t set up to keep people in, it was set up to keep people out, and that’s my one advantage here. But so far it’s not really paying off for me very well.

My high heel didn’t turn out to be the miracle tool I’d hoped it would, and my attempts to use it to pry open the door or barred windows failed. The utensils in the kitchen were all even worse, plastic and easily broken.

On the plus side, I didn’t find any cameras, so maybe it was just a fluke earlier when he came in just as I was trying to bust out. I still don’t know what to make of him. Part of me believes him that he only wants to keep me safe from whatever the hell happened that night. But I don’t know if that’s just lust speaking or not. He’s the hottest guy I’ve ever seen, and there’s nothing more that I’d want to believe than the idea that he’s my Prince Charming, rescuing me from some bad men.