Page 110 of Victor's Lethal Desire
"And how many of these trafficking houses with those women still exist?" she asks, her voice tight.
"My brothers took out the ones in LA, but according to these documents, there are lots more. We're going to need Ivan's network plus ours to wipe them out."
She shakes her head slowly, her gaze distant. "I don't get how two brothers could be so different. One saved me, the other would have sold me. A 50/50 shot. Is that what life's all about? It either goes one way or the other, and that's it?"
I lean back in my chair and sigh, rubbing my jaw. "I think it starts that way. I think you can fight to get the other 50% if you don't like the cards you're dealt. I think most people have the power to change things."
"And those women in the pictures?" she asks. "Where's their power? They didn't want that."
I think for a moment. "No, it was taken from them. That's why we're going to destroy the men who took it away from them."
She looks down at the ground, her hands folded in her lap.
We sit there in silence, a true silence neither of us has experienced together before. Our lives together have been go, go, go, and this is different.
"So," she says finally, looking up at me. "I'll call Ivan."
I nod. "You can use the phone I have, and I'll show you how to send it wherever it is you need to."
I get up, and she takes my seat in front of the laptop. I walk to my bag and pull out my encrypted burner phone, which thankfully lacks bullet holes, and power it on. I hand it to her, then sit on the edge of the desk, watching.
She takes a few breaths, her fingers hovering over the screen for a moment before she dials.
The line rings twice before a voice answers.
I watch, fascinated and undeniably aroused, as Danika shifts into another version of herself, the lethal, untouchable assassin.
I hear Dimitri's name come up several times, and then she motions to the computer. I lean forward, bringing up the encrypted messaging app.
She starts typing quickly on the keyboard, her fingers flying across the keys, and then hits "Send" on the laptop.
She says a few more words, then hangs up and looks at me.
"He said he will review it now and that I should call him back in 30 minutes. He sounded stunned."
"Okay," I say, standing. "Stay here. I'll be right back."
I walk out into the main cabin, the lights dimmed to a soft amber glow. I pour two whiskeys into crystal glasses, adding ice and a splash of water to Danika's.
When I come back in, she's right where I left her, staring at the laptop screen.
I hand her the glass and hold mine out. "Now we wait."
She nods, tapping her glass against mine with a soft clink. Then she takes a sip, her eyes closing briefly as the whiskey hits her tongue.
I do the same, feeling the burn all the way down my throat, the warmth spreading through my chest.
"So," she says, setting her glass down on the desk. "When this is behind us, what exactly did you have in mind for your political endeavors?"
I smile, swirling the whiskey in my glass. "I'm going to run for president."
"Excuse me?" she says, almost choking. "Of Romania?"
"Of my homeowners association," I say, my smile widening.
"Funny," she says, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes. Also, so we're on the same page, during that time, we'll be secretly planning to install loyal people in key government positions."
