Page 35 of Locked and Loaded

“You let him live?” Dragan asked.

She met his gaze. There was no judgment there. Just curiosity. “Killing isn’t something I’m big on.”

“So you’ve never done it,” he said. “Good. Keep it that way.”

“No one mentioned an auction to me. They just said it was a party and my sister was taken away by a man.”

“Katya wouldn’t volunteer that part. In fact, I’m not even sure she knows that she was auctioned off to Nikolai. She knows she was purchased, I believe, but maybe not the details. It’s not something he would have shared with her. Not very romantic.”

Lennox felt her brows lift in surprise. “You know about Katya? You spoke to her?”

Dragan nodded. “I retraced your steps.”

Wonderful. Lennox took a sip of tea to cover her disappointment. She’d thought she’d been so careful. Turns out she was leaving a trail of breadcrumbs that anyone seemed to be able to follow.

“You said before you were hired to protect me. What the hell does that mean? Who hired you?” She was totally at a loss over that statement. She’d been turning it over in her mind, and the only name that came to mind was her mentor Jack Mercer. No one else would know enough about what she was doing to be that concerned.

Dragan studied her for a moment. “What do you know about the Lock and Key Society?”

Shocked, she jerked back. His question came from left field. “Why do you ask?” So far, he wasn’t volunteering much, and she wasn’t about to spill what she knew until he did.

He sighed. “Lennox, you’ve been asking about it first in Portugal, and then you asked Katya. What is it you want to know?”

She stared at him, her stomach clenching. “Fine. I want to know if they are the people who took my sister.”

“No, they are not,” Dragan said with finality.

“How do you know?” she demanded, leaning forward across the table.

He shrugged. “Because I know.”

“And I’m just supposed to trust you?”

“Yes.” Dragan put his cutlery on his plate and drained the rest of his tea

“What if I told you I have proof it was them?”

Dragan stilled as he gave her an assessing stare. “What proof?”

Lennox shook her head. “You first. Tell me about the Lock and Key Society.”

He sighed and then refilled his teacup. “The Lock and Key Society is basically a social club for wealthy, powerful people. A place where they can meet away from prying eyes and make deals or discuss the geopolitical repercussions of things. It’s a place where deals are made and futures decided. There are many benefits provided to the members, and I am sure women are sometimes part of those benefits. But those women are willing participants. The Society is not involved with human trafficking.”

“How do you know? Are you a member? Can you guarantee it?” she demanded.

“I can,” Dragan stated. “I am not a member, but I know the man who runs it, and he would not under any circumstances be involved in human trafficking.”

Lennox narrowed her eyes at him. “Upstanding citizen, is he?”

Dragan grinned. “Not even close, but he does have lines he does not cross. He hired me to find you. Now show me your proof.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why should I trust your answer if you work for them? You would like to protect your employer. You were probably hired to kill me since I am making waves.” As she said it, she instinctively knew it wasn’t true. Dragan didn’t want her dead.

“What do your instincts tell you, Lennox? Do I seem like I want to harm you?” he asked in a soft voice.

Tingles of electricity ran across her skin at his tone. She met his gaze and knew he was telling the truth. He didn’t want to hurt her. Neither did his employer.

“Why were you hired to find me?” she asked. A lot depended on this answer.