Page 92 of Assassin: Part 1

“Look, I don’t like her either, but I have to respect the hustle. She and Mishka have helped take down two very powerful men and completely restructured how shit is going to look for years to come.”

“Not to mention, she is going to be pissing off a lot of powerful people. She’s going to have a target on her back for the rest of her life.” Rori gives me a pointed look.

I hold her stare. She thinks I don’t know that? I also have a sneaking suspicion that’s why my cunning little fox took off. It was in between the lines of the note she left.

The one that’s folded in my pocket right now. I’ve read it a couple of times, and each time I do, I realize something new. And if she thinks it’s going to scare me off, she’s very mistaken.

I’m also very pissed off she’s gotten the best of me. Again. Where the fuck was she hiding those drugs in the first place? I’ve already figured out it was the wine, but she was naked from the time she was in my room until she got dressed. She never touched her own clothes; she only took my shirt. Which was in my walk-in closet…

Damn it. I should have fucking checked in there. She probably had something hiding in there from the last time she was here. Even if Zakhar, Oleg, and I checked everything over, she’s probably figured out a way to disguise it so we wouldn’t notice.

“Yeah, well, if she’s pissing off people we don’t want sniffing around here, then maybe that’s a sign that whatever your obsession with her is, you need to get the hell over it,” Zakhar states. He holds my stare. “We both know you’re planning on taking her up on her offer, if you even want to call it that.”

“Offer might be a strong word.” Oleg scoffs from his seat in front of my desk. Freya has been at his side since yesterday, and I have a feeling that’s mostly because he doesn’t want to risk her running off after Lane. “More like she’s the worst fucking stalker you could imagine coming after you. What happens if this shit doesn’t work out between you? She’s not exactly going to leave you alive to expose her secrets. Or any of us.” He looks at Rori for confirmation.

Rori shrugs. “At this point, I couldn’t even tell you, but it’s a possibility. The only one who would be safe is Mila. She won’t lay a finger on her. Well, other than to show her some moves maybe or something to protect herself.” She mutters something under her breath I don’t catch then adds, “And I’m really fucking pissed that she set all of this up.” She looks at me. “And I don’t understand how you’re not pissed at her for fucking you, drugging you, and then leaving you to be found by your men. After causing all of this.” She waves her hand around the room.

I grin, unable to help myself. “It’s our thing, you could say.” I’ll be returning the favor the moment I find her again. I’ve already instructed our labs to start recreating what she put in my drink, or something similar enough.

Everyone looks at me like I’ve sprung two extra heads. “All you need to worry about now is getting the hell back to New York or wherever you’re going. Everything else, we’ll handle.” I reach into my desk drawer and pull out the slip of paper I put there yesterday before the shit show hit. I hand it to her, and her shoulders relax as she reads it. “Rayea Antonova is dead, as we agreed.”

She looks back at me, the death certificate in her hand crinkling in her grip. “I’m actually surprised you lived up to this.”

I scowl. “I keep my word, Ms. O’Brien. You may have decided to join with another side who are far less honorable, but you are still Russian, even if you wish to deny it.”

Alonzo huffs and glares, and Zakhar and Oleg snicker. Rori rolls her eyes. “Would you want to claim that heritage if your father was the Bratva Butcher? Would you ask Mila to acknowledge that in my shoes?”

The idea of Mila having that kind of upbringing pisses me off. Never. My niece will never have to deal with that life. It will never touch her again.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Then she grins wickedly and winks at Alonzo over her shoulder. “Besides, he’s big, with a big cock that he knows how to use. At that point, I don’t care if he’s a fucking Frenchman as long as he keeps me satisfied.”

“Guess you were always out of the running if she’d be willing to fuck a Frenchman.” Oleg laughs at Zakhar, who rolls his eyes. Some of the animosity and anger has receded but not completely. Out of all of us, I think most of this is going to sit harder with him.

“Both of you get the hell out and go home,” I order Rori and Alonzo. I have things to oversee and a woman to find.

“Wait!” Mila cries, rushing into the room. Freya is next to her in seconds, Hades, Rori’s dog, not far behind. He’s already healing from the stab wound, and you’d never know he was injured from the way he acts.

“Mila, what did I tell you about eavesdropping?” Zakhar barks.

Mila focuses on Rori, petting both wolf and dog happily. “I’m sad you’re leaving, but I wanted to ask you something. I really think that I should get a dog for protection after all of this. If I can find a good guard dog, would you be willing to train him for me, please? Even one like Hades would be good.”

“Absolutely fucking not,” Zakhar snaps. “We have Freya, and that’s more than enough.”

“Freya is Oleg’s wolf and answers to you all. She can’t be with me all the time. And she shouldn’t be anyway. She’s a working animal, not a pet. I want one that I can have with me whenever I need them.” Then she gives us all a very pointed stare. “You know, for when you assume I’m not in danger at school or anywhere else. And since I’ve lost my bodyguard and all that now.”

My back is up instantly, and Rori laughs.

“We’ll be dealing with your school today,” I state. “And don’t think that you’re not out of the woods on this, young lady. We’re going to talk about how you withheld information from us like this for years.”

“You’re going to be fucking grounded is what’s going to happen,” Zakhar vows. Hands on his hips, he glares at his daughter, who glares right back at him. “And coming back here with two assassins? Into the middle of a war zone? You’re lucky I don’t put you in the fucking basement until you’re ninety. Never see sunlight again, let alone putting yourself in any danger.”

It’s an empty threat, but part of me thinks it might be for the best.

“We both know you’d cave after the first day, and the guards would give in even earlier since they like me. I’m at least nice to them and don’t bark at them all the time.” Then she turns back to Rori. “Please? I’m going to look into it. I really like Hades, but I think he might be too big if I can have him at the school. Maybe a Doberman or a German Shepherd? I have to research it.”

“You’re not getting a fucking dog!”

“You let me know,” Rori says after a moment. Alonzo snickers, and I glare at them both. Neither of them acknowledge me.