Page 130 of Twilight Sins

“If I was on your payroll at the time, I would’ve warned you. But,” he shrugs, “my loyalties were elsewhere.”

Nik snorts. “Wherever the pockets are deepest, that’s where you’ll find Boris.”

“Which is why I’m here,” Boris says, an uncharacteristic scowl on his face. “At great personal risk to myself, I might add.”

“You’re being paid just fine for your ‘great personal risk.’ Get the fuck outta here with?—”

“Stop wasting my time with a pissing contest,” I bark. “Boris, are you here to confirm or deny?”

Boris dips his head in apology. “Confirm.”

“Big fucking surprise,” Nik mumbles.

Boris ignores him. “I overheard Akim putting out the hit. He wants you dead even if he isn’t the one to do it.”

“Because he can’t do it. He knows he’d never survive the attempt.” I shake my head. “He’s a fucking coward.”

“A coward with a wide network of people desperate enough to take the money he’s offering.” Boris glances over his shoulder. “I wouldn’t be wandering around the city if I were you.”

“That’s why you aren’t me. Akim Gustev isn’t going to scare me into hiding.”

Boris holds up his hands. “You’re right. I’m here to give information, not advice.”

“So far, you haven’t told us a single thing we didn’t already know,” Nik growls. “If you don’t have anything new to say, we should end this before we’re spotted.”

“We won’t be spotted thanks to all your surveillance.” Boris winks at Nik, which only enrages him further. “And I do have something else.”

“Then say it now,” I spit. “I’m done here.”

“There’s a woman,” Boris says.

Nik frowns. “Where?”

“On Akim’s hitlist. There’s a woman.”

“Who?” I ground out.

Boris leans back and shrugs. “I don’t have a name, but it must be some bitch who rejected him. Akim isn’t low enough to go after women.”

“Except he already has,” Nikandr spits. “Akim went after?—”

“You don’t have a name?” I ask, cutting Nik off.

Nikandr is right not to trust Boris. He followed the money to us, which means he’ll turn his back the moment he gets a better offer. I’m very careful to ensure that Boris never knows more than I want him to.

Boris shakes his head. “No name yet. I don’t think it’s a big deal, though. He wouldn’t?—”

I scrape my chair across the tile floor. “We’re done here. Wait ten minutes before you leave.”

I step onto the sidewalk and Nikandr is at my side immediately. “You think Akim has put a price on Luna?”

“Or Mariya.”

“Shit,” he hisses. “Should I call them?”

“They’re at the mansion watching movies. They’re safe.” I hear myself say it, but the words don’t sink in. They won’t stick until I see them alive and breathing inside the walls of my mansion. “Stay here and watch Boris. Make sure he does as I asked and doesn’t talk to anyone else.”

Nik will keep eyes on Boris while I haul ass home and check on Mariya and Luna.

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