Page 38 of Caged

The stickers are still covering the floor mats.

“I think he bought this for me.” My tone is hushed in awe with the thought hits me. I’ve never had anyone care for me like this. I’ve always been the one to protect.

It’s giving me this full feeling in my chest that I can’t shake. Something I’ve never experienced. It happens every damn time I’m in the same room as Nikolai. Or around his beautiful daughter.

“So, what the hell, Mila? Are you in love with this guy? Because Ivan still has Daniil.” Tyler sounds exasperated. “I didn’t want to tell you, but I had another meeting with Kirill. He had new pictures. An ear, Mila. Ivan Van Gogh’d Daniil.”

My stomach rolls as rage fights to win. “I’m going to kill that bastard for touching him!”

“You need to finish the mission,” Tyler says flatly. “That’s the only way.”

“I’ve been beating my head against a wall with him. At first, I thought that the tears worked. Not anymore. Then I tried the cooking thing. Now, he just orders in every night.” I can’t believe I’m failing at this when it’s the most critical.

He lets out a long sigh. “Maybe you need to seduce him.”

“I’m not opposed to that plan. But, he doesn’t seem interested in that, either.” Rubbing my temple doesn’t make the pain in my head go away. “Maybe you need to try.”

Tyler laughs. “I don’t think that I’d be very believable.”

I’m close, I can feel it. Like I’m trying to chase a thread of smoke to find the fire.

“I’ll keep trying. I don’t have any choice.”

“You know, Mila. You might have to try torturing him,” he says quietly.

Elena’s smiling face pops into my mind. I’ve gotten to know her better the last few days, and I don’t know if I’m ready to hurt her dad.

“Maybe. But, not yet. I’m going to pick up a burner and text you from it. Load the mirroring software on there for me.” If I can get a hold of Nikolai’s phone, that will help to figure out his patterns.

“Have you managed to hack the cameras around his boss’s casino?” I want to get Tyler’s attention off of me needing to hurt Nikolai. I’m not sure why, but I don’t see Nikolai as just another “mark”.

“Fuck no,” he grumbles. “Someone has that place sealed up tighter than the Kremlin during Stalin.”

“How is that possible?” I’ve never known Tyler to fail at hacking. Whoever they have working for them must be top notch.

“I don’t know. I’m working on it.” He curses too quietly for me to hear him before he cuts the call.

When I get back to the house, I don’t see Nikolai’s Hellcat.

But, Svetlana’s car is here, so I know Elena is, too.

She’s the highlight of this entire mission.

Over the last few days, I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with her, and I’ve loved every second of it.

Svetlana, on the other hand, is starting to really get under my skin.

I think she has old ties to some questionable families back in Russia.

She doesn’t seem like a spy, but then again, neither do I.

Elena sees me carrying in my bags and follows me to my bedroom. Her palm smoothes over a shirt I bought that has two-sided sequins coloring. “This is so pretty! Can I try it on?”

She works her hand back and forth, shifting it from light to dark.

“Of course! I bet it would look amazing on you!” I don’t bother tearing off the tag, but slide it right over her top.

It falls past her hips and almost looks like a shiny dress.

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