Page 31 of Kidnapped Bratva Toy

“You all right there, sweetheart? Or you just happy to see me?”

Pietor’s voice was too low and too sexy. I wanted to get off that bench and run in the other direction. But I’d also seen how fast he could move. Worse, I knew he was just pointing out the fact that I was cold because I could feel how hard my nipples were.

And yeah, there was a heaping dose of arousal tacked on as well, but he had no way of knowing that.

“Just a little cold. It’s fine.”

“Oh, it’s more than fine from my angle.” He smirked at me.

My eyes flared, and my chin pulled in toward me. I gaped at his terrible line.

“Is everything a pick-up line with you?”

Pietor’s smile never faltered, even as he turned the corners of his mouth down and draped an arm across the back of the bench. “Nah, sometimes it’s a murder or a theft. Hell, sometimes it’s both.”

I rolled my eyes, unable to look at him any longer. He should not be allowed to be so funny. Ugh. But as I glanced in the other direction, the sight made me pause. Behind us, near the other bench where Nicholas sat, I noticed a man walk up from the right.

“Is that Teddy?”

Turning slightly to glimpse where I’d indicated, Pietor nodded. “Yup. Showtime.”

He turned on the app that allowed him to listen in, recording the conversation as well so that he could play it back later. I scooted closer as he offered the other earbud, silently grateful for the warmth of being just a bit closer to him.

“Teddy, good of you to come.” Nichola’s voice was calm and relaxed.

I didn’t like it. As much as I knew I’d already lost all hope of him being just a dumb guy in over his head, I had still wanted to believe my boss wasn’t corrupt. Futile optimism, thy name is Billie.

“Yeah, yeah, Cohen. You have reports to deliver. What have you heard?”

The man who spoke certainly had an Irish accent, and the brief look I’d gotten of him revealed dark hair and pale skin. I heard Nicholas clear his throat through the headphones, and I stiffened. It was one of his little tells. Something you wouldn’t notice unless you spent a lot of time with the guy.

But whenever Nicholas felt pressured or nervous, he cleared his throat before speaking.

“Emiliano is still working with that lawyer from my firm. She,” he paused, and all I could hear was a deep inhale, “she’s been keeping him happy. One satisfied client.”

“Good.”

Teddy sounded upset, even though he had no reason to, and then a waft of white smoke blew past the bench. Christ, Nicholas said he quit smoking.

“And the racketeering case?”

It felt way too dangerous to listen to them talk, and I tensed. Pietor seemed to notice, recrossing his legs and offering a bored expression—his unspoken “chill.”

“It’s fine, Teddy. Your boss's case is being handled with the utmost professionalism. And if the one with Emiliano goes well, you’ll all be able to use it as a precedent for the area. You may even be able to file suit against Lev.”

Pietor sucked in a breath, and I looked up at him. His jaw was clenched beyond tight, and I sensed the tension that was locking his body up. I’d only been around the guy for so long, but I would think he was furious if I didn’t know any better.

“Are you okay?” I kept my voice low.

He looked over at me, his jaw muscles working, and gave a subtle nod. Honestly, it was barely an inch of movement, and I furrowed my brow.

“Who’s Lev?”

It was apparently not the thing to say because Pietor adjusted on the bench, facing me head-on and turning his body toward mine. His arm slipped off the back of the bench, and I squeaked as his hand brushed my side.

It was just a bit too loud.

I froze, and Pietor’s eyes darted to the side quickly as he held his position. He frowned again.

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