Page 110 of Crave

Alexei shrugs, still firmly holding my hand. “I’ve known him since we were kids.”

Enzo runs his palm over his face, then smooths back his dark curly hair. “Buthowdid you find him to get her information?”

Alexei blinks slowly. “I told you.”

I don’t understand what’s going on. “Alexei.” I pat his knuckles. “Just tell him.” I don’t remember anyone by that name, but I know Alexei had a lot of friends through the years.

He has a way of charming people without even trying.

Alexei glances at me, his lips pursed. “It isn’t a mystery. He was my dealer when I was younger.”

Now I’m really confused. He hasn’t done real drugs as long as I’ve known him. Said it reminded him too much of his father.

“What did he deal?” Enzo threads his fingers on the pile of papers in front of him.

He looks like he’s almost at his limit.

“Jawbreakers.” Alexei grins, showing his silver tooth and chomps his teeth.

Enzo shakes his head. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.” With a sigh, he slumps into his chair. “I need you to find her again. I can’t get a good picture on her. Anywhere. And then I find out you met with her? Face to face?”

“No, that isn’t how it went. She was in disguise.” Alexei stops him. “I only saw a partial side shot of her in Russia when I went to get Niki. So, I’m not even sure it was really her I talked to here.”

Enzo sputters. “Here?”

Alexei nods, nonchalantly.

“She was here, in Vegas? Shit! When?” Enzo’s fingers fly to his keyboard and he starts bringing up camera feeds.

“Um, it was how I found Lara. So that day.” Alexei squeezes my hand before throwing me a wink.

“Wait, I didn’t know that. Did you make a deal with her to find me?” I know how dangerous that woman is.

Her reputation precedes her. I know how much Mila worries about her.

Being in her debt is terrifying.

And Alexei put himself there.

“Shh. It’s okay.” He blows me a kiss.

“No, it’s not,” Enzo grumbles from his computer. He points to the screen above him where two Reapers are walking towards my Alexei on a corner.

After a few words which we can’t hear, Alexei jumps a man and drags him into the building behind.

The image scratches as Enzo fast forwards past Jax going inside.

Alexei steps into the street, covered in blood.

I barely remember that day, but I wondered why.

Now I know.

I think I’m going to be sick.

“Which one of those Reapers was her?” Enzo rewinds to show a tall and short bearded man talking to Alexei.

He zooms in the grainy image, but it’s almost like they knew the camera was there, never turning their faces for a better angle.

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