Page 61 of Sinner's Secret

“I can see that,” Baz replied dryly. “It was disconcerting to me too.”

“She is amazing. Where can I find one like her? Does she have a sister?”

“She’s going to kick you in the balls if you don’t shut that sexist bullshit up,” Baz said as he watched Nika roll her eyes.

“Have you told her about the family business?”

“No. That’s one rule I know better than to break.”

“Maybe you should.”

“Do you really hate me that much?” he asked the only member of his own family he could stand.

Chapter Eleven

Nika watched Baz and his cousin verbally pick at each other. It was kind of funny because it reminded her of how she and Smith joked with each other. If she wasn’t so damn exhausted, she’d probably appreciate their comedy routine, but she was at the end of her rope.

She rubbed her temples. “Guys, could you two stop playing for a few minutes? I’ve got a horrible headache, I’m so tired I can’t tell which way is up, and we need to figure out what to do next.”

Both men stared at her with their mouths open.

“Playing?” Yvgeny asked after a couple of seconds, sounding insulted.

Baz just grunted and crossed his arms over his chest.

She turned her attention to Yvgeny. She was not going to let him distract her again. “Informant?”

“She is so serious,” Yvgeny said in an undertone to Baz. “That is not amazing.”

“Good.” Baz’s reply sounded so satisfied she raised an eyebrow at him.

He stared back, one side of his mouth slanted up in a sneaky little smirk.

“Informant,” Nika said again, making an order out of the word.

“I have a couple of people who could get a message to your man,” Yvgeny finally said. “What do you want this message to say?”

Both he and Baz stared at her with expectant expressions.

“I don’t know,” she finally admitted, rubbing her temples.

“Bring him here,” Baz said. “In one of Yvgeny’s cabs.”

His cousin turned to glare at him. “No.”

“Yes. Smith and the rest of the police need to know she’s okay.” Baz nodded at her. “And she needs information.”

Yvgeny pinched the bridge of his nose. “I like this motel.”

“It doesn’t show,” Baz said dryly.

“It’s a good spot to do business.”

“It’s a dump with reinforced walls. You’ve got other places to do business.”

“Arrgggh.”

Yvgeny’s wordless protest didn’t change Baz’s stance.

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