Page 42 of Sinner's Secret

“Some kind of intimidation by a crime organization.”

“Ours?” Yvgeny asked as if Baz had accused him.

“No, not yours. I think it’s a new group from somewhere else, where a culture of corruption is currently entrenched.”

“Then why am I here?”

“You’re going to help me find her.”

“And if I refuse,” Yvgeny said with a drawl.

“You don’t want to end up like me, do you?” Baz asked. “An asshole, alone, and penniless.”

Yvgeny smiled, but it wasn’t a happy one. “That is a much better threat than death. You have learned something.”

“Like I said, your cock is spoiled rotten.”

Yvgeny laughed, for real this time. “I wish I could hate you, but your honesty is quite endearing. Fine, I’ll help you find your lost love, but I’ll expect something in return.”

“Yeah, that’s what I figured.”

Yvgeny stood, collected his two guards at the back door, and left.

Baz stared at his scuffed boots, at the dent in the one that had repelled the bullet, and tried to think about the people who took Nika. If this was payback for police interference, they’d use her to scare the shit out of them.

Thomas’s behavior bothered him. The man was too sure Baz had something to do with it, too angry, and too out of control.

Was he involved somehow, simply a distraction, or a complete jackass?

His phone dinged. He looked at it and jolted to his feet at Nika’s name. He opened the application.

Mr. Breznik, if you want your female back in one piece, be in the cabstand line at the Bronx Zoo’s main entrance in thirty minutes.

Well now, there was more to this than met the eye.

Baz texted his cousin a screen shot of the demand.

Yvgeny’s response was swift.

You’re going to follow their orders?

Yes.

You’re an idiot.

Yes.

Are you going to tell the cops?

No.

You’re too much work.

I didn’t start it.

But you do plan to finish it.

Or something.

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