Page 21 of Saint

The other woman began speaking a flurry of Russian then cast a curious, slightly amused look in Mia’s direction. Shifting uncomfortably, Mia wished she could speak the language.

“This is Mia,” Nik responded in English. “Mia, this is Nadia, an old…friend.”

Nadia’s perceptive gaze swept over Mia and she said something to Nik in Russian. Again, Nik answered in English, and Mia was incredibly grateful he purposely tried to keep her in the conversation.

“We’re looking for her father, Chadwick Carlisle. He was last seen here in Perm and I was hoping you might be able to help.”

“Perhaps.” Nadia motioned for them to sit, and the moment they were situated in the hardback chairs, one of the men set glasses in front of them and filled each one with vodka.

Ugh.Normally when Mia drank vodka it was flavored or in a mixed drink. This stuff was the real deal, though, and would probably make her grow hair on her chest. Thankfully, nobody touched the glasses, so she didn’t either.

“We need a place to stay, too,” Nik said carefully, eyeing the scattered men around the room. There were twelve of them, and he was keeping a close watch. Mia knew he had a gun, a really big one, but she was pretty sure they all did. A gun could only hold so many bullets and Nik could only fire it so fast.

Nadia leaned forward, dipping her shoulder slightly. “You help us, we help you,” she said in a low voice that sounded far too seductive to Mia’s ears.

“What do you want?” he asked carefully.

“Petrov has one of my men locked up in his cells. I want him broken out.”

“I’m not here to deal with Petrov,” Nik stated.

“Then forget it.”

“Nadia—”

“You know his compound better than anyone since you were just there,” she said, and he arched a scarred brow. “I know all about that little visit with your American friend.”

“Then you also know we barely made it out,” Nik said through gritted teeth. “Besides, it’s outside of Moscow which is over ten hours away.”

“You have a plane.”

“No,” he growled, and Mia laid her hand over the burner phone in her pocket. Things weren’t going well and the tension was escalating in the room faster than she liked. Despite the chill, her palms grew sweaty.

“You’ll be heading that way, anyway,” Nadia confidently predicted.

“Why do you say that?” Suspicion filled Nik’s deep voice and Mia shifted on the hard chair, looking from one to the other. They reminded her of two masters playing a game of chess.

“Because Petrov also has a certain Russian chemist currently in his custody. Maybe you’ve heard of him? Zaitsev?”

“Fuck,” Nik hissed. “The Bratva must want to get their hands on Novichok.”

Novichok?Mia had no idea what he was talking about, but Nadia seemed to understand because she slowly nodded.

“And that wouldn’t be good,” Nadia said.

“No.” Nik scowled, and Mia could see his gears turning.

“What’s Novichok?” she asked.

“A deadly neurotoxin,” he responded, “that has gotten into the wrong hands.”

He seemed like he wanted to say more, but he held back, probably because he didn’t trust her. However, Mia began putting the puzzle pieces together. Is that why her father wasthere? Did he have something to do with this? She had a sinking feeling he was connected.

“Carlisle must be looking for Zaitsev.” Nik sighed. “I’ll need a safehouse outside of town. Also, more gear and a set of wheels.”

“Done,” Nadia said, a slow smile curving her red lips. Her slim hand reached for the glass in front of her and she lifted it. “Za Vstrechu.”

“To our meeting,” Nik translated, looking pointedly over at Mia who quickly picked up her glass.

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