Page 31 of Shadow Operative

He eyed her with a skeptical gaze, smoke from a cigar hanging in the air. “Who sent you here? Or are youtelling me you’re just a fan of my club and you decided to stop by uninvited?”

She hesitated a second before saying, “Brittany told me about this place, and it piqued my interest.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Brittany? She hates me. Why would she sing the praises of my club like she only wants the best for me or something?”

The look in the man’s eyes was cold and menacing, and Nia wasn’t sure how to respond.

For a moment, she felt like the proverbial deer stuck in the headlights.

She was all too aware of the bouncer behind her. Of the gun at his waist.

All too aware of how she and Gage were essentially trapped.

Aware of how they’d told no one where they’d be.

And she was all too aware of how she could end up on the floor with a fatal knife wound . . . just like Rob.

chapter

fourteen

Gage placedhis hand on Nia’s back, sensing her panic.

He knew he needed to step in. Darius wasn’t fully buying her cover story, and Gage didn’t want things to turn ugly.

“The truth is that Rob Lesner was found dead in his apartment this morning,” Gage told Darius. “We’re friends of his, and we’re trying to retrace his steps, see if anyone knows something.”

He watched Darius’s face carefully for any sign of deceit. But the surprise that flashed through the man’s eyes looked genuine.

“Is that right?” Darius leaned back and steepled his hands in front of him as if taking time to process that statement. “I’m sorry to hear that, I guess.”

“You guess?” Gage gave the man the opportunity to explain his statement.

He shrugged. “I was never a big fan of the guy.”

“Because of Brittany?” Gage clarified.

Darius offered another half shrug. “The two of us were dating when Rob swooped in and stole her away from me. You don’t intrude on another man’s woman. He didn’t play by the rules.”

Did this guy have a set of unwritten “gentlemanly” rules? Because Darius didn’t seem like a gentleman, that was for sure.

“I can imagine that upset you,” Gage said.

He tilted his head analytically. “Are you saying something like that wouldn’t upset you?”

“Not at all. I wouldn’t want any other guy trying to steal my girl. The question is, would it make me mad enough to commit murder?” Gage’s words were risky.

They could put the man into fight mode.

Or they could lead Darius to answer some questions.

“You think I murdered that man?That’sreally why you’re both here?” Darius let out a long, deep chuckle. “I’ll tell you this—Brittany was nothing but trouble. Drama follows her like ducklings following their mom. Sure, she was eye candy and something nice to have on my arm. But she was too much trouble. I was glad Rob took her off my hands.”

“So you weren’t mad?” Nia narrowed her gaze as she studied the man.

Gage understood her surprise. Brittany had made it sound like Darius was still in love with her. Their stories didn’t match up.

“I didn’t say that. But the man wasn’t worth my time, and he certainly wasn’t worth going away for life.Now, do you have any other questions?” Darius raised his eyebrows as he glanced at them.

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