Page 84 of Inked Adonis

“Okay,” I admit. “You’ve got my attention.”

“He’s on your payroll back in Russia, am I right?”

I don’t have to confirm. He already knows the answer.

Boyko doesn’t smile—his lined face would probably crack if he attempted it. But there’s zero doubt in my mind that he’s feeling awfully smug right about now. “He’s a mole for the Andropovs.”

“And you know this how?”

“I have my sources.”

I frown. “If this intel checks out, you have my thanks. But that’s all you’re gonna get. You offered me a name of your own accord. That doesn’t mean you get shit from me.”

Boyko merely shrugs. “Think of it as a favor. An investment in our shared future.”

“There is no shared future for us, Boyko. I don’t have partners. I stand alone.”

“No man is an island, Litvinov. If you want the same fate for the Andropov Group that I do—reducing them to ashes—then we need to work together.”

I rise to my feet suddenly. “You’re entertaining, Boyko. FBI agent or not, you’re growing on me.”

Before he can respond, I tousle his thinning hair and stride for the door without a backward glance.

The moment I’m back in my Rolls Royce, I make a call to my main man in Russia.

“Prepare things,” I tell him in Russian. “Expect a visit from me.”

“How soon, boss?”

I don’t answer him. I have no intention of making my travel plans public knowledge.

When it comes to catching a mole, the best asset at my disposal is surprise.

And I’ve always enjoyed making rats squirm.

29

NOVA

MAYDAY. MAYDAY.

Six yoga-toned feet of psycho bitch is marching directly towards me, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.

Where’s a real-life eject button or a magician’s cloud of disappearing smoke when you need it?

Katerina has already seen me. Even from across the park, I feel the icy chill of her full attention shiver down my spine. Rufus must feel it, too. The poor Dane’s tail is tucked so far between his legs that it might need to be surgically removed.

“It’s okay, Ru,” I lie, patting his head and considering my options.

Or, option, I suppose. Singular. Since the only thing I can come up with is to pretend I haven’t seen her and power walk in the opposite direction.

Unfortunately, there are problems with that plan.

Firstly, the four dogs I’m walking can sense the fear blooming deep in my soul and are darting around looking for the cause. My legs are tangled in leashes. Short of cutting myself free andsetting a horde of badly trained wolves loose in the park, there’s no chance of a quick exit.

Secondly, Katerina’s legs come up to my armpits. She’s like Sexy Slenderman. Even my quickest getaway wouldn’t be fast enough. And when she did inevitably catch up, she’d probably be twice as pissed as she’s already going to be because she’d have to chase me down.

Thirdly, I don’t want Katerina to think I’m scared of her.

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