Page 84 of A Devious Arrangement

“Your grandmother called in the hit.” He looks apologetic when he says it, like he’s sorry for hurting me.

But I don’t feel any pain. Instead, the anger from seconds ago returns in a flash. I’m pacing back and forth, energy tingling just beneath my skin. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m going to kill those bastards.”

Bash smirks. “We, darling.Weare going to kill them. Don’t forget about me.”

I let out an involuntary laugh and sigh. “Yes, Bash.Weare going to kill them.”

“I know you two lovebirds want to go on a murder spree right now, but I looked into the Romanovs. It’s not going to be simple to roll up on her. You will need to be smarter than that to get close.” Xander removes his glasses and cleans them.

A vein in my temple pulses as I wait for him to elaborate.

“Spit it out before she kills you,” Bash warns.

Xander clears his throat. “I suggest now that you know where the Kokoshnik Tiara is located, you get it and use it to acquire an audience with the Russians.” Xander smirks and for the first time reminds me of his brother. “Thenyou can kill her.”

I whip back to Bash. “Wait? You know where it is?”

The video was all I could think about. I didn’t even remember what Bash went to do in the first place.

“Yeah…about that.” Bash sucks a breath through his teeth, wincing. “It’s in the Order of Saints Archive. It’s not going to be easy to get in there.”

Okay, easy enough. I’ll call Nikolai, let him know what I’m doing, and get the lowdown on the Archives from him. Shouldn’t be too much harder than the Vault. I look around the living room, searching for anything I should bring. I don’t have a disguise for this. Should I break in?”

“Stasia, what are you doing?”

“What do you mean? They killed my mom. I’m getting that stupid tiara, and then I’m going to kill that bitch,” I hiss.

“See, this is what I love about you.” He says it like a joke, but his gaze is warm, pulling me into him and making me feel safe.

Xander rolls his eyes and pinches his nose. “Later, Bash…we’ll talk about this later.”

“So? Let’s go,” I state, knowing that Bash will be at my side.

“I hate to break it to you, Bonnie and Clyde, but you’ll have to postpone your little massacre. There’s an Order meeting tonight.”

Bash scoffs, but Xander shakes his head. “You can’t miss this one. Even I had to come into town.”

I clasp one arm across my chest, holding the other as a restlessness grows within me. My legs jitter up and down on my toes. I don’t have time to waste. I need to do this right now. “I’ll just go on my own. That was the plan to begin with.”

“Absolutely not.” Bash holds both my arms, stilling me. “Listen to me, Stasia. Do not go there without me. This isn’t like breaking into one of our offices. They won’t hesitate to kill you first and ask questions second.”

I glare up at him, but he doesn’t back down until I let my air out in a woosh. “Fine.”

“That’s my girl. Just wait one more day, and we can get everything ready, and I’ll go with you.”

“If you can’t go tomorrow, I’m doing it without you.” I huff and plop down on the sofa, feeling drained.

Bash leans over me, his breath fanning over my mouth. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m looking forward to it. Those old guys won’t know what hit them.” He presses our lips together, nibbling on my bottom one until I open, and he takes the kiss deeper.

Xander groans, rubbing his temples, looking like he wants to be anywhere but here. “Jesus Christ. We have to go.”

“Listen, fucker,” Bash says, gaze slicing to his brother, the danger he keeps hidden peeking through the cracks of his annoyance.

Xander throws up his hands. “The sooner we go, the sooner you can be back, and everyone will be happy.”

“Fair.” Bash presses his forehead to mine. “I expect you to be awake when I get home. On second thought, I think I’ll enjoy waking you up.”

Heat pools between my thighs, imagining waking up to Bash touching me. His eyes are hooded with a fire behind them that has my mouth watering.

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