Page 106 of Sinful Promise

Two of my four SUVS are here. I have guards in the other car. One will man the vehicles, and the other will escort us to the warehouse.

I get out, my boots making a crunching sound on the gravel as I walk around and pull Irina out. I pull her close to me, and she plays her part perfectly.

“Stop pulling me,” she whines.

“Shut up, bitch,” I growl.

We are at the warehouse entrance. The back doors are open, so Alex has his rifle set if anything happens.

Andrian stands beside his Hummer. What a showboat. Beside him are an unknown man and Vlad. Vlad is stiff but professional. He rubs a thumb over his nose before we turn to enter the building.

“You know, you should have delivered her to me.” Andrian is dressed in an ill-fitting suit. He smells of cigars and whiskey. It makes my stomach sour to think of his hand being on Dasha for a second.

I hear shots ring in my coms.

“One down.” Nikolay took out his target. I’m still on edge.

“Let’s discuss this inside,” I say. My guard opens the door for us and enters through a narrow doorway.

“Your guard needs to remain outside.”

“Did you transfer the money?” I ask.

“In good time.” His lecherous eyes are bloodshot. “I want to touch her first,” he replies.

“Only after the money is transferred.”

“You are so trusting, Roman. Right now, I have my men hunting for your brothers’ wives.”

“You’ll never find them,” I bluff.

“I found your warehouse, didn’t I?” He rubs salt in the wound.

“You got lucky.”

“Maybe I’ll take a hotel next.” He rubs his hands together with excitement at the game he’s about to play.

“Come on, Dasha,” I cajole.

“Stop, you’re hurting me,” Irina says as I pull on the back of her shirt and wrap my arm around her neck.

“Shut up.” My voice is stern, and I flick my hand out, looking at my watch to divert attention and give Irina time to pull her gun.

I hear “Two down” in my ear.Dmitry, you’re a pro, I think. Nikolay is great, but Dmitry used to do more of this shit.

My hearing is keen, and I detect a slight pump of air. I pull Irina along and hear Alex announce, “Three.”

Good, now there is no one at the back door.

“Four,” a random guard announces.

“Five,” Nikolay is up again.Good job, brother.

She’s wearing jeans, a thin Kevlar vest, and a shirt over a shirt. I have on a similar vest in case shit happens.

Andrian has a guard in front of him and Vlad at his back. We’re all inside the warehouse.

“So, why all the fuss, Roman? You could have sent her back to me. I wanted to hunt you, not have you served on a platter.” He runs his hand over his face. He hasn’t shaved in several days, from the looks of it.

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