Page 25 of Bound in the Dark

Unfortunately he didn't understand that those soft moments were a very small portion of who she was. He didn't seem to respect that the larger pieces of her personality made her a superior tactician and warrior. Oh he had said that seeing her take down Tony was erotic, but he didn't understand that that small confrontation was only a tiny glimpse into her skills.

Finding weak points and exploiting them in the most beneficial way was how she survived. Diana knew more about the Bratva than all of these men combined having grown up as one of them. Anything these Brothers thought they understood was secondhand knowledge at best. But because she was a woman, not a soldier they discounted her as weak.

Diana snorted.

Compared to the general population these men were elite. They had survived boot camp and combat while surrounded and supported by their units. Still very few of them could match her skills when it came to killing. Her training under cruel taskmasters had started as soon as she could hold a blade. The people who had been responsible for raising her hadn't cared if she survived, only that if she did, she would be the deadliest of weapons.

She wouldn't accept being treated like a clueless child who needed to be protected.

It wasn’t that she disagreed with the decision to leave her here while they went on the run. Most of the men didn't know her, and trust and teamwork would be critical if what they were doing was dangerous. But not making her part of the defense of the compound was foolish.

Hawk and Highdive knew her primary goal was protecting her niece. That she would do everything in her power to keep the girl safe. But they still lumped her in with the soft noncombatants. It was like buying an expensive security system but never arming it.

It was insulting.

People underestimating her wasn't unusual. It made her job easier and the targets easier to kill. Gaining Highdive's respect was important if they were going to be more than acquaintances.

Her pride demanded it. She couldn't be viewed as something weak and helpless. She wanted a partner. Her heart ached at the thought, but if she was going to stay things would have to change.

Diana shook her head, breaking off her circling thoughts. Cami approached her table. The beautiful curvy woman had purple hair that was a fascinating contrast to her pale skin. Married to Tek, one of the Dark Sons' officers, she was a highly skilled hacker with a moderate amount of self defense training. The pictures in Diana's file of her were odd. They consisted mostly of Cami dressed in a strange array of costumes.

Tonight the hacker was dressed almost normally in yoga pants and a large Dark Sons t-shirt. On her feet were a pair of neon pink combat boots. The woman’s smile was a little too eager for Diana’s tastes but that was probably her Russian upbringing.

“Hi! I'm Cami. I couldn’t believe Tek when he t-told me Highdive had t-taken an Old Lady so I looked you up.Tishina,wow. That’s some serious street cred you’ve g-got.”

The woman’s stutter was well known but Cami didn’t appear embarrassed by it. Her reputation as a hacker must not have been exaggerated if she had dug up any information on her monikerTishina.

Was she mocking her or really impressed? Hopefully neither.

“You can call me Diana.”

Cami plopped herself down on the chair across from her. “So what's it like to b-be an assassin? I’m thinking it’s not as glamorous as the m-movies say.”

The woman's blunt question startled Diana. Most people only hinted around the edges of what she did for a living. If they had the nerve to even broach the subject it was with hesitation and disbelief. Honestly, people mostly avoided the topic unless they were trying to hire her.

Not that she talked to many people.

It was tempting to remain silent. Use her normal intimidation techniques to make the woman go away. But that wouldn’t help her situation any. If she and Highdive were going to be together then it was probably a good idea to make nice with the other Old Ladies.

Diana shrugged. “It pays well, but the benefits suck.”

Cami burst into laughter that was louder than the small joke deserved. She slapped the table as if it was the funniest thing she had ever heard.

Was this woman mentally unstable?

A woman Diana didn’t recognize joined them and looked at Cami with a shaking head. Long dark hair, the new woman was short with a gymnast's build. She stuck out her hand and ignored the cackling woman.

“Hi, I'm Jade. I'm Hannibal and Ink’s Old Lady.”

That those two men had claimed someone was a surprise. It must have happened while she was tracking down Alena. Diana shook Jade's hand and attempted a smile. “I met your men at Dark Secrets, they seem like good people.”

Jade raised her eyebrows. “Oh, I didn't know you went to the… uhm… Club.”

Was someone with two men embarrassed by the mention of a BDSM club?

Diana nodded. “That's where Highdive and I met. It’s a nice place.”

Jade bit her lip. “So youmetInk and Hannibal there as well?”

---