Page 12 of Bound by Blood

His expression did not change, but she imagined a sneer twisting his lips. He held all the cards in this relationship and he knew it. “If you do not report immediately, then you will only see a finger,” he replied calmly.

Laney closed her eyes, heart pounding, head swimming. It was only a threat.It had to be.Even he wouldn’t be so cold-blooded. But she knew better. She’d seen with her own eyes what he was capable of when he’d cut Yuki’s head off in front of her. He’d loved Yuki as though Yuki were his own, yet he’d done it anyway, just to prove a point. He would do the same to Jin if Laney didn’t cooperate.

In a quiet, defeated voice Laney gave him what he wanted. “Boris Grekov remains firmly at the side of Vladimir Sitnikov as both enforcer andbrat. They have taken the blood oath. I cannot touch him while he remains under Sitnikov protection. He is a loyal protector and he is skilled in running his employer’s assets. I believe he is also remotely checking in on his own assets, which are being run by his blood brother in Russia.”

“These are things we are aware of, Miss Paul. Is there anything else?”

She flinched at the touch of impatience in his voice and prayed he wouldn’t take it out on Jin in training. It had been nearly seven months since she’d seen Jin, and she didn’t know if Jin could handle the beating. Her heart ached to think of it.

“His… his obsession grows,” Laney admitted quietly, hating herself for giving him the information, but knowing she must do what she could to keep Jin safe. “I have been to his apartment. He lives simply, very much a bachelor.”

“Did you fuck him?” the Master asked sharply.

Laney gasped and ground her teeth. “Of course not!” she answered back just as sharply.

“Do what you must to keep his focus on you,” he instructed, musing. “It was an unforeseen boon that he should take such an interest in our jewel. But remember, the fruit that falls from the tree too easily, may lay rotten and forgotten on the ground. If he walks away from you, access may be more difficult when it is time to sink the knife in. Play your cards carefully,watashi no kodomo.”

My child.

Laney felt disgust rise bitterly up her throat and lowered her eyes so he couldn’t read her mood. Even over the mobile connection and their great distance the Master could easily read her. Like her mother, Laney felt deeply, and this man would take advantage of any perceived weakness.

“We have information,” he continued. “Your target is to be called home soon.”

Laney’s eyes snapped up and she frowned. What did this mean for her mission?

“You are to accompany him. His obsession with you should provide all the excuse you will need to make sure you are at his side when he makes the journey.”

Laney nodded, feeling a spear of hope flare in her chest that she wouldn’t have to say goodbye to the big man. She didn’t want to examine it too closely. After all, she was supposed to eventually kill him. She didn’t understand why the Master was waiting so long, why he was having her spy on and report on Boris instead of following through on her original mission. Unless…

The Master’s next words confirmed her fears. “He willnotreach Russia. Understood?”

Laney’s eyes lifted to his. She knew what was at stake. Steeling her heart, she pressed her lips together and nodded. The Master looked pleased with her response.

“May I see Jin?” she asked quietly, hope catching in her voice. He often denied her request, but once in a while would allow her a brief glimpse. Give her something to hold on to when she wondered if it was going to be worth her soul to follow through on her orders.

He was silent for a moment and then he nodded as though granting her a great favour. “You have 30 seconds.”

He handed the phone to someone else and a smiling face filled the screen. Laney’s heart brimmed with joy while tears threatened to overflow the corners of her eyes. Awareness prickled between her shoulder blades, but she ignored it, focusing entirely on the screen.

Holding it up, she grinned and said in rapid Japanese, mindful of her thirty seconds, “Jin, look at you! You are even more gorgeous than I remember, baby. I can’t wait to see you. I love you so much. I’ve missed you so very much. Tell me how much you’ve missed me too, darling?”

A growl came from behind Laney, startling her. She dropped her phone and whirled around. Boris stood towering and angry, filling the small doorway with his bulk and looking as though he wanted to strangle Laney. She stared up at him, confused. How had he found her and why was he looking as though she’d murdered his favourite pet?

“What do you want?” she asked, desperate to get rid of him so she could catch another glimpse of Jin. Their moments together were few and very precious.

“You are hiding in a corner, cooing love phrases at your fiancé and you want to know what I want?” he snarled, stepping inside the room. He slammed the door shut behind him and stalked toward her.

Laney went white and swayed on the spot. Did he understand Japanese? He had never once indicated that he knew her language. He smirked knowingly at her and bent swiftly around, catching her waist in a strong grip as he reached for her phone. She realized too late what he was after. With a cry of anger, she lunged for the device, but he already had it in his massive fist.

“Do I surprise you,baby?Darling?” he sneered, repeating the words in flawless Japanese, shocking her.

She glanced down at the phone between them, heart pounding, praying that the connection was severed. The screen was blank, the phone locked. Her lashes swept down and she sighed in relief. Her secrets were safe.

“Look at me!” he growled, his arm tightening around her waist, crushing her against his massive body.

Her eyes swept back up to his. His hand came down heavily on her shoulder, his fingers curling around the fragile bone. She shivered, knowing he could crush her with very little effort. He was still blazingly furious with her. Had he heard her conversation with the Master? Did he know she was spying on him? Had been sent to follow and kill him?

Much to her relief his next words immediately proved that he’d only heard her speak to Jin.

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