Page 49 of Stricken

"Not careful enough, apparently." I run a hand through my hair, frustration and anger simmering beneath my skin. Vartan's earlier words take on new meaning, his casual dismissal of my personal life now seeming like a calculated move.

But why?

What does he stand to gain from this?

"If Vartan knows, who else does?" Nico says. "My family? Yours?"

"I'm not sure."

"You understand who I am, don't you? You understand if Tony finds out I'm sleeping with the fucking enemy, he'll cut off my balls, right?"

"I happen to like your balls. Let's just say it's in my best interest to ensure he doesn't find out."

"You can joke in this situation?"

"I like to keep a positive attitude."

He motions at the dead man with both hands, eyes wide. "And what do we do with the body?"

"We handle this ourselves. Involving anyone else will only make things worse."

Nico searches my face, conflict evident in every line of his body. "Handle it how, exactly? In case you haven't noticed, his brains are all over your bedroom."

"I have some experience in that area," I say dryly.

"Great." Nico chuckles, raking his hair with both hands and looking up at the ceiling. "Now, are you going to whip out a chainsaw and ask me to cut him up?"

"Nope. When I said experience, I meant cleaning, Nico. We need to get cleaning."

* * *

The pungent reek of blood clings to my nostrils as Nico and I work in grim silence, methodically erasing the evidence of the intruder's demise. Meanwhile, his body, wrapped up in a shower curtain and a carpet, is waiting patiently in the living room by the door.

My mind races, trying to dissect Vartan's words.

What game is the old Armenian playing?

Is this a power move, a subtle threat to keep me in line?

Or is there something more sinister at work here?

No, it can't be that fox.

He said it himself, the Solovey family has made him a lot of money. Besides, he won't find anyone with this much power and connections back in Russia to do this operation. If Toro is involved, it's most likely Shtyk. Those two already partnered up once before when Shtyk hired Toro's man to kidnap my brother. Or perhaps La Alianza wants to retaliate because I took my business to the Arellanos.

I glance at Nico, his face a mask of blankness as he scrubs the blood-stained floor. His cuts on both arms are bandaged clumsily–best I could do under the circumstances–to stop the bleeding. The sight of him on his hands and knees, cleaning up a mess that should never have been his to deal with, sends a pang of guilt through me.

"I'm sorry," I say quietly, the words feeling inadequate. "I never meant for you to get caught up in this."

Nico looks up at me, his blue eyes suddenly filled with a mix of emotions. "Too late for that now, isn't it?" he says sarcastically with a hint of a smile. "We're in this together, for better or worse."

I shake my head. "Wedding vows have taken a new meaning, indeed."

He lets out a chuckle. "Your mind works in mysterious ways, Vladimir Solovey."

This is the first time he said my full name and it has my heart thumping faster in my chest.

No, don't think about it,I tell myself in my head.

---