Page 126 of Eyes in the Shadows

He shrugs. “I am not in a rush. I can stay until the next job brings us somewhere else. It would be good, too, to keep a close eye on the FBI while they work on the investigation into the mayor’s death.”

“And after that?” I ask, taking another swig.

He shrugs.

I sit back, considering it. Ever since Eleanor revealed how sad she was to be leaving Wesley and Dimitri, it got me thinking. “Why don’t we stay? In this house. All of us. It can be our headquarters or something. The house is for sale, right?”

Dimitri and Wes exchange a surprised look. Then, Wes’s eyes dart side to side as he considers it seriously. Dimitri just shakes his head and downs another shot.

“We’d have to give this place a serious security upgrade,” Wes says, his entire body perking up at the prospect.

Dimitri turns on him. “You are considering this? When the next job comes in, you know we need to drop everything at a moment’s notice—”

“We can carpool,” Wes points out helpfully. “And the fiber optic situation is way better here than in a lot of other places we’ve been.”

Dimitri narrows his eyes at Wes like his words are some kind of betrayal. “It is too crowded in this city,” he decides.

“It’s easier to be anonymous in a crowd.”

“Not when you live in the most ostentatious house on the block.”

My lips twitch—not much I can argue with, on that point. “This place has, like, 10 acres, we’ll never even see our neighbors. Plus, every other rich son of a bitch around here has their own staff of personal security.” I rub my fingers together between our faces. “Money talks loud enough that no one asks any questions, right?”

“Hide in plain sight, I say.” Wes takes a delicate sip from his champagne.

Judging from the look on his face, though, our surly Russian friend is still not convinced. “You’re telling me you like living out of shitty motels?” I press.

Dimitri crosses his arms. “You cannot get away from shitty motels in this line of work,” he argues.

“Yeah, but this can be home base. Somewhere to return to that’s central so we’re all close if something happens.”

“Just think, somewhere permanent you can get your fancy custom knives delivered,” Wes goads.

I sit back with a grin. When Wes gets on board enough to start helping make my point, it’s all over. Dimitri never stands a chance in two against one. Unless he’s got a knife.

“We can each have our own floor, if you want. No danger of seeing anyone else’s junk. Dibs on the top floor,” I add quickly.

Wes sighs dramatically. “Of course the sniper wants the best view.”

I shrug, unapologetic.

Dimitri’s face is lost in thought as he reaches for his glass. “It is a risk,” he says gravely. “Someone could more easily take out all of us if they find out we are in the same place.”

“Leave that to me,” Wes pipes in. “I’ll make sure none of our names are on it. And how much do you want to bet one of these rich twats already has the requests in the proper channels to make this a no-fly zone?”

“I will not take that bet,” Dimitri adds, humor sparkling in his eye. It’s dry, but at least he’s showing he understands the humor, even if he still can’t bring himself not to meet it with austerity. Progress.

“So, it’s settled? We’ve got a home base?”

“I suppose you will want her to live here, too?” Dimitri cocks a brow at me.

“Kind of implied. She goes where I go.”

Wes’s lips twitch. “Just try not to shake the chandeliers.”

“No promises,” I laugh, then turn to Dimitri. His approval is moot—either she stays or the whole thing is off and I’m keeping the house for myself. “That okay by you?”

“She does know how to make pelmeni,” he says thoughtfully. “I will consider this. It is not so bad of an idea to have a base of operations while we work together. Though I agree with Wesley—you must learn to reign in your impulses. I will not live in a sex house.”

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