Page 102 of Scarlet Secrets

“My contact’s got proof Sergio met with Niko two days before the raid. And they looked fucking cozy, my contact said. They were laughing over drinks.”

Is the bastard double-crossing me?

“Put a tail on Sergio.”

“Done, Boss.”

“Keep me posted.”

I end the call and sit, thinking. If fucking Sergio’s messing with me, he’ll pay for it.

With his life.

Chapter Twenty-Five

DEMYAN

“Set up a meeting,”I say to Ilya a few days later in my study.

Laughter comes through the open window and as much as I hate to do so, I go over and close it, shutting the curtain, too.

The sounds of Sasha having fun with his mom and aunt are something joyous, and when they’re outside, I keep the window open.

Not to eavesdrop—my study isn't situated close enough for that, and I can’t see them, either. I just like the sound when it drifts on a breeze.

But right now, I don’t need the distraction.

And Erin’s becoming just that. A distraction. She and my son both.

Ilya doesn’t look up from his computer. “Boss.”

“You can say yes like a normal person.”

“Da.”

I narrow my eyes. “Do it for next week.”

“And Niko?”

This week we’ve sent people to the spots intel has led us, but Niko continues to not be there.

“The same,” I say. “Sergio’s intel’s the worst, but Niko’s keeping a highly public and low profile.”

It makes sense. Go to events and places where the traffic is high, attention higher, and stay low at usual haunts or places where it’s easy to get him. That’s not what’s bothering me. That makes sense and is something I’d do if I was a coward. No, it’s the fact he’s been meeting with Sergio and all the intel he’s given us has gone south.

“Nam nuzhno eto prodvigat,” Ilya mutters as he types something into his laptop.

I check my messages as my phone buzzes. It’s other business and it can wait. “I know we need to push this,” I say. “And I think I have an idea.”

“By arranging a meeting with Sergio?”

“We do this head-on.”

Ilya pauses what he’s doing and looks at me. “Head-on in what way?”

“You said push this, so we do. Head-on. Point-blank. Arrange that meeting, and then I think I’ll drop in unannounced tomorrow. He’s having drinks tonight?”

“It’s meant to be with the mayor’s man, a corrupt little fuck who must have something on the mayor, or else is operating under her radar.”

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