Page 91 of Reign of a Billionaire
“Why would Mother be in Montenegro?” Liana questioned, her eyes darting to Alexei, who sat sandwiched by two of his men. Clad in all black—jeans, T-shirt, and combat boots—she was in her element and ready to fight. “Are you sure your intel isn’t fucked up?”
Alexei’s expression remained unchanged. “I’m sure.”
“But I’ve never heard any talk of?—”
“I. Am. Fucking. Sure.”
She glowered at him. “Don’t get all pissy with me. I’m just telling you, Mother stayed away from the Balkans.”
“Well, she’s not staying away anymore,” he snapped.
Her pretty features twisted into a scowl, but I had to agree with Alexei here. Was Liana the best judge of character when you took into consideration her relationship with her mother as well as her overt lapses in memory?
“Jesus, iceman. Relax.” Folding her arms over her chest, she inadvertently pushed up her breasts, drawing my eyes to them. “I need a weapon,” she declared.
Fuck, this was so fun to watch. I wouldn’t mind some popcorn to go along with it.
“Over my dead body,” Alexei retorted.
She shot him a scowl. “I’ll be happy to arrange that.”
I ran a hand through my hair, pulling on the ends. I was starting to question my decision to bring her along. She was a bit too eager to draw blood. None of this seemed to worry her. The woman was reckless.
Alexei’s gaze flicked up, catching Liana’s, heavy and emotionless, as if he were looking straight through her.
“You can try to die in the process.”
Her features turned sour. “Listen, you might have been the shit twenty years ago, but now you’re just an old man.” Her eyes slid down his body, and jealousy raced through me. I didn’t like her looking at another man, even though this one was madly in love with my sister. “Is that the beginning of a beer belly I see?” My lips twitched, glad to hear she found him lacking. “Besides, I don’t see a single surveillance camera on this building,” she pointed out. I’d noticed that too—a clear red flag. “I can see it on Kingston’s face, he agrees.”
She was really egging him on now.
He grunted. “I’m going to shut you up before we go anywhere.”
My nostrils flared at his tone despite the fact that it wasn’t exactly unwarranted. Alexei must have noticed it, because surprise flickered in his gaze.
His phone vibrated. “Okay, time to move.”
I pulled out my spare handgun, handing it to her. “Don’t shoot one of us by accident.”
She smiled sweetly as she took it in her expert hands. “I’ll try to exercise restraint.”
“Jesus Christ,” Alexei muttered under his breath, reaching for the door and shaking his head in disapproval. He exited first, then his men, followed by Liana and myself.
I grabbed her forearm, the softness of her skin suddenly making me forget why I stopped her in the first place.
“What?” she hissed, glaring at me.
“Stay close.”
She rolled her eyes. “I work better alone.”
I was certain she was doing this on purpose, just to drive me crazy.
“Liana,” I growled. “Promise me.”
“Fine. I promise. Happy?”
An instant later, our feet pounded against the pavement. Gloomy silence hung heavily around us. We stopped behind a big metal door, and I motioned to the hidden camera.
