Page 177 of Fractured Allegiance
“No.”
“Are you feeding intel to Elias?”
“Elias is retired.”
“Which doesn’t mean you stopped taking his calls.”
“I didn’t say that either.”
He exhales. “Are you aware someone’s been running surveillance on our docks for six weeks?”
“I’m aware someone’s trying to frame me for it.”
His expression doesn’t shift. But something taut creeps into his voice. “You think this is a setup?”
“I think if you really believed it was me, I wouldn’t be here sipping whiskey with silk sheets.”
His mouth twitches. Not quite a smile. Not quite denial.
Then, he stands. Walks past me. Opens the wardrobe beside the bed.
Inside? Options. Dresses. Shoes. Lingerie that costs more than rent.
“You’ve been upgraded,” he says.
“Funny. I didn’t know this was a promotion.”
He closes the wardrobe without looking at me.
“You’re going to stay here until we clear the leak. I’ll make sure you’re comfortable. But in return, I want your full attention.”
“Attention for what?”
“The security gaps. The internal links. I want your mind on the people who want us gutted. Not on whoever had their hand on your thigh last week.”
I go still.
Then I step toward him.
One pace. Two.
“Say it plainly,” I tell him. “You’re talking about Silas.”
Drazen’s eyes meet mine.
“He’s compromised you.”
I laugh. Actually laugh. “Compromised me? You had me dragged into a goddamn penthouse like a mistress you’re not ready to show off.”
“You would have left with him.”
“No, I left with Dom as you instructed. Sure, he offered. And he wouldn’t be the first. But I didn’t take the offered hand, obviously.”
“And why not?”
I tilt my head. “Because I don’t trust him.”
I don’t trust anyone, I don’t say.
