Page 69 of Savage Justice

“Tell me, did you set out to be a criminal?” The command for me to speak is subtle but I can feel his dominant nature. It’s always there, just below the surface.

I lick my lips. “Did you?”

He doesn’t answer, only sits there in that patient way waiting for me to answer him. Knowing I will answer him.

“I was legit at one time. When I look at a computer screen I see coding. I designed apps and software. Worked for a security firm for a while. Then a friend approached me. Told me the serious money is in hacking. Black hat shit that if I had enough balls could make me the most sought out with my set of skills and ability to hack anything with or without a backdoor. I wanted a stable life for Polaris and myself. Up until then I was moving around almost every year so my uncle couldn’t find us.”

Sorrowful eyes hold mine. “Good friend.” He swirls the tip of his thumb over the back of my palm, eyes following the path of caresses. There’s sarcasm to his tone.

I belly laugh. It is either that or fall into a fit of tears on this man’s lap. Or is itmoretears? I can’t seem to get them to stop falling down my cheeks and at this point I don’t know if they are from pain, sorrow, or real humor. “Try a realdead friend,” I correct him with a shiver of trepidation.

“He cleaned out a Colombian drug lord’s accounts for a client. Three days later his body was found in a barrel in the Ozarks. They only identified him from dental work because he hadn’t been there long enough to dissolve. And that is why I research all clients before taking them on.”

“Smart. But no one will lay a hand on you. Not and live.”

I pick at invisible lent on his collar. “How did you know I was having a panic attack, Ares? No one has ever helped me come down from an attack before.”

“Do they get this bad often?”

“Just after my uncle’s death. Like his ghost haunts me now or something. I don’t know. I just wake up in cold sweats sometimes. Or if I’m particularly stressed.”

He nods. “My mother suffered through them on quiet nights of all things. I learned how to help her cope. A vodka, a cool cloth, and talking.”

I trace the ends of his sleeve where it is pulled up over muscular forearms. “She was lucky to have you.”

He lifts a hand to my face and places a kiss on my forehead. “I was lucky to have her. And twice as lucky to have you.”

His body keeps tensing up against mine, like strings of the past reach through to the present day and refuse to relinquish control over him. His arms tighten around me and we fully embrace each other.

He rests his forehead against mine and we stay like that just rocking and drinking in each other’s comfort. The Russian and his captive bride. Or am I his fake bride? Bought bride? All three, I guess.

There’s a darker story he’s not telling. One sitting just below the surface and one that drives him like the hatred for my uncle motivates me. Only I don’t think this man hated his mother. No. He’s hiding something. I don’t press him for more details, knowing we have bigger issues right now.

He stiffens when my hands come to his back but he doesn’t move away. For now, I just let him feel me. Hopefully, he knows he’s not alone. All I can do is hope he can take some strength from me too as I’ve done from him.

His phone pings and he pulls it out. The story about the Columbians and my friend is very true and why I don’t like playing Houdini tricks with bad people’s money.

The stone-cold look of his expression returns and I know it’s time. Avery comes down the stairs and brings me my laptop but just as quickly slips back upstairs.

He moves me to take his place in the chair and walks over to a desk off to my right.

He returns with four different sheets of paper and places them on the table. I pick them up. Names I don’t recognize are at the top next to ungodly amounts of money. The highest hitting eight digits.

“Who are these people?”

“Volkov accounts are all hidden behind shell corporations.”

Guessing from what he had me do before he would consider uncuffing me I take a stab at what I’m being asked to do. “And you want me to empty them?”

“Da, malyshka. I want you to help me cut them at the knees. Make them bleed.”

He stands beside me but instead of being a looming force I can’t fight against, I feel the energy shift in the room and it sits solely on my shoulders. I have the power here, the control and he wants me to know it.

His phone rings and he pulls it out. “Govori bystro.”Speak fast. “Alek.” The surprise in his tone pulls my eyes off the screen in front of me.

Rage and the men filter back in looking a little sheepish.

“All good?”

---