Page 59 of Alexei (Belles & Mobsters 4)

“We were going to sit in the car and talk,” I muttered, suddenly feeling stupid for getting into a criminal’s vehicle. Wasn’t that covered in the beginner’s class? Jesus Christ, I had to be the worst agent to walk this earth.

“We’ll talk while I drive.” His words said nothing.

“While you drive me to-” I left the sentence open-ended.

“Home.” Okay, home was good but the question was whose home. My arm rested on the console and I tried hard not to move it. The urge to fidget was strong.

“Mine?” I breathed the question. “My home?”

His arm brushed mine, and I shifted barely an inch, avoiding another accidental touch. Noticing my movement, his eyes swept over me. It wasn’t a quick glance, but more lazy and slow. As if he was reading all my secrets. Goosebumps broke over my skin and my fingers curled over the edge of the console.

“Nervous?” he asked, his eyes returning to the road. He was no longer looking at me, yet I felt the weight of his gaze.

I swallowed hard, then shook my head.

“Yes, your home,” he answered my earlier question.

Thank God! The air in the car was thick, his large body somehow making the large Mercedes seem too small. I watched his movements as he drove, shifting smoothly, which was surprising for such a large man. I had a feeling he was invisible when he wanted to be.

Duh!

He was certainly invisible when he stalked me, so no surprise he knew where I lived. I inhaled deeply, the scent of his cologne and the leather invading every inch of my lungs. It wasn’t a cologne I recognized, but it fit him. It was exotic, spicy and strong, but not too strong to overwhelm all your senses.

“So about this club,” I started, hoping to regain some control of this situation. “And the man we are going after. I want to know everything.”

The corner of his lip tugged up. Wonderful, I amused him. “Everything, huh?”

I blew a piece of my hair out of my face. “Yes, everything. You are asking me to trust you blindly, and I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” He couldn’t be seriously asking that question.

“The list is pretty long,” I scoffed.

“We have time,” he said coldly.

“First, you’re a criminal,” I started, eyeing him for any signs. “Second, you’re not my partner. Third, I need a plan so I can organize my life. Ensure I don’t have anything going on the days that you drag me to God knows where.”

“Have a date?” he mused and my mouth just about dropped. Did he just crack a joke? His face was impassive so it was hard to tell.

“No, I don’t,” I sighed. With this man it was whiplash from one minute to the next. “My brothers like to check on me. My girlfriends like to check on me too, though they are not as crazy as my brothers. And they’ll freak out if I’m not available when they assume I’m relaxing at home.” He cocked one eyebrow, and I felt the need to quickly explain. “Trust me, they’ll have the entire force and their security company hunting for me. The last place I want them to find me is in a sex club. With you.” I let the words sink and then continued, “So I need the place and time for the event, you know.”

Alexei didn’t miss a beat.

“It is an underground sex club.” Well that explained why I couldn’t find it. Goddamn it!

“Where is it?” I questioned him.

“The location is different every time.”

I rolled my eyes, annoyed. “Well, is there a pattern?”

“No.”

Of course not. I watched his hands firmly on the steering wheel. “Okay, when will the event take place?”

“The date isn’t set yet.”

I let out a frustrated breath. “You’ve got to work with me,” I huffed, annoyed at this stoic man. “Didn’t you just hear me tell you that my brothers will go ballistic if they happen to call one night and I’m nowhere around.”

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