Page 29 of Fierce Sinner

“We haven’t gotten anything yet but I’ve put out feelers. My best sources are digging for dirt,” he says.

I rub my temples as I try to keep my anger at bay. My instinct is to lash out at him, but I hold myself in check. I’m furious about everything right now.

Over the past few hours, it has been one fuckup after the other. Aside from the disaster with the team yesterday, another shipment of ammunition destined for Spain was sabotaged earlier this morning. It seems that our previous interaction with the motherfuckers didn’t get the message across. I need to remove the head of the snake.

“Is there anything else you want me to do?” Ludis asks.

“We need to look into the deal with the Spanish. That last shipment should have gone off without a hitch. Set up a meeting. Tell them that I will be personally handling these trades from now on.” My instruction is as much for him as it is for our clients. “I want you to spread the word. Make it known that I will destroy anyone involved with what’s going on. Nothing they hold dear will be safe.” I realize my temper is flaring again, and take a steadying breath to settle it.

“Yes, Boss,” Ludis says.

“When you’re done with that, I need you to look into something that Petrov was handling for me.” I pause, deliberating over whether to bring him up to speed on my latest plans. With Petrov dropping the ball, I’m left with little choice. “I’m thinking of diversifying our assets.” He frowns at this fresh information. “Designer drugs. We’ve dabbled in the usual shit, but this is something fresh.”

“Sounds… interesting.” He cocks his head. “We’ve never wasted time on the party circuits before.”

“It’s time we stopped keeping too many eggs in too few baskets,” I shrug. “This product is unique. Some kind of hallucinogenic called MeshMare. Safe, expensive, not pinging any DEA radars yet. There’s only one pharmacist with the recipe and he’s playing his cards close to his chest.” Smart move. The guy’s going to make a killing… along with whoever he picks as his exclusive dealer.

“So what do you need me to do, Boss?”

“There’s an auction coming up. I need to know who’s attending, and what we’ll be up against.” It burns my ass to hand this over to Ludis when Petrov was my first choice. My cousin is good for the hardcore assignments - sending messages, and blowing shit up. But when it comes to finesse, Petrov is my guy.

What the fuck is going on with him?

I know it’s something I’m going to have to dig into myself. I’ve relied too much on others to handle too many sensitive issues.

I’m about to tell Ludis to call for a meeting with our other men at a smaller base when the door opens, and the last person I expect emerges.

Aurora.

Even in my rage, the sight of her stirs something in me.

“Good morning. Am I interrupting something?” she asks as she glances from Ludis to me and back.

I narrow my eyes with interest when I see the short yellow dress she is wearing. It hugs the full curves of her tits, swirling freely around her lush hips. A glimpse of tanned thighs has my cock tightening up. I ignore my arousal and focus on the issues at hand.

“We’re busy. Leave.” I return my attention to Ludis, knowing my response to her is curt, but refusing to allow him to see me bending for her. As usual, she ignores my instruction.

“I want to speak with you,” she says.

“Not now,” I tell her, but of course she doesn’t listen.

“It’s important,” she says. I can hear the desperation in her voice.

What now?

It’s possible that she’s getting a perverse satisfaction from testing my patience, but maybe something’s actually wrong.

I give Ludis a silent signal that he’s dismissed. He eyes Aurora coldly before he leaves my office.

“This had better be good,” I tell her, trying to keep my expression neutral. It’s not easy when every interaction with her either fills me with frustration or lust.

She shuts the door and walks into my office, stopping in front of my desk.

“I want to go out,” she says. I arch my brows at this. There is no way I’m allowing her to leave with everything that’s going on at the moment.

“No,” I tell her.

“What do you mean no? I thought you said I’m not your prisoner. I thought you said you’d give me permission if I wanted to leave the premises,” she snaps.

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