Page 71 of The Payback

“He’ll never find out. I know he has eyes on me, but I have eyes on him too. And his loyal men are mine now.”

I feel the tightness in my shoulders as my muscles slowly contract. The twins and I have been watching Dimitri for Sergei, but my alliances have shifted with Ellie’s involvement and Interpol’s imminent crackdown. Because Aleksandr is married to Ana, the twins’ allegiance is ironclad.

I’ve always been loyal to the Aslanov family, but I need to look out for myself this time. I didn’t spend a decade undercover at Danil’s command just to lose my freedom two years later.

“The twins?” Ellie asks. “Dimitri said they were there to help you.”

“Help?” Sergei scoffs. “More like spy. He thinks I don’t know they report everything I do to him, but it’s okay, little dove. They’re family now.” He pats her hand in reassurance, and she leans towards him.

“Either way, it would be risky, Sergei. I can’t put you in danger. I am truly grateful for your kind offer and promise to consider it. You said you would be the nextpakhanif something happened to Dimitri. Even speaking about it carries too much risk. For both of us.”

Good girl, Ellie. Playing the self-preservation card.

My phone rings from my pocket. It’s the first timer we set up for the meeting. There are three others, depending on when we want to make an excuse to get out of here.

I pretend to answer a call, lifting my voice to be heard over the din of the restaurant. “Yes? Okay, we’re on our way.”

Turning towards their table, I approach Sergei and Ellie. “Forgive me, Sergei. But I need to get Elsa back. She has an engagement to prepare for.”

“What engagement?” Sergei asks, clearly feeling out of the loop.

“I’m not sure, sir, but Dimitri says we have to go now. An engagement of some kind they’re due at; I’ll let you know.” It’s the oldest trick in the book. Create intrigue, leave it a mystery, and make it so Sergei wants to pepper Ellie with more questions later, keeping that line of communication open.

She dabs the napkin on the corners of her lips and takes my hand as I help her out of her chair. Sergei stands as well, reaching out for a hug from Ellie. “Think about what I said,” he whispers.

“I will,” she says on the withdrawal, gripping his hands like a lifeline. “Goodbye, Sergei. Thank you for your time.”

“Thankyou,” he says. “You saved Oksana, and we are both so grateful. If you need anything at all, call me.”

“I will,” she repeats.

Ushering her in front of me, I turn back to Sergei, continuing to play the role of his informant. “I’ll let you know what’s going on.”

“See that you do. Dimitri should not plan things without letting us know.”

“Agreed,” I confirm. After nodding a farewell, I follow Ellie, calling Igor on my way so he can bring the car around.

We stand on the pavement outside the restaurant, saying nothing and sharing an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes until the town car rolls up in front of us.

I open the door, and Ellie slides in first. She greets Igor, and I slam the door after me once I’m in my seat. My blood is boiling at Sergei being so close to Ellie and offering things he shouldn’t be offering. It’s all the better for him to dig his own grave, but that doesn’t mean I enjoyed hearing it.

“Igor, back to the penthouse.”

He nods as I press the button for the divider, waiting impatiently for it to rise. As soon as it’s up, I lunge for Ellie, gripping her hair in my fist and her hip in my palm. “Disgusting, huh?” I ask, recalling what she’d said when Sergei offered me up as her studhorse.

Ellie squirms below me, fumbling for the hidden camera in the jewelled pin on her dress. She clicks it off and turns her head towards me. “I had to say something.”

I dip down, putting my lips on her throat, nipping at the skin with my teeth, and stroking it with my tongue.

“And ‘disgusting’ is the first thing you thought of? Not life-changing? Not so good you passed out after? Notyes, please, more, Nik!” I raise my voice into a falsetto, perfectly mimicking what Ellie sounded like as she came all over my cock in the gym.

She huffs and tries to shove me away, but I just tighten my grip. “Oh no, you don’t. Not now. Not after everything.”

“Leave it alone, Nik. You don’t know what’s going on.”

“Don’t I?” I raise a brow as I pull back, staring at her.

“Do you?” She bites her bottom lip, her eyes looking downward.

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