The man nodded, and then Nixon held up his hand and stopped him. He walked over to the last body and snapped a picture of the horror-stricken face.
“Kodak moment.” Chase nodded. “Gonna print that out and send it to Pops?”
“With some vodka attached.” Nixon smirked. “He’ll expect one present… not two.” He brought his attention to Sergio, who was leaning against the wall as far away as possible from me. “Think you could bug the hand somehow?”
Sergio shrugged. “It’s not a matter of not being able to, but hiding it is a bit difficult. Besides, it’s not like they’re going to keep the hand hanging out on their kitchen table for a few days so we can gain intel.”
“The watch.” I pointed. “Put it in the watch.”
“Shhh…” Chase winked at me. “The men are talking now.”
I rolled my eyes and stomped over to the hand. With a flourish, I picked the bloody mess off the floor and unbuckled the Rolex watch. I flipped it over and held it out. “Put the device inside the watch. I may not know my father, but I know how he operates. The Rolex is always given as good faith that money will be dished out once he completes his assignment. It makes sense, right? Give the guy a Rolex, something more expensive than the car he drives, and suddenly all he sees is money. My father will keep it, believe me. He won’t let the hand and the watch go into the trash.”
“Because he can’t afford more?”
“No.” I sighed. “Because he’s stingy. He’ll use the same watch next time. I guarantee it. It would be a waste not to, and Petrov hates waste.”
I tossed the watch to Nixon and smacked Chase on the back. “I’ll just let the men have their talk now.”
Chase glared while Nixon handed the watch to Sergio. “Make it happen.”
“Yup.” Sergio was already inspecting the watch like a chocolate addict inspects a Hershey bar. I’d never understand what was so fascinating about listening devices and hacking, but Sergio seemed to be on high just thinking about the technological possibilities.
“Get some sleep.” Nixon’s voice interrupted my blatant staring.
“Right.” I nodded. “I’ll get on that.”
“Don’t you mean under that?” Chase whispered.
I elbowed him in the ribs.
“You forget she stole Tex’s gun and landed Sergio on his ass.” Nixon chuckled. “Tread carefully, or Mil’s going to want to know how you got a black eye.”
“Or two,” I finished sweetly.
“Fine.” Chase yawned. “I’m going to go back to bed now.”
The guys left, the door closing softly. I quickly walked over to the lock and turned it hard.
“Nixon will leave men, Andi.” Sergio was behind me, his hand placed over my trembling hand. “You’re safe tonight.”
“Of course I am.” I turned to face him. “I have my own Italian assassin in my bed.”
His eyes didn’t heat.
They were empty again.
Great. I’d successfully pushed him away. At what cost?
“Listen…” He backed me up against the door. “…you tell me what to do in front of the guys again, and I’ll follow through on that spanking I promised earlier this week. If I want to jump off a cliff to save your life, you don’t talk me out of it. You don’t complain or whine. You say thank you and cheer me on.” His mouth was hot. I could almost taste him as he leaned in and whispered, “When I said I’d protect you with my life, I meant it. So stop being such a damn martyr and for once in your life let someone save you.”
He tilted my chin up, his eyes searching my face for a few seconds before he pulled back and walked away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Sergio
I WASHED THE BLOOD FROM MY HANDS, not really sure why I was putting forth such an effort when it wasn’t going to come off unless I scrubbed like hell until my skin was raw.
The good news?
I didn’t work for the feds anymore, so I had nothing to hide. I could waltz right into Starbucks with a bloodstained shirt and tell people I’d just fallen off my Harley, and people would barely blink.
It irritated me that in the face of something so terrifying — had you not been raised in it, you’d assume it only happened on the movies — Andi had simply watched in fascination.
And then had the nerve to tell me I couldn’t protect her.
What the hell?
I slammed my hands against the marble countertop then slammed them again. “Damn it!”
“Easy tiger,” Andi said from the doorway.
I looked up at her reflection through the mirror. She walked hesitantly toward me.
I shook my head and moved away before she could touch me. It was too raw, killing them, nearly losing her, being reminded yet again that this little story wasn’t going to end happy. In the end, I would lose her.
It was up to me to decide how.
Shit.
With a scowl, I turned on the shower. “Not now, Andi, I’m not in the mood.”
“Not what you said about an hour ago.”
I started pulling off my clothes. If she wasn’t going to leave, I didn’t give a rat’s ass; I was still going to shower. I needed to get Russian slime off my body.
Steam billowed out the minute I opened the shower door.
After a few minutes, I assumed Andi had left.
I was just getting ready to turn the handle when a soft delicate hand met mine. With a curse, I closed my eyes and leaned forward, allowing my forehead to press against the glass as water dripped down my face.