She pressed her fingertips deeper into Andrii’s thigh muscle as if clinging to him for support. He must have felt her dismay because he curled his fingers around her hand.

“That man. McGrady. He felt evil.”

There was a short silence while Andrii drove through the busy streets. Headlights and stoplights flickered through the windows as the BMW smoothly and easily maneuvered around traffic.

“Billows is an evil man, yet to clarify what I’m hearing, you believe McGrady is the evil one.”

Azelie wasn’t certain how to explain how she felt. “I know Billows is an evil, corrupt man with no conscience. His world is all about him. He doesn’t see anyone else in it other than those he wants something from. He isn’t nice about the way he gets what he wants either. I don’t think his friendships are real. He uses people to get what he wants. He’s a narcissist. He believes he’s superior to everyone around him. I’ve heard him say he’s smarter than anyone he’s ever met.”

Once more, Andrii’s eyes met hers briefly. “Does he honestly think he’s more intelligent than you?”

She found herself smiling, glowing even, at the obvious shock and disbelief in Andrii’s expression. As if no one could think they were more intelligent than she was. He made her feel good about herself all the time. She might not think she was beautiful, but she did know she had an above-average IQ. She might even be considered a genius when it came to numbers, but her passion was creating stories. Mysteries. Thrillers. All with a touch of romance.

“Billows believes he’s more intelligent than anyone.”

“But you fixed his books. You’re still fixing them for him.”

“I’m a woman, so I can’t possibly have a brain. I’m young in his eyes and don’t know anything. And he’s superior to everyone. You’ve met him,” Azelie pointed out. “There isn’t a doubt in my mind that you know exactly what he’s like.” She sent him a brief smile. “Doug and Carlton thought they knew what you were like, until I told them you took me to a bookstore on one of our dates. They were impressed.”

“We can talk about Doug and Carlton later. I wouldn’t mind their approval because they mean something to you, but it isn’t necessary. I want to know what it is about McGrady that gives you a worse feeling than you get from Billows.”

She thought that over before she answered him. “I don’t think Billows cares one way or another about hurting someone. He doesn’t seem to have feelings for anyone. He might pretend, but I don’t think he’s capable of feeling. That means he can be quite cruel and not ever think about it, but I don’t think he gets off on it. He isn’t sadistic in the sense he needs to hurt others. Or humiliate them. He just does whatever it takes to get what he wants.”

“I understand what you’re saying. That’s a good assessment of Billows. What about McGrady?”

She glanced up at him, veiling her expression with her eyelashes. Andrii had been trained to read others almost from the time he was a toddler. He’d learned out of necessity as well as the training he’d received to become an asset to his government. He had to be able to size up his enemies in an instant.

“I feel a little ridiculous giving you my opinion on McGrady. I’ve been around Billows for years, so I know him fairly well, but I know nothing about McGrady.”

“Other than your instincts, and baby, you have great instincts. I’m very interested in your opinion, or I wouldn’t ask.”

She sighed. “I think McGrady likes hurting people. Not only hurting them but humiliating them.”

“You got that from him walking into the coffee shop and looking at you.”

Had there been the least bit of amusement or scoffing, Azelie would have clammed up and not given her opinion again. Instead, Andrii sounded admiring. Pleased with her. She got that now-familiar glow inside just from his tone of voice. As if he approved of her, thought she was the most amazing woman in the world.

“Not just looking at me.” She found herself gaining confidence. “It was the way he looked at Doug, Carlton, and the merry widows. As if he was assessing them and found them being with me amusing. I didn’t want Doug or Carlton to give away the fact that they were onto him. They believe McGrady is stalking me.”

“The moment he was spotted following you, research was done on him. Very thorough research. Your assessment of him is spot-on. I don’t want you going anywhere near him. He won’t have a chance to harm your friends. Whatever he thinks he’s going to get away with, he’s not.”

There was absolute conviction in Andrii’s voice. She didn’t ask him any questions about how he’d done the research because she knew he wouldn’t answer her.

FIFTEEN

The club Maestro took Azelie to was small and intimate. He liked it because it was classy and the music was always great. He appreciated good music. He had a surprise for his woman, and he hoped she would get the message he was trying to get across to her. He was taking a big chance tonight, mainly because his woman was extremely intelligent.

Several of his Torpedo Ink brethren would be at the club. He wanted them to see Azelie, even if from a distance, but he was certain Lana would pull off the meeting while he was at the piano. Lana would be there with her brother, Preacher. Of course, he would be introduced by his given name, Kasimir Popov.

Other members—Keys, Master and Player—would be there as well. Maestro was in the band, Crows Flying, with the three men. He considered each of the men brilliant when it came to music. Seychelle, Savage’s woman, often sang with them when they played at the Torpedo Ink Roadhouse, the bar the club owned.

They had rehearsed what they would say to make the meeting seem natural so they could sell the idea that they barely knew Lana. If Maestro and Lana were too close, Azelie would know Lana was part of a team. That would hurt and upset Azelie because he wouldn’t be able to offer much in the way of an explanation.

At the moment, Azelie believed she met Lana through the college. They were becoming friends. Lana genuinely liked Azelie, but if she felt betrayed because neither Maestro nor Lana told her the truth, she might walk away from him. There was always that possibility hanging over his head.

Three times he’d brought it up to the club that he should just simply tell Azelie the truth. Unfortunately, running life-or-death missions, they’d learned the hard way not to take on anyone untrained. One slipup could cause a number of deaths. Azelie had acting skills when it came to Billows, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t mess up. Each of this crew knew all about torture and how to hold out, if necessary, until their brethren came for them—and they would come. They would be certain the others would find them and get them free. Azelie wouldn’t have that faith in them.

Maestro understood the necessity of keeping the truth from his woman, but he didn’t like it. He refused to outright lie to her. That would be the one thing he could claim later when he was giving her the facts of their mission. After they’d found the women or at least shut down this link in the trafficking ring and gotten information to lead them to the next one.

Azelie looked beautiful, even more so than usual. She rarely wore a lot of makeup, but she’d given her eyes a smoky, exotic look. Her lips had a soft color on them, drawing his attention immediately. Her auburn hair tumbled down her back in long spirals and waves, so when the light caught it, copper and shades of red shone through. Her hair looked a little wild, adding to her striking, glamorous appearance.

The clothes were perfect for her, that skirt and fitted camisole accenting her very feminine figure. The camisole hugged her lush curves lovingly and showed off her small, tucked-in waist. The way the skirt fit over her hips and dropped to her ankles, moving with every step, added to her allure. He found himself proud to be walking into the club with Azelie on his arm.

More than one man turned to look at her as they walked in. Glancing down, he was pleased to see she was looking up at him as if he were the only man in the room. She smiled at him with that amazing smile she reserved for him. Her eyes were bright. Her expression was not just adoring but held a hint of developing love. He could see it, and it set his heart soaring.

He followed the hostess to their small table and pulled out Azelie’s chair for her. He found he enjoyed doing little things for her. Opening doors. Seating her. Ordering for her. Hanging up her coat. Taking care of her after sex. All of it. He loved everything he did for her.

He knew he was already way too invested. If he lost her, he wouldn’t recover. One of the things he knew about Azelie’s character was that she was all or nothing. The moment she truly trusted him, he would have her devotion for life, but he had to earn it. He was on shaky ground. Each time he thought he was close, he remembered earthquakes.

Sea Haven and Caspar, where he resided, were right on a fault line. Earthquakes could turn things upside down if they were strong enough. They could damage property or completely destroy it. The things he was forced to hide from Azelie could not only damage but utterly and irrevocably annihilate their relationship. It was fragile. Just beginning. And she’d known betrayal the same as he had. If she had been using him to get to Czar or for any other reason and she lied, even by the sin of omission, he was certain he wouldn’t forgive her, yet somehow he expected her to understand.

“You’re doing it again, Andrii.”

Her soft voice startled him, he’d been that deep in his thoughts. She leaned her chin into the heel of her hand, propping up her arm with her elbow on the table. Her eyes were filled with concern for him. That made his heart ache.

“What am I doing?”

“Frowning. Inside. Going quiet on me, which means you’re worried about something.” She made a little moue with her lips and then shook her head. “Not something. Me. Us. You’re worried about us.”

He wrapped his fingers around her hand, connecting them. “Baby.” He kept his voice low and compelling so that she leaned forward to catch every word. “It’s traditional for the woman to fall for the man and want to be with him. She might pretend she doesn’t care if she’s a game player, but she chases him and falls at his feet.”

Her eyebrow shot up and a hint of amusement crept into her eyes.

“The man may or may not be interested, but he’s the one with the power in the relationship because she wants him. He can take it or leave it. Traditionally, he couldn’t care less about permanency, just the sex.”

“That’s tradition?”

He nodded solemnly. “You’ve got this entire thing backward. You’re supposed to worry and be nervous I might run. Men run from the relationship word.”

“Traditionally.” She definitely sounded amused.

“Pay attention, Solnyshkuh. This is important information I’m giving you.” He kept his expression solemn, as if he were imparting something life-changing. “There are certain rules we follow as men and women in a relationship, and we aren’t supposed to mix them up.”

The waiter came to the table to take their order. He sent her a small smile. “Do you want me to order for you, or do you have something in mind?”

As always, Azelie was thoughtful before she answered. “You order. I loved what you got for me last time. It’s always fun to have a surprise.”