who would take good care of him.
“She didn’t say, but probably a little before showtime, since she’s the maid of honor.”
“I’ll be watching.” He hung up and dialed again immediately.
“If I were to guess where you are right now, I’d have to say—”
“Cut the shit, Kirov,” he interrupted, not in the mood. Especially not to hear Maksim guess correctly. “I need you to work your IT magic. Find out what you can about a Kevin Nollan. Get a current addy from Eva. Dig deep.”
“Already have. Gabriel put me onto it a few weeks ago. Didn’t find anything but a rookie wannabe criminal. Had to put it on hold while I took care of some business, but I can get back to it now. What’s going on, brother?”
Vincente started the Kombat and pulled out into the slow-moving line of traffic. “Caleb Paynne called and asked . . . us . . . to give him a hand.” Maybe he’d get ridden a little less if he made it a group effort. As it was, the boys had caught on to his attraction to Eva’s friend when he hadn’t been able to hide it in Seattle. Which pissed him off. As if they were in high school or some shit. “Vex is on it but floundering. Paynne said something’s keeping her married, but it isn’t an Evabriel type of thing.” His lips quirked as he used the nickname Jak, Gabriel’s muscle who was still in Seattle, had coined for the couple.
Maks chuckled before promising, “If there’s something out there, I’ll find it.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Don’t have to thank me, V. Just tell me . . . You’re at her hotel, aren’t you?”
Ass. Hole.
Vincente disconnected the call to the sound of a deep, knowing laugh.
As he headed to St. John Cemetery for his weekly visit with Sophia, he really hoped whatever they found on Nollan wasn’t as bad as his instincts were telling him it might be.
Where the hell could it be?
Nika continued her search, keeping the sound of the shower first and foremost in her mind. When the water shut off she’d have to quit. Dammit. She shoved one side of the suitcase back against the water-stained wall and stood. Could Kevin have taken the memory stick into the bathroom with him? But all he’d worn was a towel. She shuddered at the memory and looked around. Maybe he’d had it tucked in his armpit. Because it sure as hell wasn’t out here. She’d looked everywhere.
She squatted again, feeling around the edges of the suitcase— Wait. What is—?
The water shut off.
And Nika wanted to scream—even louder when she heard the metal rings of the shower curtain slide against the rod. She whipped her fingers back from the long bump she’d been prodding on the inside seam of the case and stood quickly, moving to the bed as fast as her high-heeled feet would carry her. She plunked down, her heart slamming against her ribs, hands shaking as adrenaline flew through her bloodstream.
Had she found it? Had that small rectangular object been her ticket to escape?
Her head snapped up as Kevin strolled out of the miniscule bathroom in a cloud of steam. She sat there, nerves knotting her gut, hands clasped in her lap.
“Stand up,” he ordered. “I wanna see how you look.”
She stood.
Enjoy it while you can, asshole, because if I’ve found what I think I have, your days are numbered.
Before starting her search, she’d put on the gold dress that covered too much for a warm July evening, but that couldn’t be helped. The bruising had to be hidden.
Kevin nodded, his eyes disgustingly invasive as they roved down her body. She stayed silent and allowed the repulsed shiver to run through her once he turned away. Nika glanced in the mirror attached to the dresser and watched through the reflection as Kevin padded over to the suitcase. She pretended to fluff her hair and adjust her gold hoop earring when he glanced back at her. The second his head swiveled, her eyes were on him again, and her knees nearly buckled at the sight of him pulling one of his T-shirts over to