“Yes.” He nodded slowly, his attention zeroing in on Nicholette. “And it looks like my new partner will be here tomorrow to help out.”
“Partner?” she asked curiously, eyebrows raised.
“Cosimo Ricci.”
Nicholette hummed before glancing at Blake. “I feel like there’s a story there for later.” Blake grinned, and Nic let out an abrupt laugh before sobering up.
It was Sacha who jumped in next, though he directed his words and his focus at Nicholette as if there was no one else in the room. “You said you had information.”
“So do you, boss,” Nicholette said lightly. They stared at each other in a silent battle of wills that had everyone on edge until the young man whose name I didn’t know spoke up.
“We’ve been looking for people connected to the trafficking ring,” he said, ignoring Oliver when he started cursing. “But it seemssomeonegot to a few of them before us.”
“I’ve been hunting on my own.” She inclined her head, and I scoffed. I remembered the bodies I had cleaned up for her; she had done a lot more thanhuntingon her own. Rhodes narrowed his eyes at the sound, but Nicholette kept speaking without looking in my direction. “And I found out the names of the top leaders of the ring. Maeve is getting more information on them before I leave tomorrow.”
“We.” Everyone in the room corrected her at once, including Blake’s men, which only made her shrug.
“Fine,weleave tomorrow.”
“To go where?” Vas asked.
“I want the names,” Alexei said, leaning forward as if that would keep her from ignoring his request. “Now.”
“I’m not giving them until I hear from—”
“That’s no longer an option, love,” Rhodes stated, cracking his knuckles. “Whether you like it or not, you aren’t playing this alone.”
“I’m the one in charge here, Rhodes. Not you, Sacha, or anyone else,” she shot back heatedly, blue-green eyes flashing in warning. “Remember that.”
“You aren’t the only one with important people on the line. Maybeyoushould rememberthat,” Alexei countered calmly, but his words hit the mark despite their lack of volume or vitriol.
Nicholette looked down, twisting her fingers nervously. “I know.”
“Then maybe you should fucking act like it,” Maksim said with a quiet viciousness that made everyone look at him in surprise. I saw a hint of respect in the other men’s gazes before they turned back to Nic again.
For her part, Nic didn’t look surprised by their hostility. If anything, she seemed to revel in it. A hint of a smile raised her lips before it faded. Then she shifted back, curling up as if to protect herself, and given how Emmerich tensed, I wasn’t the only one who’d noticed her position.
“Graves,” Nicholette said evenly into the growing silence. “Joe and Miranda Graves are two of the leaders of the Ashview trafficking ring.”
Shock rippled through me. My job had never been to try to figure out information for our Family rivals. Sure, I’d killed a few people here and there associated with them, but my job as hitman was to follow orders, not question them. At least that was what Frederick had always told me when I questioned him. I glanced at my kids, noting the surprise on both of their faces.
“As in…”
A hard laugh ripped from her throat. “My homophobic parents who kicked me out were leaders of a child trafficking ring. Glad to know where their lines were. Maeve is getting information on them before we go up there to see what else we can find.”
“Yourparents?” Oliver asked before stumbling back a few steps.
“Oli—”
“No.” He shot out a hand, cutting Nicholette off. “Just no.” He spun on his heel and stormed out. The man I didn’t know immediately went after him, and I heard yelling before the front door slammed shut.
“Well, that went well,” Blake said dryly as they stood up, stretching their arms above their head. “Seems there is plenty for you all to sort out that you don’t need me around for.”
“I have more questions,” Emmerich interjected, talking over them. He tilted his head and made a show of looking at me, then Nic, dramatically shifting his gaze. “You two? Really?”
“There is no us,” I said dismissively, waving my hand as if the idea was ridiculous. Nicholette was absolutely no help. All she gave Emmerich was a blank stare as if that would throw him off the scent.
“The kiss at the station didn’t make it seem that way,” Alexei countered. He looked between me and Nicholette, whose expression remained completely empty. “Especially since she kissed you back.”