“That’s the one,” Artyom says, a hard glint in his eyes. “He said we need his laptop, that it must be incredibly secure because he can’t access it remotely. He needs it in his possession or he needs someone to plug something into it to allow him to get inside and spill all its secrets.”
After a few seconds of silence, he says what I’m thinking. “His house has a lot of eyes on it, and it’s not going to be easy to get into, not without an obvious mess, that is.”
I’m still thinking about this when Charlie says, “What’s wrong?”
I hadn’t realized she was there, and when I turn to her, I smile and hold my hand out, motioning her to me. She’s freshly scrubbed with her wet hair pulled back and in a pair of jeans and a pink T-shirt. Absolutely beautiful.
“Everything’s fine,” I tell her, pulling her onto my lap and giving her a kiss.
“Congratulations on the engagement,” Artyom says, switching to English.
“Thank you,” Charlie says, smiling at him.
“How did he propose?” Artyom smiles and leans back in his chair again. “I’d love to hear the story.”
Charlie’s face goes beet red. She suddenly becomes very interested in a loose thread on her pants and says, “He proposed before he took me to supper last night. It was very romantic.”
Artyom laughs and says in Russian, “God, she’s a terrible liar, Mikhail. I’d love to hear the real story one day.”
“Not a chance in hell,” I tell him, making him lift a brow, wondering what I’m hiding. Well, he can keep wondering. No way in fuck am I telling that story to anyone else. Only Charlie gets to see that side of me.
She looks at me and studies my face. “What’s really wrong? I don’t understand Russian, but I understand Jinx and Rossi, and I can hear in your voice that you’re upset about something.”
“What do you know about the Rossi family?” I ask, ignoring her question.
She shrugs her shoulders. “Not much at all, just that they’re an Italian mafia family, and they used to kind of run this town. Mayor Stephens supposedly cleaned house and got them to leave.”
“He did, did he?”
“That’s what everyone says. That’s how he keeps getting reelected. I think he’s a dick, though. There’s something sleazy about him that I don’t like.”
“I’ve been trying to find some dirt on him,” I admit, “but it’s been a bit harder than expected. Jinx thinks Stephens is working with the Rossi family, but he needs his laptop to connect them.”
“That’s easy enough. I can get it for you.”
“Absolutely not,” I say, looking at her like she’s lost her mind. Artyom just sits there, silently watching us.
“Why not? I can sneak in and sneak out. He’ll never even know I was there. Plus, next week is the big fundraiser he’s putting on at his house. I can buy a ticket and walk right in. He has no idea who I am, and there’s no way in hell he knows we’re engaged.”
“No,” I say, not even needing to think about it. “There’s no way in hell you’re getting mixed up in this.”
“I’m already mixed up in this,” she says, sneaking a quick kiss.
“It’s not a bad idea,” Artyom says.
I point my finger at him. “Don’t you fucking start. She’s my fiancée, and there’s no way in hell I’m putting her in danger.”
“I won’t be in danger. You can even get one of your men to go as my date, someone that the mayor won’t recognize. I’ll have my own personal bodyguard.”
“It’s not happening,” I say, shooting them both a look. “End of fucking discussion.”
They both keep quiet. Artyom’s face is a mask, a well-trained one that gives nothing away, and Charlie’s using every ounce of willpower she has to not argue. Poor thing looks like she’s in pain from the effort.
“I’ll find a way to get the laptop without using you,” I tell her. “I won’t risk it.”
“We can talk more about it later,” she says.
“No, we won’t.”