Ana took the martini from the handsome butch bartender and sipped the smooth icy vodka like it would soothe her soul. And it almost did. But vodka wasn’t quite enough anymore to take the edge off, and she prayed the alliance she’d started with Neal and the Mancusos would give her a way out of the life Mikhail had made for them.
“Why are we back at this place?” Katia asked. “It’s so boring.”
“Boring is underrated.” Ana looked around. Sanctuary wasn’t as busy as usual, but it was still quite full. Thankfully, since she wanted this next meeting with Neal to be somewhat clandestine. Mikhail was out of town for a few days which eliminated the possibility he might appear, but he had eyes everywhere and she couldn’t be certain no one had followed them here. She’d considered going somewhere different, but a new venue was sure to raise more suspicion than revisiting this club that Mikhail didn’t care for anyway. “I like it here. It’s not as manic as the clubs Mikhail likes.”
“True, true.” Katia sipped her drink and glanced around the bar. “Are you meeting your new friend here or are we looking for someone, how shall I put this delicately, less rough around the edges?”
Ana heard the slight twinge of jealously, but she was used to Katia not wanting to share her with anyone. Still, she needed to get Katia under control if she was going to have any hope of carrying out her plans. “This is business, Katia. You forget that I am a custodian of my family’s wealth as much as Mikhail is and I’m less likely to be distracted by material things and good-looking women.” She stared hard into Katia’s eyes, hoping she got the message. “If I choose to pursue personal interests, I will not let them interfere with business. Neal is a business arrangement. Nothing more. Do you understand?”
Katia’s jaw clenched, but she nodded her assent, and Ana didn’t push. Katia was a friend, but she too was a business arrangement, a gift from her father for not pushing back on the marriage to Mikhail. On some level, Katia must know she wouldn’t have come to the States but for Ana’s unique situation. If her union with Mikhail were to fall apart, would she still have a place here?
This was not the time to think of such things. She needed to be focused for her meeting with Neal.
Like she’d been conjured from thought, Neal appeared across the room, striding toward her, her eyes never straying from hers no matter how many people crossed her path on the way over. Ana lost complete track of time and a moment or an hour later, Neal appeared at her side. She held out her hand, and Ana looked down at it for a moment before she realized Neal was gesturing to her drink. She handed it over and watched while Neal slowly tipped the glass to her lips and took a long, slow swallow. Her eyes closed as she drank, like she was immersed in the experience, giving it her sole focus, and in that instant, Ana wished Neal was immersed in her as well.
“Thank you,” Neal said as she handed her the now empty glass.
Ana shook away her decidedly unbusinesslike thoughts. “One would think you hadn’t had a drink in days. Isn’t liquor the heart of the Mancuso trade?”
Neal half-smiled. “Ironic, right? It seems someone delivered an entire truckload of liquor to our warehouse, but the bottles had been tampered with and they were empty. Can you believe that?”
“It sounds like your business isn’t doing very well.”
Both Ana and Neal turned toward Katia. Ana wanted to scold her, but also didn’t want to give the impression in front of Neal that anything Katia said deserved much credence. While she cast about for the right approach, Neal beat her to it.
“Business is great, actually. We were already overstocked, so we didn’t need the new shipment. We always seem to make things work. No matter who tries to interfere.”
Ana bristled inwardly at the words, but she kept her steely mask in place. It was time to talk to Neal alone and she no longer cared about Katia’s reaction. “That’s great news. Now, I would like to talk to you about the arrangement we discussed. There are quiet rooms upstairs. Follow me.” She took two steps before turning back to Katia. “Thank you for keeping an eye out. I couldn’t do anything without you.”
The words made her gag, but Katia’s eyes softened at the praise and she knew she’d bought a bit of favor, hopefully enough to get Neal on board.
When they reached the last room off the hallway upstairs, Ana reached for the chain around her neck and slipped off a small key. She’d leased the private room in Mikhail’s name months ago, but he didn’t even know it existed. She’d used it for her assignations, but this was the first time for business. When she led Neal into the room, she glanced around looking for signs of past visits that might betray her, but everything was in its place. The bed was made, the desk was clear, and the bookshelves were full of rows of classics, designed to conceal any hint of controversy. This was her sanctuary.
“This is a beautiful space,” Neal said. “It’s all yours, right?”
“It is.” She waited a few beats and then added, “I sometimes need a place to be alone.”
Neal shot a look at the large king-sized bed with the canopy. “Alone?”
“I didn’t bring you up here to discuss my personal life.”
Neal shoved her hands in her pockets. “You’re the one who brought me to your private place.”
She was right, of course. Ana decided her primary goal needed to be keeping a level head while Neal was around or she wasn’t going to accomplish much else. She pointed at two chairs in the corner of the room, far from the bed. “Let’s sit. We have much to discuss.”
Neal hesitated for a moment before following her across the room. She sat first, choosing the chair with the best view of the door, exactly as a bodyguard would.
“Do you like protecting people?” Ana let the question spill out despite the fact it was completely off topic. “Or is it simply a good way to make money?”
Neal cocked her head and drew in her bottom lip, a move Ana was starting to recognize as her thinking face. Silence followed for a few weighty moments before Neal finally spoke.
“It was never a job. Let’s just say I was called to serve.”
Ana waited for more, but Neal didn’t add to the statement, leaving Ana to either conjure a follow-up question or fill in the blanks on her own. She’d done all the research she could do without drawing attention. Neal had been a college basketball star on a full scholarship to Tulane, certain to go on to stardom with the WNBA, but in her junior year, her world came crashing down. An injury took her out of the game forever. She dropped out of school and moved to Dallas where she started working for the Mancuso family. The internet trail dried up there, but the timing was too convenient to be a coincidence.
“And now you’re in charge,” Ana said, hoping to draw some sort of reaction. “Do you like it?”
“Who said I’m in charge?”
“You appear to be.”
Neal’s eyes took on a faraway look and Ana wanted to ask her what thoughts triggered the distraction, but the moment she’d observed felt a little personal to intrude upon.
After a moment, Neal squared her jaw and her voice was forceful like she was convincing herself as much as making a declaration. “Yes, I’m in charge.”
Ana nodded. “Then that’s settled, but you never answered my question.”
“What question was that?”
“Do you like protecting people?”
“It’s not what I do anymore.”
Ana noted a somewhat wistful tone behind Neal’s words. “Of course it is. When you fight for something as hard as you fought to win at Tulane, it creates a connection, a responsibility. When you’re in charge, that obligation multiples.”
Neal cocked her head. “How would you know?”
“You think I’m nothing more than a trophy wife, meddling in my husband’s business.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to. Something is causing you to hesitate when it comes to working with me.” She waved her hands in a sweeping motion. “Until we clear the air, there is no sense moving forward.”
Neal stood and leaned deep into her space. “The only one who can clear the air is you, and until you tell me exactly what you’re up to, there’s nothing more to discuss.” She rocked back on her heels and her smile was broad and self-satisfied. “How’s that for being in charge?”
* * *
The silence between them was loud with portent, but with each passing second, Neal wondered if she’d pushed too hard and Ana would walk away. The rebellious part of her wanted to tell Ana to take her money and go, but the sensible part knew there’d be hell to pay if she blew this opportunity, no matter how sketchy it might seem. She’d watched Siobhan negotiate with enemies on behalf of the family so many times and she dug deep to find an appropriate response from her mentor’s past accomplishments.
Get more than you give, but always let them think they bested you.
“The money is not enough. How do I know it’s not traceable? How do I know that Mikhail isn’t going to come looking for it, stoking a bigger fight? You say that he’s working with Dominique but offer nothing to prove why she would betray her own family by aligning herself with their sworn enemy, and on top of that, you’re asking me to essentially do the same by joining forces with you. The very least you can offer is a motive for your actions. Money means nothing if it comes with disaster.”
Neal waited, poised and ready to head to the door, but hoping Ana would give her something, anything because as much as she feared the consequences of this alliance, she feared more what would happen if she was left without Ana’s resources.
Ana settled onto the couch and pointed at the spot next to her. “Sit.” After Neal didn’t move, she softened her tone. “Please.”
Neal took her time walking over to the couch and when she sat, she made sure she was as far from Ana as possible. Ana’s very presence was incredibly distracting, and she didn’t need anything to detract from her sole purpose. Siobhan had spent years under tight control, never letting the lure of beautiful women sway her from her focus on the family business. She’d come to clubs like Sanctuary, and partake in temporary pleasure, but relationships were relegated to business only.
Until she’d met Royal, and then her singular resolve had dissolved and she let passion lead her into a relationship with a sworn enemy of the family, an undercover FBI agent bent on bringing the entire family down. Now Siobhan had fled the country with the enemy and left their entire business in disarray, proving passion led to nothing good. She wasn’t about to make the same mistake.
She shifted in her seat to face Ana, while still staying as far away as possible. “I’m waiting.”
“I know.” Ana sighed. “I told you before, my marriage to Mikhail was arranged when I was young. Before I knew who I really was or had a chance to plot out a future for myself. You cannot understand what it’s like to grow up in Russia where everything is tightly controlled, and when you are a woman, even a rich woman from a prominent family, your choices are few.”
Neal flashed to the picture that had hung in the living room of her childhood home of her mother and father standing before an altar, her mother’s puffy dress barely covering the bump in her abdomen with yards of cheap tulle. Her father had lasted until two months after she’d been born before he controlled the situation by fleeing from it. “Don’t tell me what I cannot understand.”
Ana nodded. “My apologies. I do not know every detail of your past, but I do know you are able to go to clubs and pick up women without fear of reprisal.”
“Is that what this is about? You want the freedom to pick up women? With the money you sent to us, you could buy any access you want.”
“You underestimate me. Yes, I can buy whatever I want or need, except for the one thing I value most of all. My freedom. I will always be tied to Mikhail and his decisions, even if I have no control over the choices he makes. I can purchase comfort, but unless I can escape, I will never know freedom. That’s where you come in.”
Neal was curious, but leery. “You want me to help you divorce Mikhail?”
“There’s no such thing as divorce in my world. Besides, paperwork is a minor distraction, Mikhail would never let me go. I need a more permanent solution.”
Holy shit. Neal took a moment to reflect on the implications of killing Mikhail Petrov. His death or even an attempt on his life would spark an all-out war between their factions and, if Dominique really was working with Petrov, the Mancusos would not survive. Still, she had to be sure she understood what Ana was asking before she considered outright rejection. “You want me to kill Mikhail for you?”
Ana fixed her with an icy stare. “If there’s killing tobe done, I’m perfectly capable of making the arrangements. It’s what happens after that needs to be carefully planned and executed.”
She emphasized the word “executed” and Neal took note not to get on her shit list. Ana Petrov was a force and she was drawn to her in ways that could bring them all down. Was this how Siobhan had felt when she started to fall for Royal? While she kind of trusted Siobhan knew what she was doing with Royal, her continued absence and its effect on the family was taking a toll. She would not make the same mistake as her mentor in falling for her enemy, but she and Ana had the same goal when it came to Mikhail. If she was careful to guard her feelings, this might be the perfect arrangement.
“You’ll have to tell me everything. I assume you want to disappear, or are you intending to take over?”
“I haven’t decided.” Ana reached out a hand and placed it on her knee. “Let’s explore both options, shall we?”
The warmth of her hand seared through Neal, and she wanted to run, but she stayed in place hoping Ana didn’t notice her discomfort or, if she did, didn’t detect the source of it. “I have the connections you need to disappear, but if you intend to assume the business, that will be much more involved.”
“But you can make it happen.”
She wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t about to convey her lack of surety to Ana. It wasn’t good business, but more than that, she wanted to do this thing for her. Mikhail was an ass, and anyone would want to break free, but it was more than that. Helping Ana dispose of him and take over the Petrov empire would bring her pleasure, and when it came to Ana, pleasure was something she definitely wanted to pursue.
“I need time, but yes, I can do this.” She rattled off a list of information she needed from Ana. Proprietary information about the Petrov business, accounts, etc. She wasn’t sure what all she would need so she mimicked the requests she’d heard Siobhan make in the past, trusting in her own ability to either figure out what to do next or find someone who could.
“Get this to me within two days,” Neal said. “We have to move fast because if anyone knows you were here, meeting with me, then they will be on to you.” She jerked her chin to the door. “What about your lady-in-waiting?”
“Katia?” Ana shook her head. “She’s harmless.”
“No one is harmless.” Neal reached over and unbuttoned the first few buttons of Ana’s blouse before reaching up and ruffling her hair. The faux flirtation was enough to send a surge of heat through her, and she very nearly leaned in to press her lips to Ana’s before pulling back.
“What are you doing?” Ana asked, her voice a breathless whisper.
“Setting the stage.” Neal pointed to the door. “A hundred dollars says she’s right outside. Go first and let her see you like this and she’ll think this meeting was nothing more than sex.” She paused long enough to let the idea spark in the air. “You need to make her believe it.”
Ana stood and very deliberately undid another button, revealing ample, ivory cleavage. Her hand lingered on her blouse while her eyes locked with Neal’s and it was all Neal could do to remain upright. Next, Ana reached her free hand up along her neck, pulling her hair up and then shaking it loose in a sexy display of femininity that weakened Neal’s knees. This woman was hot and dangerous, and she was going to be in big trouble if she stayed in this room another moment.
“Change of plans,” she said. “I’m heading out. Stay here. If she comes looking for you, let her find you on the bed.” She took two steps to the door and turned back. “Contact me when you have the information we’ll need. And, Ana?”
“Yes, Neal?”
She started to say that next time they’d need to meet somewhere more formal, less likely to have a bed in the room, but the idea only conjured a vision of Ana with her blouse unbuttoned, lying on the bed, waiting for her, and the image robbed her of words. She shook her head. “Never mind.”
The cold night air took the edge off as she left Sanctuary. She stopped on the street, torn between going home to process what had just happened and finding another club, another way to release the pent-up tension. She decided to walk for a bit and then choose, but she’d barely made it down the street when she spotted a tall shadow coming up close from behind and her senses went on high alert. When the figure drew closer, she turned swiftly and nearly collided with whoever it was. Something that felt like hard metal pushed against her side and she looked down to see a gun protruding from the stranger’s hand. Was this one of Mikhail’s men, watching out for his wife while he was away?
“Don’t speak.”
The voice was slightly muffled through the scarf that covered the stranger’s face, but it sounded vaguely familiar. Ignoring the gun in her side, she reached up and pushed aside the scarf, and the light from the nearby streetlamp revealed the stranger’s identity.
“Royal?”
Royal nodded and placed a finger over her lips. She pointed to an SUV parked several feet away and motioned for Neal to walk in front of her, but Neal didn’t budge. “Lose the gun,” she whispered.
“Lose the attitude.” She gestured to the door of the SUV. “Get in now.”
Neal stared at the door and back at Royal. Siobhan may have fallen for this woman, but Neal didn’t believe a life-long federal agent would blow up an undercover investigation and chunk her entire career over a woman even if that woman was Siobhan Collins. She was certain Royal was more interested in Siobhan’s connections than her beauty and smarts. Siobhan may have fallen under Royal’s spell, but she wasn’t about to get into a vehicle with a rogue federal agent who was holding her at gunpoint.
She stepped to the side and swung her leg toward Royal’s, knocking it out from under her. Royal lost her balance, but she caught herself on the fender of the car and lunged toward Neal who jumped backward out of her grasp. Royal lost hold of the gun in the process and it skittered across the pavement. Both of them dove for it and were rolling around on the pavement when a voice called out from the SUV.
“Stop that nonsense and get in the car. Both of you.”
Neal pushed Royal off of her and looked toward the window of the SUV. The woman who’d spoken was in the shadows, but her brisk, no-nonsense tone was unmistakable.
Siobhan Collins had returned and now everything was about to change.