Page 63 of Devil's Retribution

Chapter 24

Viktor

We were all full, and Nick was sleepy from it, by the time we made it home three hours later. The cleaner had done his job well, only the throw blanket, the body and a couple of couch cushions were gone. The faint smell of sanitizer hung in the air, and there wasn’t a spot of blood anywhere. I knew for a fact that if any crime scene techs came into this place, they would find nothing. My guy was that thorough.

Emma sighed with relief as she saw it. I couldn’t blame her. She had looked terrified when we’d left, and had been even more worried that Nick would realize there was a dead body in the living room. Now, however, there was no trace of the man.

I regretted having to shoot him in front of her. But with the way she’d thrown herself to the side when I’d walked in, I knew she was praying for me to do exactly what I had. And I could guess why.

So now I had a nephew as well as a lover. And if I was not careful, one of my enemies would target them. Not just Charles. But perhaps, Igor, or some of the others. I definitely had to get Emma armed and trained as quickly as possible, and do the same for Nick as soon as he was of age. As today had illustrated, I couldn’t always be there when they needed me.

We were just all fortunate that I had been this time.

We put Nick to bed and returned to the living room, where Emma stared at the couche for several seconds before finally saying, “I don’t think I can sit in here right now.”

“That’s understandable.” I led her to the kitchen table and went to make us drinks. “May I mix you up a cocktail?”

“I know I don’t really drink, but after today? Vodka straight.”

I laughed and went to get the vodka bottle out of the freezer. “Understood.”

“He was sent by my uncle to kill both of us, Viktor,” she said quietly as I came back over. “How could he do that? Nick is just a child.”

I blinked, then set my glass before her and sat across from her. “I see. That’s a change. Before, he abandoned you and all his employees, but he didn’t send a hitter after you.”

“I know. I’m worried. It seems like he somehow knows I’ve turned against him.”

I looked around. “We had this place swept for listening devices. I know you haven’t been talking about this to outsiders, either.”

“No. No, I’ve been very careful about that.” Her soft, worried gaze met mine and I felt my chest tighten.

That leaves only one alternative. And I don’t like it one bit.

“It seems I need to talk to my lieutenants about a potential spy,” I said grimly. “It’s clear someone has been passing sensitive information on to my enemies lately. This isn’t the first evidence I have seen of it.” And I’d been too busy with everything else to give that the proper attention it deserved.

“Do you want me to move you to a hotel or safehouse?” I asked her.

She thought about it, then shook her head. “No. I want to learn to defend myself and Nick, and I want to help you catch whoever is passing things on to my uncle. I let Mr. Layton in, but this penthouse is probably as safe as anywhere right now.”

I was surprised by her courage in the face of what was going on. But maybe, after everything, I shouldn’t have been. “You seemed shocked at my offering to supply and train you with a firearm.”

“Only at first. Truth is, I should have guessed you would suggest that as soon as something like this happened.” She looked at me apologetically before taking an almost dainty sip of her vodka.

“I’m a practical man. And I’m no longer too concerned that you’ll be turning the gun on me at any point.” I offered a wry little smile. We had come so far, but neither of us had forgotten where we’d started out.

“Fine, then I’m taking you up on it. For Nick’s sake more than anything.”

I smiled, tilting my head a little. “You seem to be taking it well, that it turns out Nick is my nephew as well.”

“Well, I mean, it was great to have some good news in the middle of all of this.” Her smile was an awkward flash of teeth.

“Even though his connection to me may make you both targets?”

The awkward smile vanished. “We’re already targets, Viktor. Even when Uncle Charles is gone, all billionaires are targets who need serious security. I wasn’t thinking about your bringing us more danger when you came through the door this afternoon. I was thinking about your being the only one who could save us right then.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re able to trust me that much now. But now we need to teach you to trust in yourself, and the skills I will help you build.”

I got my laptop and showed her a few firearms websites. “Let’s start with you looking through some of what is available. My selection is broader, but these are good examples. Rule out anything below nine-millimeter. Small caliber guns might be popular, but a .22 or a .38 are pointless for defending yourself and others. They’re not one-shot stops, especially to a professional who has been hit before.”