Page 92 of Darkest Deeds

Ava

The hangarsat Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport are baby blue. I have no idea why I think to notice, or why I even care. Maybe the thought is so mundane it keeps my mind off the fact that Ethan is pacing behind me like a caged tiger.

“Are you okay?” I ask, hugging Niko’s jacket around me and trying to sound calm.

“Where is he? You said he’d be here on time, Ava, but he’s…” Out of the corner of my eye, I see him jerk his arm out and shove the sleeve of his not-so-pressed suit jacket up. “Fifteen minutes late. Fifteen minutes, Ava! Where is he?”

He’s losing it. The formerly gelled hair is back in disarray, and his red power tie hangs loosely around his neck. If there’s any time to act, it’s now. I just hope everyone has played their part, or this is all going to blow up in my face.

Taking a deep breath, I tuck my hand in my pocket and close my eyes. “You’d better be right about this, Bruce Willis.”

Ethan’s head snaps up. “Who the hell are you talking to?”

Shit.

“Myself.”

“You know, you can drop the clueless act any time now.”

“What do you mean?”

He rolls his eyes. “Ava, come on. How stupid do you think I am? I’m an FBI agent. You don’t think I know how to read people? I knew the minute you offered to turn Gaheris in you were playing me.”

That catches my attention, but I continue playing my role. “I’m not! We’re on the same team, Ethan!”

“No, we were on the same team, but you fucked that to hell. Not only did you let Gaheris kidnap you, you let him get in your head.” He presses his fingers against his temples and looks up at me with what can only be described as disappointment. “He weakened you.”

“That’s not true,” I insist, knowing I’m starting to sound like a broken record. Deny, deny, deny, but provide no rebuttal. “It’s the other way around. I was playing him.”

“Really? Is that why you went to Dmitry and told him you wanted out behind my back? Why you told him that if I decided to fight you on this, you’d meet with me one last time and get evidence to threaten me into backing off?”

“Dmitry agreed with me!”

“Really?” Ethan’s lips curl up into a knowing smirk as if he’s about to unleash a secret weapon. “Then why did he come to me right after you left Seven and tell me everything?”

I take a step back. “No, you’re lying!”

“Come on, Ava. I know your pussy’s impressive, but I’m pretty sure there’s a brain rolling around somewhere in that head of yours. You spooked Dmitry. That asshole’s balls were the size of grapes.” As if I can’t grasp the concept, he makes a circle with his thumb and index finger to drive home his point. “I told him I’d handle everything,” The stare that was just incinerating now glints with arrogance. “Just not the way he expected.”

“What did you do, Ethan?”

“Fuck, Ava, do I have to spell it all out for you? I told Sergei everything, starting from the raid. Of course, I may have embellished somewhat.” Ethan walks in a circle around me as he describes his brilliance in detail. “I explained that after I arrested you, you said you’d give everyone what they wanted if I let you go. I could arrest Sergei, and Dmitry could get control of the Bratva. As far as he knew, I was doing my job, and my conscience got to me, but you and I both know I wasn’t going down for this.”

I glare at him over my shoulder. “You son of a bitch! You know that’s all a lie. You blackmailed me into helping you.”

“So? Who’s going to believe you? You’re a Russian mob whore, and I’m a decorated federal agent. Do the math, sweetheart.”

“You told my father I was alive, not Dmitry.”

“You’re quick today, aren’t you?” he mocks, flipping my hair with the barrel of his gun. “Sergei was only too happy to strike a deal. I mean, what mob boss doesn’t need someone on the inside, right? Getting rid of loose ends is his specialty, so I led the way to you and Gaheris as long as he got rid of Dmitry.”

“You knew Dmitry was dead when I called you?”

“No, not officially, so to cover my ass, I had to play it safe. Guess I fucked that one up, huh?”

That’s it, asshole. Keep talking.

I spin around and face him. He’s still wearing that smug-ass grin and I want to slap it off his face. “What about Niko’s mother? My father accused me of telling him where to find her, but I never said a word. Was that you? Did you kidnap an innocent woman?”