Page 82 of The Brigadier

“Yeah, I will. I’m heading out,” I told them. “One way or another. Let me know about Balian.” Vadim was more nervous than I’d originally thought.

“Hold on. Your guest?” Aleksander couldn’t resist teasing me relentlessly.

I popped him in the stomach. “None of your business. How’s the kid factory coming?”

He rolled his eyes. “Can you imagine Raphaella’s reaction? She wanted nothing to do with the business. If her only son was suddenly Don, I think she’d lose her mind.”

“Could be fun to see,” Vadim suggested.

“The two of you are terrible friends. Terrible. I’m leaving.” Aleks acted as if he was leaving in a huff, but we knew better.

“If you learn anything different, let me know. Take care,” Vadim said. Being out in the open wasn’t in our best interest, no matter what street the restaurant was on.

I quickly headed for the SUV, dialing Tanner. My patience was shot today.

“Fuck, boss. I’m sorry. It took me a little while to track her down and the little wiry chick managed to get away from me. She was positive I was a cop.” Tanner laughed.

“You’re on the way.”

“Yeah. Don’t you hear her muffled cries?”

“You gagged her?” I couldn’t help but find myself amused. If there was one thing the man hated, it was chattering women.

“Tied the bitch down too. You know how I am.”

I grinned as Maxim opened the back door, allowing me to jump inside. “More than you know. Text the address.”

“On its way.” I made certain he had followed through before exhaling.

“Okay. Don’t touch her. Understood?”

Tanner snorted. “I do enjoy slicing and dicing but not women. Not enough meat on their bones.”

“You’re a sick man.”

He just laughed, the sound fairly maniacal. You had to be a little nuts to enjoy this kind of profession.

Danny jumped into the front passenger seat, looking back at me immediately. “Tanner has her?”

“Yes.”

“Does Chantel know?”

“She understands the situation is getting out of hand. And that I need to do what’s necessary,” I told them.

“Uh-huh,” Maxim said. “He hasn’t told her.”

“Nope,” Danny added.

“Very funny. Let’s just get this shit taken care of.” I sat back in the seat, grabbing my phone. I’d taken some highly provocative and entirely private pictures. For my eyes only.

Chantel was…

In my opinion, utter perfection.

CHAPTER 24

Nikolay