Page 56 of Sinner's Sacrifice
Yvgeny sighed. “Why does everyone think I hired that kid for his entertainment value?”
“Because that is why you hired him,” Sam said.
Yvgeny shook his head. “I hired him because he helped his mother turn her home business into a multi-million-dollar company.”
“And because you thought it would be fun to watch the FBI attempt to find dirt on you,” Baz added.
“I do not understand you people,” Benson said, looking from one face to another.
“That’s because you walked in here with a whole bunch of preconceived notions about all of us,” Yvgeny said. “Assumptions are horrible things.”
“Lazy too,” Baz added.
“Baz,” Nika said in a warning tone. “Play nice.”
He grinned at her. “Yes, dear.”
Yvgeny covered his face with one hand. “Please don’t do that in front of me.”
“Do what?” Baz asked.
“The domestic bliss thing.” He gave himself an exaggerated shake. “It gives me the heebie-jeebies.”
Nika huffed and turned to Benson. “So, about that creep, we can charge him with assault, which should get us a search warrant and his DNA.”
“Fine, yes, go ahead, charge him, get the warrant for a search and a DNA sample. Maybe we’ll get lucky.” Benson stared at them all for another long moment. “I don’t like this...” he waved his hand between Yvgeny, Baz, and Nika. “Whatever is going on here.”
“Oh, no, no, no,” Yvgeny said, putting a hand out. “Don’t lump me in with these two.”
“I’ve been told to work with you,” Benson said to Yvgeny. “Are you going to cooperate with me? Will you let me place a few people in your organization?”
“Front line staff would have the best opportunities to see mischief happening,” Yvgeny said, considering the options. “Warehouse, dock, and shipping would be my recommendation. They’d have to work hard and maintain their cover without my help.”
“Agreed,” Benson said. “I’ve got four men. Young, average guys.”
“I’ll have my assistant make the arrangements.”
Benson nodded, then his expression turned cold and hard as he stared at Yvgeny. “I don’t like you. I don’t trust you, and I don’t want to see you any more than I have to.”
“I am not here for me,” Yvgeny told him, dropping all semblance of humor. “I’m here to support my employee as she makes her police report.”
Benson stood. “Then we understand each other.” He looked at Nika. “Get her statement, get them out of here, then come to my office so we can have a chat about your boyfriend.”
Nika looked like she’d been sucking on limes. “Yes, sir.”
He left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Chapter Eight
“I don’t think he likes you,” Yvgeny said to Baz.
“I don’t think it’s just me he doesn’t like,” Baz replied. His tone was light, but his gaze didn’t move off Nika. “How big of a problem is this going to be for you?” he asked her.
She sighed and met Baz’s gaze. “I don’t know. I thought I knew what was going on, but his reactions makes me think things are not as advertised. Why tell us who is in his task force? What changed?”
“He found out we were right. The FBI had left him in the dark about some things,” Baz said with a shrug. “What can I do to help?” he asked. No conditions or caveats. He leaned forward until his elbows were braced on his knees, putting him closer to Nika. His focus was wholly on the woman.
It was Bazyli’s biggest weakness—when he loved a woman, he was all in. He held nothing back, and she became his number one priority. It didn’t matter that it had been 500 years since he’d last allowed himself to love. It was the same.