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them with predatory grace, and Elizabeth tensed. Detective Zucco. How nice to see you. He had a
slight accent that hinted at his Russian ancestry.
Dante scowled. Wish I could say the same.
Charming, as always. Piotr s gaze turned toward Elizabeth, and Dante held his inner fire back by
sheer force of will. The Cambion should not be looking at Elizabeth that way, heat turning his silver
gaze molten. And who might this be?
Mine, Dante snarled without thought.
Piotr stared at him, shock racing across his features before he schooled them once more into his
normal, arrogant calmness.
Elizabeth elbowed Dante in the side hard enough to nearly stagger him, then held out her hand to
Piotr. Elizabeth Rand, P.I. I don t think we ve ever met in person. I worked the Marcheson case.
Ah. Piotr glided forward and lifted her hand to his lips. At the last moment, he turned her hand so
that his greeting kiss was planted on her wrist instead of her knuckles. Charmed, Ms. Rand. The
look he shot Dante was full of wicked challenge before he turned his attention once more to Elizabeth.
And how may I help you this fine day?
Elizabeth removed her hand from Piotr s grip. We d like to know about your contributions to
Todd Blessing s gubernatorial campaign.
Romanov hesitated briefly before replying. What makes you think I contributed to the Blessing
campaign? Romanov Enterprises is not interested in politics.
We have reason to believe that these were private funds you gave to the campaign, Mr.
Romanov.
I m afraid you must be mistaken. Piotr s voice was steady, but something in his expression
seemed off somehow, as if they d managed to startle him and he was desperately trying to hide it.
Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars was stolen from the Blessing campaign. Beth stared at
Piotr with the best poker face Dante had seen in some time. According to my source, you contributed
seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Your file is the only one that s missing, and now you tell me
that you didn t contribute anything to the Blessing campaign. Are you sure of that, Piotr?
Piotr smiled. I think I would notice if I was missing three quarters of a million dollars. Even I am
not that wealthy. He stood, all dignity and ice. Will that be all, Detective?
Dante stood and Beth followed suit. For now, yes. We ll be back. Dante took the hand that Piotr
offered and shook it.
Piotr stared, his gaze sharp and focused. Prebyvaniem bezopasny, mo1 brat.
Dante froze. The traditional parting words the Neph gave one another almost choked him as he
gave them back to a man he in no way considered his brother. Stay safe, my brother.
The mocking smile Piotr gave them as they left stayed with him all the way to the car. Why would
Piotr, who knew Dante loathed him, give him the traditional parting?
And why had he seemed so intent as he said it? What the hell did the son of a bitch know, and how
much of a part did he have to play in Jennifer Blake s murder?
Dante needed to speak to Gabriel, yesterday. Piotr was in this up to his long blond hair, and the
archangel needed to know before Piotr destroyed them all.
* * *
Dante dropped Beth off with a reminder about their date that night before taking off. She walked up to
her apartment, her mind whirling, but not with thoughts of Dante. Or at least not the thoughts she
should have been having.
Something about the interview with Piotr Romanov had bothered him, badly.
Was Piotr Romanov one of them? Somehow she wouldn t be surprised to find out that one of the
scariest people in the United States was the descendant of fallen angels. It would fit, both with his
looks and his charm. There was a predator that lived within Piotr Romanov, one he kept on a tight
leash.
One Dante didn t trust.
However, Piotr had come through for Seth and Abby, giving them a safe place to stay when Abby
was being stalked by Diana. Even more importantly, Andi trusted Piotr, and for that reason Beth was
inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. She d have to make a call to her best buddy when she
had a moment or two to breathe.
Dante s issues with him would be addressed. She d listen to what he had to say and decide for
herself if Piotr was someone she could count on.
But her instincts the ones she listened to without fail told her Piotr Romanov only appeared
cold. There was something more, a loneliness when he stared at Dante, a longing for...
Ugh. She couldn t quite place her finger on what that fleeting expression on Piotr s face had been.
It wasn t sexual, it was...
Familial.
That made no sense whatsoever, but it was the closest she could come.
Beth packed up her gym bag and headed for the dojo. She needed some time to decompress, to
allow everything she d learned to percolate through her brain before she came to any conclusions,
either about their case or Piotr Romanov. And the best way to do that was to get her ass thoroughly
whipped.
She strode into the dojo, ready to work out some stress. Hey, Sensei.
Cheyenne Jones, one of the smallest and toughest women Beth had ever met, waved cheerfully.
Hey, Beth. Haven t seen you in a few days.
Beth grinned. Work, work, work.
Her Sensei laughed. I hear ya. The woman s Carolina drawl was thick with amusement. Ready
to work, work, work some more?
I hate you. Beth sighed. She changed into her gi quickly, the routine familiar. When she stepped
onto the mat, she bowed to her sensei, ready to warm up and spar.
Beth fought hard and furious, and still knew she was going to lose. Sensei flipped her on her back
and hit her with the touch that signified a disabling blow embarrassingly quickly.
Damn it, Beth! What the hell is wrong with you tonight? Your mind is all over the place. I should
never have landed that move on you, girl! The normally slow Carolina drawl was quick, disgusted.
Beth panted and pushed her sweat-dampened hair out of her face, staring sheepishly at the
diminutive woman who stood over her. Sensei had her hands on her hips, a sure sign that she was
displeased. Beth winced as she thought of what Sensei was going to put her through for her [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl exclamation.htw.pl
them with predatory grace, and Elizabeth tensed. Detective Zucco. How nice to see you. He had a
slight accent that hinted at his Russian ancestry.
Dante scowled. Wish I could say the same.
Charming, as always. Piotr s gaze turned toward Elizabeth, and Dante held his inner fire back by
sheer force of will. The Cambion should not be looking at Elizabeth that way, heat turning his silver
gaze molten. And who might this be?
Mine, Dante snarled without thought.
Piotr stared at him, shock racing across his features before he schooled them once more into his
normal, arrogant calmness.
Elizabeth elbowed Dante in the side hard enough to nearly stagger him, then held out her hand to
Piotr. Elizabeth Rand, P.I. I don t think we ve ever met in person. I worked the Marcheson case.
Ah. Piotr glided forward and lifted her hand to his lips. At the last moment, he turned her hand so
that his greeting kiss was planted on her wrist instead of her knuckles. Charmed, Ms. Rand. The
look he shot Dante was full of wicked challenge before he turned his attention once more to Elizabeth.
And how may I help you this fine day?
Elizabeth removed her hand from Piotr s grip. We d like to know about your contributions to
Todd Blessing s gubernatorial campaign.
Romanov hesitated briefly before replying. What makes you think I contributed to the Blessing
campaign? Romanov Enterprises is not interested in politics.
We have reason to believe that these were private funds you gave to the campaign, Mr.
Romanov.
I m afraid you must be mistaken. Piotr s voice was steady, but something in his expression
seemed off somehow, as if they d managed to startle him and he was desperately trying to hide it.
Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars was stolen from the Blessing campaign. Beth stared at
Piotr with the best poker face Dante had seen in some time. According to my source, you contributed
seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Your file is the only one that s missing, and now you tell me
that you didn t contribute anything to the Blessing campaign. Are you sure of that, Piotr?
Piotr smiled. I think I would notice if I was missing three quarters of a million dollars. Even I am
not that wealthy. He stood, all dignity and ice. Will that be all, Detective?
Dante stood and Beth followed suit. For now, yes. We ll be back. Dante took the hand that Piotr
offered and shook it.
Piotr stared, his gaze sharp and focused. Prebyvaniem bezopasny, mo1 brat.
Dante froze. The traditional parting words the Neph gave one another almost choked him as he
gave them back to a man he in no way considered his brother. Stay safe, my brother.
The mocking smile Piotr gave them as they left stayed with him all the way to the car. Why would
Piotr, who knew Dante loathed him, give him the traditional parting?
And why had he seemed so intent as he said it? What the hell did the son of a bitch know, and how
much of a part did he have to play in Jennifer Blake s murder?
Dante needed to speak to Gabriel, yesterday. Piotr was in this up to his long blond hair, and the
archangel needed to know before Piotr destroyed them all.
* * *
Dante dropped Beth off with a reminder about their date that night before taking off. She walked up to
her apartment, her mind whirling, but not with thoughts of Dante. Or at least not the thoughts she
should have been having.
Something about the interview with Piotr Romanov had bothered him, badly.
Was Piotr Romanov one of them? Somehow she wouldn t be surprised to find out that one of the
scariest people in the United States was the descendant of fallen angels. It would fit, both with his
looks and his charm. There was a predator that lived within Piotr Romanov, one he kept on a tight
leash.
One Dante didn t trust.
However, Piotr had come through for Seth and Abby, giving them a safe place to stay when Abby
was being stalked by Diana. Even more importantly, Andi trusted Piotr, and for that reason Beth was
inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. She d have to make a call to her best buddy when she
had a moment or two to breathe.
Dante s issues with him would be addressed. She d listen to what he had to say and decide for
herself if Piotr was someone she could count on.
But her instincts the ones she listened to without fail told her Piotr Romanov only appeared
cold. There was something more, a loneliness when he stared at Dante, a longing for...
Ugh. She couldn t quite place her finger on what that fleeting expression on Piotr s face had been.
It wasn t sexual, it was...
Familial.
That made no sense whatsoever, but it was the closest she could come.
Beth packed up her gym bag and headed for the dojo. She needed some time to decompress, to
allow everything she d learned to percolate through her brain before she came to any conclusions,
either about their case or Piotr Romanov. And the best way to do that was to get her ass thoroughly
whipped.
She strode into the dojo, ready to work out some stress. Hey, Sensei.
Cheyenne Jones, one of the smallest and toughest women Beth had ever met, waved cheerfully.
Hey, Beth. Haven t seen you in a few days.
Beth grinned. Work, work, work.
Her Sensei laughed. I hear ya. The woman s Carolina drawl was thick with amusement. Ready
to work, work, work some more?
I hate you. Beth sighed. She changed into her gi quickly, the routine familiar. When she stepped
onto the mat, she bowed to her sensei, ready to warm up and spar.
Beth fought hard and furious, and still knew she was going to lose. Sensei flipped her on her back
and hit her with the touch that signified a disabling blow embarrassingly quickly.
Damn it, Beth! What the hell is wrong with you tonight? Your mind is all over the place. I should
never have landed that move on you, girl! The normally slow Carolina drawl was quick, disgusted.
Beth panted and pushed her sweat-dampened hair out of her face, staring sheepishly at the
diminutive woman who stood over her. Sensei had her hands on her hips, a sure sign that she was
displeased. Beth winced as she thought of what Sensei was going to put her through for her [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]