Page 46 of Mission Shift

Nik’s expression finally changed subtly—a crack in the mask.

I laughed, but there was no humor in it, just raw, blistering fury. “You didn’t even fucking know, did you? You just saw an easy opportunity for a trade, and now she’s gone.”

A muscle ticced in his jaw, a shadow of doubt creeping into his eyes. I could tell—this was news to him.

And that just pissed me off all the more.

“She saved my life,” I growled. “She got me out of a Russian prison and blew her cover to protect me. Now, she’s Russia’s number-one target.”

Silence.

Even Nik’s men stepped back as the realization of what had just happened began to dawn on them.

I took a step closer, into Nik’s space, dropping my voice to a venomous hiss. “She will not survive whatever hell they’re about to put her through.”

I exhaled sharply. My hands were trembling, and my body was wired with rage,but I forced myself to hold Nik’s gaze.

“I had no idea,” he admitted.

“No shit,” I snapped.

I was so on edge that my entire fucking body was vibrating with adrenaline, with the need to punch something—to punch him.

I shoved Nik hard in the chest.

The impact sent him back a step, his boots kicking up dirt.

Nik’s men snapped to attention, shifting forward on instinct, but I lifted my arms in mock invitation.

“Great!” I barked. “I’ll take all you motherfuckers on.”

None of them moved any closer. Because they knew better. This wasn’t their fight.

This was between Nik and me.

I grabbed two fistfuls of his shirt, jerking him forward until my face was only inches from his.

“You irresponsible piece of shit,” I snarled. “You almost got Anastasia killed. You nearly got my brothers killed. You are a goddamn liability.”

Nik’s eyes narrowed.

“You walk around playing king of the fucking world,” I spat, “but you’re just a Russian mafia lackey. You want to play hacker, cool guy, moving through the world as if nothing matters save your sister—that is,whenyou grace her with your occasional presence.”

The moment the words left my mouth, Nik’s muscles tensed beneath my grip. I’d gotten to his pride.

Then—

He broke my hold.

My arms flew back as he ripped away. His scowl was my last warning. And then he was in my face.

“You’re just a naïve little boy,” he hissed in a deadly low tone, “who doesn’t know shit.”

That did it.

I swung first.

My fist slammed into his jaw.

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