Page 354 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

It was a smart move to leave my knife planted in Vigo’s throat…once I wiped off the fingerprints. It gives the perception that I am helpless, sans weapon.

I’mnot.

Besides, you just never know when you’re going to be frisked by a gorgeous yet mysterious stranger with a gun.

I know from past experience that Tatiana has a hidden exit that doesn’t require you to go through the restaurant. It’s usually locked, but tonight I happen to have stolen the key from Vigo’s jacket after butchering him. I tucked it into my bra for safekeeping.

When I get to the top of the stairs, I swivel around, popping my eyes open wide like a deer in headlights, really playing up the role of damsel in distress. The guys totally eat it up and they flank me on both sides as we enter the back of the restaurant. The music from the lounge pulsates, vibrations rippling through me as I stand in the center of them, quivering with ‘fear’.

The guy who frisked me murmurs something against my hair, and his warm breath against my cheek makes the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.

He knows about the other exit, too.

“I-I have a key,” I whisper, my words still heavily accented. “It fell out of his pocket and I grabbed it. Maybe we should try it?” I’ve been here in Brooklyn for ten years and worked tirelessly to drop my accent. It just helps me blend better and people don’t readily assume I fled the Ukraine because some psychopaths were on the hunt to destroy my family. But it comes in handy during times like these when I’m playing a part.

And doing a damn good job, if I say so myself.

The guy looks at me, his thick eyebrows knitting together. We hurry toward the exit door and I pull the key out of my bra, making sure my hand quivers just enough to be believable. It takes me a few seconds to stick it in the lock, but that’s all part of the ruse. Finally, it slides in and I twist the handle.

I rub my hands down the sides of my arms once we’re outside.

I need to ditch these guys fast and strip out of this costume.

I’ve already been spotted in the casino with Vigo tonight, so shedding this getup is the only way I can fly under the radar and avoid potential retaliation by any of his allies who might be watching.

But I can’t very well do it here on the street.

My eyes scout the desolate alleyway right next to the restaurant. If they would just piss off, I could go behind one of the dumpsters and do my quick change.

But the shorter, darker guy grabs my arm and pulls me toward the street. “Let’s go have a drink,” he mutters. “I’m sure you can use one.”

“No, no,” I say, holding up my hands in protest. “Please, I just want to go home. Thank you for saving me, but?—”

He stops, his deep blue eyes narrowing. “It wasn’t a question.”

“But I’m not thirsty,” I say weakly.

“I’m not used to women turning me down.” A small smile quirks at his lips, but there’s something behind it. Suspicion, maybe. This isn’t a social call. For fuck’s sake, he and his friend came barreling into Vigo’s office toting Glocks. He’s not just trying to be nice and helpful, and that knowledge has my skin crawling. “You’re taking a sledgehammer to my self-esteem right now.”

I highly doubtthat.

His fingers dig into my arms, gripping me tighter. “Don’t walk away. I’m the kind of guy who will be able to find you no matter where you run off to.”

Shit.

Looks like I need a Plan B.

Between them, they’re a combined total of about four-hundred pounds of cut muscleandthey have guns.

I have some pretty lethal moves, but they’d draw too much attention to me out here in the open.

So I expel a sigh and nod.

I guess it’s story time.

They keep me positioned in the middle as we walk down the street toward the strip of bars in the next block. It’s unusually quiet tonight, and I was hoping to get in, carry out the hit, get out, and be in bed before eleven. Who the hell knew my plans would get thwarted by these two?

I bet any other girl on the planet would be thanking her lucky stars for a chance to be sandwiched between them, but as far as I’m concerned, they’re just super-hot obstacles I need to kick out of my path.

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