Page 165 of Malicious Claim

"You're fortunate I took care of Dimitri before he could expose you."

I stood there still, shocked.

"What did you do?" I asked at last.

"I saved your skin, Leila. Dragon was going to interrogate Dmitri until he gave up your name but I just couldn't let that happen. Listen, I'm looking for revenge because Makros had my brother killed. And I'm going to make him pay. Just like you're planning to."

Distrust twisted in my belly. "Oh, sure. Makros sent you after me."

Nicolai's lips creased in a spasm of humor. "If you're that stupid, then you are dumber than I believed."

I schooled my face. "I don't know what you think you know, but I'm just a prisoner here. I have no power, no friends. Nothing."

"Think it over," he said shortly.

He became businesslike in the next seconds, his tone cold and impassive. "Makros said you may go out of the house today. Under my watchful eye."

My fingers trembled at the words. Watchful eye.

"Help me, and I can allow you to make whatever arrangements you desire," Nicolai offered. "I know you desire revenge. I know you desire to break out of here. I can provide for that."

I demurred. "Oh very enticing, but I'm not going to take the bait."

"You think this is an ambush? I know that you met with the man and I know what mission he sent you on." He paused. "Why did you think I killed Dimitri? He would have complicated our mission."

I swallowed hard, holding the blank expression even as my thoughts were a mess. "Our mission?" I repeated in an effortlessly detached tone.

Nicolai tilted his head to one side, looking at me like a cat looking at a cornered mouse. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, Leila. You want Makros to crash. I want Makros to crash. That makes us even. Vincenzo has the resources we don't."

"You don't know what I want," I retorted.

"Don't I?" He smiled, then laughed scornfully.

I shivered up my spine. "And what if I say no?"

Nicolai exhaled, his smile wavering for only a moment. "Then you're a liability. Makros would have you killed for betraying him and so would Vincenzo. There's no turning back now, no in betweens. So, riddle me this Leila, where does yourloyalty lie? I'm giving you something concrete, Leila. Don't be stupid."

I glared at him. "And if I don't want to be stupid?"

He smiled begrudgingly. "Then we kill Makros together."

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Dario Conti I

The car moved along streets in the beautiful Palermo city sunset, the golden light attempting to find its way through the tinted windows. Leila shivered a little in the passenger seat, the AC blasting so much cold air on her skin.

Nicolai drove using one hand, randomly flipping radio stations with the other. Static cracked. Commercials droned. Half-songs merged into each other before he finally wound up on a news station.

Horns blared outside as cars crawled. A motorcycle rider cut through traffic with a wildman's touch, passing by a delivery truck by inches. Leila leaned against the window, looking without seeing, her thoughts far away.

In her lap, the envelope rested, its corners creased from having been opened so often. She ran her thumb over the crease, then at last broke the silence.

"Who is Dario Conti, then?"

Nicolai smiled, eyes still focused on the road. "It doesn't matter. In this line of work, you do what you're instructed and ask questions later. That's the kind of loyalty Vincenzo requires."

Leila breathed deeply. She'd never liked people expecting anything from her. "I was going to do it alone. Get the kill off by myself and not involve anyone else."

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