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“What did you do to him?” Amelia screeches in some weird accent that is probably supposed to be Russian.

“N—” I try to get the words out, but Amelia snaps her fingers at the men by my side.

“You will pay for this. All of you.”

“Fox, I—” the big one starts, but Amelia silences him with another snap of her fingers.

“Release him, you fools. I sent him to look afteryou.”

There’s no way they are buying this. Her accent is terrible. But I’ll take any advantage I can get. If I can get these restraints off, I can take the big one. But that leaves the other two to hurt her. I have to remove her from the equation.

“I don’t understand,” the big one says, falling back a step.

“You wouldn’t because you’re an idiot. Don’t these two men look alike?” She points to my dad now. “Sergio is my right-hand man, and this is his son. The only two people in the world I trust because I knew my employees”—she narrows her eyes, glaring at each of them—“were getting greedy.”

“But he stole the Framework,” the big guy says, blaming me instead of Katerina.

Amelia snaps her fingers at my dad this time, and he pulls something out of his pocket. The Framework. Amelia dangles it in the air before tucking it in her shirt. “Did he? Or did you lose it?”

“It was all Katerina—”

“That sounds like an excuse. I’ll decide what to do with you boys. As far asKaterinais concerned, I never want to see her again.”

Did my girlfriend just order a Russian smuggler to be killed? That’s a problem for later.

“Now cut him free while I think about what to do with you lousy bunch.”

The man behind me cuts my wrists free, and I walk hesitantly toward “Fox” and my dad. When I get closer I see Amelia’s bottom lip tremble, but she forces it into a straight line, doing an excellent job of remaining a tough mafia head.

And then she slaps me. It's nothing compared to my latest hits, but it still stings. “That was for getting played by Katerina.” Tears spring to her eyes, but she keeps playing the part.

“My deepest apologies,” I grunt.

“You’ll be making up for it later.” She tsks, then turns back to the men. “Remain here. I’ll be in contact.”

Thane holds the door for her, and she walks out steadily. Only when it’s closed behind us does she let the first sign of fear show in her walk, but I don’t reach for her yet. There are cameras in this hall they have access to.

“You’re okay,” I whisper as we get into the elevator. “That was incredible.”

Her shoulders shake silently, and I long to touch her. To hold and comfort her for the agonizingly long trip to the bottom.

“I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to be a P.I.” Amelia finally manages.

I bite back a chuckle. “You did an excellent job,” I whisper.

“I think I’m having a heart attack.” Her hands shake at her sides, and it nearly does me in.

“Deep breaths, sweetheart, it’s over, you did it.”

We reach the bottom floor and step out of the elevator. We are almost home free. “I can’t believe that worked,” Amelia says.

“It didn’t.”

I freeze at the sound of a woman’s voice in the lobby.

Uh oh.

Chapter 16