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Unease slithered through Eb.“What kind of deal did you have with Hudson?”
“Oh, the usual.”
There was no usual deal.
“You make sure my life stays nice and easy,” Ivan said.“In return, I make sure you get all the inside info that you need.Simple enough, yes?”
Nothing was ever really simple.
“But why are you pointing that gun at me?”Ivan asked.His bushy brows lowered.“It should be on her.We both know what she did.”
A low whine came from the dog.
Eb’s gaze jumped to the big Golden Retriever.He saw that the dog had glanced back at Naomi.Once more, her fingers skimmed over Henry’s head.
“You should have let me shoot her,” Ivan continued, a definite note of petulance in his voice.“I had a clear case of breaking and entering.The DA probably would have thanked me when he found her body.”Ivan grunted.“It could still happen.If we play the scene right.”
“Uh, Eb?”Naomi seemed worried.
She probably should be.The Russian wanted her dead.
“I am happy to do the job.”Ivan tapped his chin.“Or…or do you just want to kill her yourself?”
Silence.
“You have to be pissed,” Ivan added.His accent deepened just a little in those words.Half-forgotten.“She murdered him.Took a knife and carved up Hudson.Ilikedthe guy, and I don’t like many people in this world.”
Everyone had liked Hudson.He’d been open, friendly, easy-going.And rich as hell.
“Turn the gun on her.”Ivan stepped away from the door.“I can be your witness.I’ll claim it was self-defense.One quick squeeze of that trigger, and we both get the vengeance we want.”
Eb stalked toward Naomi.
The dog shifted, instantly alert as it stood on all four feet.
“You didn’t follow orders,” Eb told Naomi.He’d specifically told her to go home.Had he said to break into a bar?To sneak into a Russian criminal’s private office?Nope.
She grimaced.“It’s a character flaw I have.A distinct inability to follow orders.”
“You lied to me.”
“That’s another character flaw I have.I do tell the occasional lie.”A nod.“Do you want me to apologize?”
He wanted to get her the hell out of there without utter chaos erupting on them both.One wrong shout from Ivan would have all his goons breaking down the door.Ivan’s fear of being revealed as an informant was the only thing currently keeping the wolves at bay.
Ivan grunted again—he seemed to do that a lot—as he swaggered closer.“What about being a killer, pretty lady?”Ivan asked.“That a flaw you want to confess about having, too?”
Her deep, dark eyes didn’t leave Eb.“You aren’t going to shoot me.”
“At the moment, no, it’s not on my agenda.”
“Why the hell not?”Ivan exploded.But the explosion of words was apparently not enough for the man.He barreled straight at Naomi.
The dog growled.
So did Eb.“Because I have other plans.Now, get the fuck away from her.”He put his body between Naomi and the dog…and the pissed-off Russian.
Ivan’s furious gaze dropped to the gun in Eb’s hand.“Our friend Hudson would be so disappointed in you.Choosing her…bad decision.”His lips pursed.“Or is it that you arefuckingher?Is that what happened?Perhaps you were involved all along and when Hudson was shoved into the ground?—”