Page 19 of Devious Corruption

“Okay?” I lean over his desk, pretending to search the weapon. I have no idea what he’s trying to say. “And?”

“The Armenian’s use this type of switch. This is one of theirs.”

I have no idea what that means, but from his tone I gather it’s made things harder for me. And definitely more dangerous for my brothers.

“And what does that have to do with anything?” I stand back up to my full height. “It’s still not your gun.”

“Do your brothers do a lot of work with an Armenian gang?” He picks up the gun, cradling the grip in his hand.

“If they do it’s their own business.” And if they do I’m going to flip my fucking lid.

An Armenian gang? Have they lost their fucking minds?

He walks around his desk, each step practiced, controlled. As though he were marching toward an adversary.But it’s just me. And I’m not naïve enough to believe I’m a match for the Bratva or the Armenians.

“Either they’ve bought this from someone who is selling Armenian weaponry in this city, or they are helping to sell the weapons. Either way, I’m interested in knowing their contacts.” He stops in front of me.

“Why? Buy from you, buy from them, why would it matter?” A criminal is a criminal is a criminal.

I’d hoped my brothers would have gone a different way after we aged out of our foster home. It had been my hope they’d join a union, get a skill that would put food on the table without having to cross the line of legal or not. But while I’ve done my best to shield them from harm whenever possible, I’ve never been good at steering them away from it in the first place.

“There’s a difference.”

“Look. I just need it back. I’ll see if I can get a contact from them. If I do, I’ll pass it along. All right?”

One dark eyebrow peeks over his left eye. “Does that sound like it would be a good deal for me to make?”

He’s right; it’s no deal for him at all.

“Okay. Then what do you suggest? What would make it worth your while to give back what doesn’t belong to you in the first place?”

He studies me a moment, intensifying the heat building up from inside me. This man is an arrogant prick. Dangerous. Annoying. Rude. So why the hell does his full attention make my panties feel like they’re going to burst into flames atany moment?

It’s obvious I’ve been on the sidelines too long. Maybe I’ll give Nicolette the go-ahead on that set up she mentioned. Anything to stop finding her brother—her Bratva brother—so panty-melting attractive.

“You want me to give you terms?”

“I want you to be a human being, but I’m not sure you’re capable of it, so yeah, terms.” I shuffle back a small step when he advances.

Then he takes another step, but when I retreat, I bump into his desk, spilling a cup of pens.

“And if my terms involve you?” He presses the tops of his shoes against mine.

“Involve me how?” My voice is going to crack.

He’s making my vocal cords all twisted with the way he’s staring at me. No, it’s not his eyes. It’s the spice of his aftershave. It’s a pheromone. That’s all.

“I’ll give the weapon back to you, but your brothers need to tell me who their supplier is by Friday. If they don’t…if you don’t…then I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.”

“You’d hurt them?”

His eyes sparkle, as though the idea of violence is a great turn on to him.

“You’d hurt them over one fucking gun?” My voice completely reneges on my conviction to keep my cool.

“Such language.” His gaze drops to my mouth. “From such pretty lips.”

“You’re not funny.” I could knee him in the balls right now anddrop him to the floor.