Page 63 of Hunt Me

“Yeah. Let me repeat. What if the little black book was found?” Kazimir finally looked stressed.

I poured us both a drink, carrying it to him as I thought about the chances Bristol had used me. No woman had managed to do so before, not one.

He took the drink and glanced out the window as he swallowed half the damn glass. “I’m just thinking out loud, but maybe the asshole you roughed up was a plant.”

“Oh, he was definitely a plant, but I doubt by the mayor.” Although… What if the Irish promised the mayor evidence? Was it possible the man was dirty? I’d need to keep the thought in the back of my mind.

“You slept with her. Right?”

“Why the fuck should I answer you?”

He laughed. “You didn’t tell her anything?” When I gave him a hard look, he threw up his hands. “You need to find out if she knows anything, Mik.”

“And if she does? What are you suggesting?”

“I’m not suggesting anything, but we need to know how deep this situation goes.”

“Yes, we do.”

The news only added fuel to the possibility she’d purposely gotten into my bed. I rubbed my jaw as I thought about the information. “Interesting.” I flexed one hand, thinking aboutwhen I’d spanked her. She needed more than just a simple lesson that crossing me in any way wasn’t in her best interest.

“I’m surprised that’s all you have to say. How is Sergio tied to any of this?” he asked. “Other than he was in charge of online betting and kept the goddamn book.”

“Because he stood by my side the night we killed twenty-five of Tristen’s men including his goddamn brother.”

“Exactly. Now, I have your attention. That means you could be next. You need to watch your back, Pakhan. You’re valuable.”

I snatched the photograph of Bristol in her cap and gown. She was standing with a man. I’d paid little attention to Mayor Rork over the last few years, mostly because he’d been innocuous in serving city government before becoming mayor, but something caught my attention. I pulled the picture closer, studying his face.

“What?” Kazimir asked.

“I need to know everything you can find about our good mayor going all the way back to how he started in government and beyond.” What little I did know about the man was that he’d been involved in city council before running for mayor. I’d heard he was an attorney, but neither my family nor I had ever had any dealings with him.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m not. I just need to know every detail of what we’re dealing with and why he has such a hatred for organized crime other that for political gain since it’s a hot topic.”

My brother nodded. “I’ll get someone to work on that.”

“Good.”

There was some quiet innocence about Bristol Rork. Certainly not because of her defiant behavior, but about her constant resolve. Now, at least I knew why. She believed in right versus wrong. Even in the picture, her raven curls couldn’t soften the determined look in her eyes.

The women I’d been used to had been hardened by status and wealth, well-coiffed, their bodies sculpted by private trainers. While they’d been tasty arm candy, they’d also been devoid of any substance.

This woman was entirely different; a fawn on a spring day, her wide eyes taking in every aspect of her surroundings with awe. Yet she was also a fighter, someone that hungered for a firm hand while refusing to surrender to just anyone.

I’d been lucky enough to enjoy a mere taste.

That wasn’t enough.

If she’d crossed me in any other way, she’d learn what true punishment could be, the harshness that I was capable of.

Even now, she deserved to learn a very valuable lesson in getting mixed up with a predator.

Kazimir was right that if she was close friends with Lilia, she’d learned more about our life than just casual conversations. She could become an asset or a liability and I wasn’t willing to risk all that we’d achieved. Even still, my possessive nature was bridging to the surface, ignoring common sense.

She still had no idea what I was capable of, but she would learn soon enough. I’d fuck her in every hole, break her down to the point that she’d beg me for my touch. After that?