Page 127 of Malicious Claim

Turning to Pete, he said, "Alright, I've got part of what I need. I won't be asking your manager to fire you just yet."

"Thank you, Signor! Thank you!" Pete bowed in appreciation.

Makros left without another word, rejoining Stefanos and Leila. The walk back to the car was silent.

Nicolai, waiting by the vehicle, unlocked the door as they approached. Leila slid in first, with Makros beside her. Stefanos took the front seat.

Once the car was in motion, Leila finally broke the silence. "So, did you find what you were looking for?" Makros nodded and handed her his phone.

Leila's breath hitched. "Him," she said, her voice betraying no hint of unease. "That's the man who was talking to Stefanos when I came out of the bathroom."

Stefanos sighed in exasperation. "We're still on about that lunatic? I already told you, he was just some drunk looking for a free drink."

Makros ignored him, his gaze still fixed on Leila. His next words were slow, deliberate. "I'm more interested in who this man is to you. And what you two were talking about in the hallway."

Leila's brow furrowed. "What? Nothing of that sort happened. What proof do you have?"

Makros seized her wrist. "Proof," he said coldly, "is the fact that there was no footage of you going to the bathroom."

She met his gaze challengingly. "That's absurd. If there's missing footage, that could happen for any number of reasons. It doesn't mean I'm guilty of shit."

She was right.

Slowly, he released her, then took his phone to call Dragon. After the second ring, the line connected.

"Dragon, what's the status?"

Dragon's voice came through the speaker. "Still got nothing on our mysterious E.B. woman, boss."

"Fine," Makros replied. "I sent you a picture. Run a check on him and get back to me."

"Got it, boss."

Makros had barely shut his eyes when the car pulled to a stop. He straightened immediately, exhaustion pushed aside. He hadn't truly slept since his trip to Moscow.

As they stepped out, he issued his next command. "Neither of you are to leave the house until I figure out what's going on."

Makros strode ahead, leaving them behind, heading straight for his bedroom. He needed sleep. But first, he had a list to make.

He grabbed a pen and notepad from his nightstand, jotting down each item with careful precision.

A slow smirk curled his lips as he finished. He called Nicolai.

Moments later, Nicolai entered, eyeing the notepad. "Sir, are these..." He hesitated. "Are these sex toys for Leila?"

Makros shot him a glare. "I didn't hire you to ask questions. Just get me those items before seven."

Nicolai scratched his head, trying to reconcile this request with the man he had known since childhood.

Around 5 p.m., Leila was taking a walk in the driveway, when a truck eased past her to a stop. She paused watching as Nicolai and two others got out and began unloading several boxes. She had no idea what was inside.

A few hours later, fresh from a shower, she heard a knock at her door. Still wrapped in a pink towel, she peered through the peephole and saw Nicolai. Unlocking the door, she braced herself for whatever he had to say.

"Makros wants me to escort you to his new bedroom," Nicolai said, his gaze dipping, lingering a second too long on the loose towel clinging to her chest.

"I'll be out in a minute," she replied, her grip tightening around the fabric.

A new room? Her mind spun. Why does he need a new room?