Page 166 of Shadowed Sins: Nitro

"You're dancing around something," I interrupt. "Either speak plainly or we walk."

Sasha's smile becomes genuine for the first time tonight. "I'm providing context,milaya. The details are on the drive. But I thought you deserved... preparation."

He stands, smoothing his jacket with practiced ease. "My employer understands the value of family. Sometimes preserving it requires... creative solutions."

The drive sits abandoned on white linen as Sasha disappears into the crowd of Beverly Hills elite. Jax stares at it like it might detonate.

My fingers hover over the drive before I snatch it. The metal casing feels heavier than it should—military grade, expensive. Someone with serious resources created this.

"What guarantees do we have this isn't manipulation?"

Sasha laughs, the sound carrying genuine amusement. "Guarantees? In our business?" He tilts his head. "You'll know the authenticity when you see it."

The drive slides into my jacket pocket like a weapon finding its holster. Whatever's on here will change everything. I can feel it in the weight, see it in Sasha's satisfied expression.

Information as currency. The most dangerous kind.

Beside me, Jax vibrates with barely controlled energy. He's always been the type to need immediate answers, to process everything out loud through movement and questions. Right now, his need to know is practically crackling off his skin.

"Your questions will find answers," Sasha continues, straightening his cufflinks with deliberate care. "Though they may not be the answers you want."

Jax's leg bounces faster. "Is he—"

I dig my fingers into his thigh hard enough to leave marks.Not here. Not now. Not with Sasha watching our every reaction.

The pressure works. Jax's mouth snaps shut, but his hand covers mine with desperate intensity. He needs the contact to think clearly, and I need him thinking clearly.

Sasha's smile spreads as he watches our interaction. That look of professional satisfaction mixed with something almost paternal. "Everything you need is there. Proof, patterns, and... possibilities."

He steps away from the table, moving with the fluid confidence of someone who's delivered exactly what he came to deliver.

"My employer prefers to demonstrate value through action, not promises." His accent thickens with sincerity. "This is our demonstration."

The drive burns against my ribs like a promise. Or a threat.

I stand, my movement triggering Jax's immediate response. He rises with me, that perfect synchronization we've developed through violence and intimacy. His energy shifts from restless anxiety to predatory alertness—the same transformation I've seen when he spots danger through a scope or feels protective instincts kick in.

"Your employer should know we protect our own. Violently."

My fingers trace along Jax's forearm where his muscles coil beneath his shirt. The touch looks casual, lovers sharing space, but it's tactical. Grounding him while displaying our unity.

Sasha's eyes track the movement with professional appreciation. "My employer counts on it. Why else provide this intelligence?"

Jax steps closer to me, his hand finding the small of my back. The contact sends warmth through my jacket, but more importantly, it positions us as a unified front. Two weapons pointed in the same direction.

He's learning to use our connection as strategy instead of vulnerability.

"You've changed, little star. This partnership suits you," Sasha continues, his tone carrying genuine respect mixed with calculated caution.

I tilt my head, letting my voice drop to that register that makes smart people reconsider their choices. "If this is a trap—"

"If this were a trap, you'd already be dead." Sasha's confidence doesn't waver, but his stance shifts slightly. Ready to move if necessary. "My employer values efficiency. Direct confrontation would be wasteful."

Jax's thumb brushes across my spine—a tiny movement that speaks volumes about trust and possession. His natural warmth and loyalty have evolved into something sharper. More dangerous.

"Trust but verify," he says, his usual rapid-fire speech replaced by controlled precision.

Sasha nods, already moving toward the restaurant entrance. "Verification is on the drive. Along with... other considerations your team should discuss privately."