Lazarus almost attacked them when they returned to the suite. During the entire elevator ride back to the room, Aleksei seemed even more closed off than before. Deva itched to take his hand, but the way he had been all morning, she felt as if it would be a trigger for him. And they didn’t need an explosion.
Aleksei started to tell his brother what had happened during the meeting, and how they hadn’t found out any more information apart from the fact that Gerasim stated that he had no intention of doing business with Finch. Was it the truth? And Semyon’s reaction when his boss said it? Why did he appear pissed about it?
Deva was about to ask Aleksei that question when his phone rang. He answered, and the call was short and curt.
“It’s Hector. He wants a meet. There are some things he has seen and wants to tell me.”
Deva stepped toward him. “When do we meet?”
Aleksei came to stand in front of her and shook his head. “Only me. He said that he can’t risk damaging his relationship with the Dark Blood Rows more than it already is. And he doesn’t trust his phone or some of his crew anymore.”
Deva bit her lip. There was nothing more she could add. His reason for leaving her behind was very logical. But before he could go to the door, she grabbed his arm and turned to the three other men. “Care to give us a minute here, please?”
Lazarus looked at the two other men. “Sure. Aleksei, I’m going with you. And don’t you dare say no. It’s not negotiable. Lance and Kai will remain here with you, Deva. Stick with them, okay? I’ll try to find some other safe house for you until we can sort everything out.”
His decision was debatable, but she would act as if she agreed with him for the moment. “Thanks, Oz.”
And without another word, they all exited, leaving her with Aleksei.
Without a word, she cupped his cheek, forcing his attention on her. “What’s on your mind?”
The gaze, cold as steel, thawed a little. “I’m not comfortable putting you at risk like this. And the more we dig, the less safe you’ll be.”
Deva exhaled slowly, praying for patience. “I’ve never been truly safe one day in my life. It comes with the family. And for the record, I don’t like having you out there, risking your life either.”
He put his hands on her hips, bringing her closer, and Deva circled his neck with her arms waiting for him to speak. “I can defend myself. I know how to fight. I’ve killed before. I’m not defenseless.”
“And I’m not either, Aleksei. I may not fight in a cage as you do, but I was born and bred in this world. I’m smart, and I’ve got good instincts. You have to believe me.”
The man may agree, but she could see he wasn’t completely convinced. Instead of debating, she brought him down for a kiss. His mouth and entire body relaxed until another tension took over, an even more urgent one. Without realizing it, Deva had her back to the wall, and Aleksei roaming her body with avid hands while his mouth bruised her lips. Her own hands found their way under his clothing to touch his hard, heated skin. Before her hands could explore more, he shackled them in one of his above her head. Breathing hard, he touched his forehead with hers, his erratic breath fanning her moist lips.
“Damn, I want you again. But we need to find a way to solve this problem. A way to keep you safe, Deva. We’re running out of time.”
“And I want you safe too, Alyosha. Please come back to me.”
He inhaled deeply before releasing her and kissing her temple. “I don’t know anyone capable of keeping me away, solnyshka.”
As he pushed himself away and went to the door, she called his name. “Hey, wait. You haven’t told me yet was that ‘solinichka’ thing means.”
Aleksei’s face lightened, and he chuckled before winking at her and leaving the room.
At least he was in a better mood. And while she was alone, Deva grabbed her phone to make a quick call. She had an idea and wanted to make the most of it as she was now alone. When she answered, Sasha’s tone was colder than the wind of Antarctica.
“Cuz, I left you four messages. I was about to go check the morgue for you. You better have one good excuse, and it cannot be sex. Even with your steamy hunk of a man.”
Ignoring her cousin’s threat, she decided to jump in the heart of the matter. “Speaking of the morgue, Sasha, you still have your contacts in Chicago. In the hospital’s here?”
“Are you hurt?”
“No, not me. I was speaking about another person.”
Sasha waited a beat. “You mean your no-good father? And I’m being incredibly polite here, Deva.”
Deva flinched. “So, you already know what happened?”
“If you mean that he had to undergo surgery to remove two bullets from his leg, that’s about the extent of my knowledge. Why?”
“You know where he is?”
“Yes, I know, I tend to keep tabs on his rat’s ass. You’re not asking these questions out of the goodness of your heart, are you Deva?”
“I need to speak to him again, one on one. I need to stop Finch before a civil war starts or before that psycho takes over. I’m certain that my father knows what’s going on.”
“And would it be so bad for all the crooks in the city to kill each other?”
Patience, Deva told herself. She loved her cousin, but their backgrounds were so different that Sasha couldn’t possibly understand her point of view. As often she couldn’t understand hers.
“Because, and you know it better than anyone else, innocents would be caught in the crossfire. And even if you would dance on his grave in a red dress, you wouldn’t be able to live with the blood of bystanders on your conscience, Sasha.”
Her cousin groaned on the other end of the line. “I hate when you are right. Okay, you want to go and see him? From what I could gather, he’s in a secured area of a hospital. It seems that even a scum biker has enough money to get a room in that wing. Unless you have authorization from his doctor, I doubt you can gain access, especially since you are the one who put him there.”
“I doubt he told the authorities about me. It may be difficult to enter but what if I’m accompanying a visiting world-renowned doctor?”
Sasha hissed. “What are you up to, Deva?”
“I only want to get some answers. You, me, and two bodyguards.”
“Since when do you call your sexy Russian a bodyguard?”
There were many other things she could call Aleksei. “I don’t.”
“Don’t tell me you are bringing that insufferable British bearded asshole with you!”
“No, Lazarus is not coming with me, and if I have my way, both he and Aleksei won’t learn about it. You know this kind of man; he would go all overprotective and forbid us to do it. But I believe that I can get some answers, Sasha. With minimum risk.”
It took a moment, but when Deva heard Sasha exhale, she knew she had been convincing enough. “Okay. If all this can finally put an end to this, I’m in. But won’t your bodyguards forbid you from going there?”
Deva smiled. “I think that with some convincing, and a little lying on my part, as well as a lot of flirting from yours, we will have our way in the end. As we always do.”