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“It’s a long story.”
“How can it be? You haven’t been gone for that long.”
“I guess. But things have progressed…exponentially.”
“Okay,” A.J. says cautiously after a moment. “I’m listening.”
With a sigh, I fill her in on everything that has transpired since we last spoke. I tell her what I’ve recently learned about McGuire and Maxim’s involvement with each other and what happened leading up to the Russians and Irish flagrant attacks on each other yesterday.
“That motherfucker came after you?” A.J. screams in outrage. “Oh, we’re taking him down, Kat. As soon as we’re done with the stronzo.”
I share with her Nik’s promises about McGuire’s days being numbered, letting her know that the Irish mobster will probably be dead and gone before she even gets a chance to take a shot at him.
That line of thought leads to me trying my best to explain to her how things have changed between me and Nik since she and I last chatted.
My best friend quietly listens as I gush about my Russian, doing my best to convey how wonderful everything between us feels now.
“Wow,” she says, once I’m done with my recap. “Just… wow. I have no words, honestly.”
I scoff. “Now, that would shock me.”
“Don’t get cute with me now,” she says acidly. “I won’t be distracted by your shenanigans. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me what’s been truly going on between the two of you until now.”
“Well, I’ve been busy,” I sheepishly say.
“I know, Kat. But, I mean… wow.”
“You’ve said that already.”
A.J. huffs indignantly. “Well, it bears repeating.”
Impatient, I ask, “A.J., please stop talking circles around me and tell me what you’re really thinking.”
“Look, honey. Don’t get me wrong—if you like him, then I love him. Really. But it’s a lot to take in. Just the other day, you told me he had you kidnapped and was blackmailing you into fucking with a gangster. Mind you, this is not a figure of speech. You did tell me all that just the other day—quite literally. And now you’re saying you’re willingly fucking a gangster.”
I sigh. “I know. But honestly, Nik isn’t who I initially thought he was. Well, except the drop-dead gorgeous and great in the sack part. He’s exactly like that. But he’s so much more. He’s so reliable, so attentive. He’s caring, too. And protective, sweet, and wonderful.”
“You’ve got it bad,” she says pointedly.
I admit it without hesitation. “I do. I really do. You have no idea. I just never imagined everything could ever feel so right with him. But it does. It feels perfect.”
“I’m sure that the fact that he’s indeed drop-dead gorgeous and great in bed doesn’t hurt, either.”
I exhale dreamily. “It really, really doesn’t.”
“Oh, Kat… Then I’m happy for you. Really. Just please be careful, for fuck’s sake.”
“Always. Now tell me—anything new with the stronzo? What about that favor I asked you? I don’t suppose you managed to work your magic on the museum’s security footages? I’d love you forever if you did.”
A.J. scoffs. “Bitch, please. We both know you worship the ground I walk on.”
Glad to revert to the more familiar subjects of work and business, A.J. tells me how things are going in her pursuit of the stronzo. She mentions again that the wretched man has been blessedly—although strangely—quiet since I handed him the Flame of Mir. She hopes to have all she needs to free us from him soon.
In other news, even though A.J. tried her best, the gala’s surveillance footage is unsalvageable, except for the small snippet of the metal detectors’ surveillance feeds she sent us days ago.
I can’t deny it’s not the outcome I wanted, even though I knew it was a long shot. I’ve been secretly hoping that the footage could provide us with indisputable proof of McGuire’s involvement in Maxim’s demise, or exonerate him entirely. One way or the other, it could have been a priceless tool to deescalate things between Nik and McGuire.
Since A.J.’s attempts to recover the footage didn’t pan out, Nik’s quest for McGuire’s head will go on. And if something were to happen to my Russian because of it, I don’t know what I’d do…
