Page 23 of Marked By the Devil

He grunted. “That’ll always be a threat.”

“How’s Elena holding up with that scare?” I asked, because I cared and because I wanted to change the topic off this instant lust that Wren provoked in me.

“She’s managing. Carina’s a godsend,” he admitted. “Besides, Luka keeps her busy.”

“I imagine. Is he sleeping more than two seconds yet?”

“I think he slept for two hours straight last night. But he’s—” He narrowed his eyes. “Nice fucking try. Don’t change the topic.” He stood, shaking his head. “If you think it’s worth it to keep this agent around for a while, fine. I trust you.”

Hearing him say that wasn’t necessary. I knew he trusted me. And I trusted myself. Something wasn’t lining up about that night when Adrik was shot at, the same night when Wren supposedly was too. If some kind of a clue could be revealed, it would be intel we could use. Or exploit.

“She’s got to have something we can use,” I repeated.

She wouldn’t be the first agent or officer we’d ever captured. But the ones we usually got were entrenched in corruption with our rivals and they never lived long after we had them in our clutches. And no one was ever sad to see them disappear.

Wren didn’t seem like another one of those, the corrupt civil servants who could be tempted with get-rich-quick schemes through befriending the denizens of crime bosses.

He rolled his eyes. “Something we can use as Bratva? Don’t be an ass and try to tell me you’re not also looking forward to using her for a quick fuck.”

“Who says it has to be quick?” I stood.

“That’s all I ever fucking have time for. Kids are a cockblock,” he muttered.

“I bet having someone trying to kill you is too,” I quipped as I exited the room with him, glad to have his so-called blessing to pursue my idea of an interrogative custody of Wren.

He shot me a stern side-eye. “So is having our uncle come back from the dead and threaten our empire and legacy.”

I patted his back in commiseration. “He won’t win.”

“No, he won’t,” he argued tiredly. “Because we’re all in this together.”

We were, and hopefully, I’d be able to extract helpful intel from Wren, information that would contribute to our ability to stay one step ahead of Gregori and his network. If she couldn’t provide that… I was sure she’d be able to satisfy me in the interim in other ways.

Wicked, torrid, naked, and sinful ways.

8

WREN

Isat on the edge of the bed like it was a trap.

“This will be your room for the duration of your stay,” Lurch said without a hint of emotion. He hadn’t shown any emotion since releasing me from the basement of what was apparently a mansion and then bringing me to this enormous bedroom suite, where he gestured for me to sit.

“Stay?” I blinked at him.

“Your stay,” Viktor said, striding into the room. Shirtless and looking like he’d just finished working out, he wiped a towel at his sweaty face.

I fought not to stare. To look. To linger and take in the details of his chiseled chest. All those muscles ranging from his pecs to the six-pack and then that tantalizing V that pointed my attention further down to⁠—

Fuck.

I jerked my head up.

“My stay?” I shook my head and shot to my feet.

He was close enough to put his hand on my shoulder and push me to sit again.

The temptation to fight him, to smack his hand away, then kick him in his groin so I could escape mocked me. I knew I should do exactly like that.