11. Nik

Chapter 11

Nik

Kat looks even more confused and hurt than when I first walked in. She’s got to be a very skilled actress to pull off the stunt she did, but I still find myself impressed.

“What are you talking about? I took something from you? I have no idea what you mean—” She stops mid-sentence, her eyes widening. “ No. ” She shakes her head, horror-stricken.

“ Yes, ” I reply with a grin.

“It can’t be.”

“And yet, here we are.” I gesture to the bed where she’s restrained.

She flops back onto the mattress with a groan, eyes squeezed shut. “This can’t be happening.”

“Oh, let me assure you, it is.”

After a moment, she opens her eyes, staring at the ceiling, still shaking her head. Then, as much as her restraints allow, she sits up and narrows her eyes at me. “Who are you, exactly?”

I smirk. “Come on, Kat. Drop the act. We both know you know exactly who I am. Why else would you have set out to con me?”

She gasps at my casual use of her name.

“That’s right, Ms. Devereaux. You no longer have me at a disadvantage. I’m now quite familiar with you—and your work. It was a little silly to deny me your name when you allowed me to get to know the rest of you so thoroughly, don’t you think?”

The maddening woman has the nerve to shoot me an aggravated look. “Look, Nikolai—if that’s even your real name—” She glares at me.

My amused grin grows wider. “That’s fucking precious, coming from you.” I step up to the bed, leaning in close as her eyes flash. “ I didn’t con you. I didn’t crash a party to commit grand larceny. I didn’t steal your priceless diamond. And, oh yeah— this is my favorite part— I didn’t go out of my way to seduce unsuspecting men into helping me get away with the heist of the century and maybe even murder.”

“Whoa, hold on a minute,” she says, her tone bristling. “First of all, don’t flatter yourself. I didn’t set out to seduce you. You came onto me . Very strongly, too, if I recall. You approached me . You wouldn’t let me leave, though God knows I tried.”

“I don’t remember you putting up much of a fight. Or any fight at all. Actually, I remember you begging me to kiss you—and then stripping and grinding on my lap before you?—”

She grabs a pillow and awkwardly hurls it at me, the leather cuffs limiting her movement. I sidestep it easily, catching the pillow and tossing it out of her reach.

“ You ,” she says, her face flushed with emotion. “I may not know all I should about who you are, but I do know you’re the most insufferable, overconfident asshole I’ve ever met.”

“I’ll admit to being an asshole, but overconfident? Really, Kat? You and I both know that, if anything, I’m being modest.” I wink at her. “But we’re getting off track. I brought you here today for a complete different reason, as you know very well.”

“Where is here , anyway?”

“This is my place.”

“And that’s supposed to mean something to me?”

“I’d think that a world-class con woman like yourself would’ve done a better job researching her mark,” I say, letting my gaze drop to her neckline as she takes a deep breath. Against my better judgment, I get momentarily distracted by the rise and fall of her chest before tearing my eyes away.

“Again, I have no idea who you are. Besides a self-righteous, arrogant prick, of course.”

“Cute. But save your breath. I’m not buying it. You know all about me.”

She rolls her eyes. “Please. I gather you’re very impressed with your likely underserved sense of self-importance, but I promise you I’m not. I have no idea who you are. Besides an entitled prick, of course.”

It’s my turn to sigh, shaking my head. “Honestly, I’d be more impressed if you admitted to the truth. Knowing who I am and what I do, you still set out to steal from me. Sure, in the end, I did catch you red-handed. But still, that took some nerve.”

“All I know is your alleged first name and that you must be filthy rich to own something like the Flame of Mir. I was told was I needed to take the jewel from The Met during the opening gala for its newest exhibition. That’s it.”

“Right. And I’m supposed to believe you took on this high-profile heist with so little information?” I scoff.

She shrugs. “Believe what you want. It’s the truth.”

I study her, noting her calm, deadpan expression, with a hint of exhaustion. Despite everything, I feel a flicker of doubt, something dangerously close to guilt. I had her drugged, abducted, restrained. But I remind myself to stay vigilant—she’s proven to be untrustworthy, and I can’t trust my instincts when it comes to her.

“Besides,” she says, breaking the silence, “there were… extenuating circumstances.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Care to elaborate?”

“No, not really.”

I sigh, frustrated. “I don’t think you fully understand the seriousness of your situation.”

“Oh, I understand. The leather restraints kind of give away how seriously fucked I am.” She gives a nonchalant shrug. “But that’s all I have to say.”

“If there’s something— anything —you can tell me to help your case, why not tell me now?”

“I have my reasons.”

I sigh again, bursting with frustration. I don’t know what to make of her. Or what to do with her, for that matter. I came in here intending to make her suffer for her crimes against me, but now, looking at her, I can’t quite bring myself to carry out the tortures I planned for the little thief.

“Is your friend A.J. part of those reasons? Because already I know she’s involved in this.”

She turns sharply, as much as the cuffs allow. She gives me the darkest, most serious look I’ve seen on her face. That’s how I know I’ve found her soft spot. “Leave her out of this, Nikolai. Whatever issues you have with me, they’re between us. You stay away from her.”

I consider taunting her, reminding her that she’s hardly in a position to make demands. But I don’t have the heart to threaten her friend, even if emptily, while she stares up at me with her big, blue eyes.

“I hope I’ll have no reason to even think about A.J. because I’m counting on you and I coming to an understanding.”

Her eyes dart to the bed and the cuffs restraining her to it, realization dawning as she shifts uncomfortably. All at once, she seems to become intensely aware of the fact that she’s been tied to a bed by a man who’s been sexually drawn to her from the start.

“What kind of understanding?” she asks, guarded.

“Not the kind you’re imagining. Unless you ask me very nicely, of course.”

She scoffs. “I wouldn’t hold my breath, Nikolai . Or whatever your real name is.”

“My name is Nikolai,” I say, letting a smile play on my lips. “I had no reason to lie to you about it. Nikolai Stefanovich, as I’m sure you know.”

She gasps, staring at me wide-eyed.

“I see that my reputation precedes me.”

“You have to believe me. I had no idea . If I’d known who you were, I’d have never?—”

“Stolen my most valuable possession and assisted with my best friend’s murder?”

Her mouth falls open. “Wait, what ? I may have taken the diamond—allegedly, of course—but I did not kill anyone. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

I study her reaction, watching for any sign of deceit. But her shock and outrage seem genuine.

“The night you stole the diamond—my oldest friend, Maxim, was murdered. Quite the coincidence, don’t you think?”

Her eyes widen in horror. “I would never—you must believe me. If you looked me up, then you know I don’t hurt people. I’m strictly white-collar. Ask anyone who knows me.”

I’d gathered as much during the past week. She’s a skilled thief, a con artist—but no record of violence. It’s not a guarantee of innocence, but at least it’s more than my desire to believe her.

“Let’s say I believe you weren’t involved in his death,” I say slowly. “You still stole from me. Surely you know I can’t just let that go.”

“Trust me, if I could go back in time, I would. As a rule of thumb, I try my best to avoid incurring the wrath of the bratva.”

“ And yet, you did,” I say, my patience waning. “Which brings us back to why we’re here. I want my diamond back.”

“Unfortunately, I’m afraid that’s impossible. I don’t have it anymore.”

“Well, get it back, then. That’s my first condition.”

She shrugs, exasperated. “Like I said, I can’t. It’s gone. Choose something else.”

“ Choose something else ? There’s nothing else!” My anger flares as I step closer. “You say you don’t want to incur my wrath, but you’re doing a hell of a good job pissing me off. Do I need to remind you I decide what happens to you?”

“No need. The fact that I’m currently tied down to your bed really drives your point home. Trust me. But it doesn’t change a thing. I can’t contact the person who tasked me with stealing your diamond. I don’t even know if they still have it. For all I know, they might’ve fenced it by now. And even if I could get a hold of them and they still had it, they’d never give it back.”

Her tone is very matter-of-fact, as if I should just make my peace with the fact that my diamond—worth over a quarter billion dollars—is gone forever. Simply because she says so. If anyone else said such nonsense to my face, I’d kill them out of spite.

“Don’t play games with me.”

“I’m not. I’m just being honest. There’s no way to get it back.”

“Why don’t you contact this mysterious person to set up a meeting between the three of us? I’ll handle the rest.”

“You’re not listening. There’s no ‘handling’ anything. I can’t contact them. It’s gone, and you have to accept that.”

In a fit of rage, I grab her by the neck, my fingers digging into her skin.

“I’m not accepting anything. This isn’t some trinket you shoplifted from Tiffany’s. You will fix your mess, or I’ll make you regret the day you crossed my path.”

She stares back defiantly. “I already do. You can punish me however you see fit. It still won’t change the facts. I’m sorry, but I can’t get it back for you.”

Against my better judgment, I admire her bravery. She knows my reputation, yet she faces me with unflinching calm.

Part of me can’t help but wonder if that in itself isn’t enough evidence that she’s telling me the truth. Still, my rational side advises caution—I’m tragically prone to unforgivable amounts of wishful thinking when it comes to her.

I release her and step back, walking to the window to collect myself. Whether it’s rage or passion, I can’t control myself when I’m around her.

I stare blankly ahead as the sun slips behind the horizon. After a long silence, I turn back. “We’ll revisit this issue later. For now, let’s move on to my second condition. You’re going to help me catch Maxim’s killer.”