11. Brie

CHAPTER 11

Brie

I lie awake, staring at the ornate ceiling of my bedroom. The sheets are cool against my skin, but I can't shake the warmth that spreads through me at the thought of Nik just on the other side of the door. My new bodyguard. My protector.

What would it be like to go to bed with her?

I roll onto my side, but the thought persists, tantalizing and forbidden. I imagine her strong arms around me again, her intense blue eyes locked on mine. The way she leaned over me, commanding and sure as she told me to quit it with the "heel" stuff.

Ugh. She's really hot.

I squeeze my eyes shut, willing sleep to come. It's ridiculous to entertain these thoughts. Nik works for the Consortium. She's useful to me right now for various reasons. That's all.

Still, as I drift off, her face is the last thing I see.

In my dreams, I'm running, my bare feet slapping against the dusty ground. Someone's chasing me, heavy footsteps getting closer and closer.

I cry out as I'm swept up in a tight embrace. But when I turn, it's Nik. "I've got you," she says, her voice low and sure. "You're safe now."

I wake with a start, my heart pounding, and I'm disoriented for a moment before realizing I've slept through the night. It's been a while since I've felt this refreshed.

But the dream lingers and I think about it, about Nik protecting me from old nightmares. It's a fantasy, I know. But isn't that what I've always done? Turned my fantasies into reality?

After a quick shower, I dress in a gold silk blouse and body-hugging black pants. Power and elegance—exactly the image I need to project. I add a pair of diamond earrings—a gift from Terry—as a final touch.

When I step out of my room, Nik is already there, alert and ready. Her dark hair is pulled back in a sleek ponytail, the close-shaved fade at the sides emphasizing the sharp angles of her face. She wears a fitted black suit that makes me want to stare.

"Good morning," she says, her voice even.

"Good morning, Nik." I aim for casual, land somewhere around a croak. I clear my voice and ask, "Shall we have breakfast?"

We make our way to the suite's dining area, where as usual, there's a knock at the door. "Room service," I tell Nik, but she makes me let her answer the door. The kitchen hand wheels in a buffet of fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee. We eat in silence, but just as I'm searching for something to say, there's another sharp knock at the door. Nik is on her feet instantly again, hand going to the gun at her hip. I wave her down.

"It's just Frank," I say, recognizing the impatient rapping. "He's here to take me to that meeting with the Consortium this morning."

Nik relaxes slightly but doesn't sit back down. I go to answer the door, steeling myself for the conversation to come.

Frank bustles in, all business, but stops short when he sees Nik, his eyes going hard. "What's she doing here? She's Consortium."

"Her name is Nik, and she's my new bodyguard."

Frank takes that in as his face goes red. "A word, Brie? In private."

I turn to Nik. "Perhaps you could go down to the meeting room—your people will be there shortly, and Frank will walk me down."

She hesitates for a moment, reluctant to leave me. But she obeys, closing the door quietly behind her.

As soon as we're alone, Frank rounds on me. "Have you lost your mind?" he bellows. "You can't have a bodyguard from the Consortium!"

I cross my arms. "And why not?"

He throws up his hands. "Because they're outsiders! And we have perfectly good bodyguards in the Colombo Family! I woulda pulled someone from a crew somewhere if you weren't happy with the casino security. There are plenty of men we can trust!"

"Trust?" I scoff. "Like we trusted the men who were supposed to protect Terry?"

Frank's expression softens. "Brie, honey, I know you're scared. But you don't need to worry your pretty little head about?—"

"Don't." My voice is ice. "Don't you dare patronize me, Frank. Whoever killed Terry had to be one of ours. So forgive me if I don't exactly trust the Family right now."

Frank's face hardens. "Now you listen here?—"

"No, you listen," I cut him off. "How's the investigation into Terry's death going? Because from where I'm standing, it doesn't look like anyone's doing a damn thing about it."

He takes a step closer, looming over me. "Your job is to sign what I tell you to sign. To smile pretty for the guests and make them want to spend their money. Soon enough, you'll be free of all this. But until the succession is settled, you just have to do what you're told like a good little girl. Understand?"

The threat in his voice is unmistakable. Despite his fatherly act, Frank is just as much a killer as Terry was. Maybe more so. And for a moment, I'm back in that trailer park, cowering before another man's rage.

But I'm not that scared little girl anymore. I won't be intimidated now. "I won't sign a shitty deal just because I'm told to. Whatever else I am, Frank, I'm still a Colombo. And I want what's best for the Family."

He sighs at that, patting my shoulder. "I know, sweetheart. So do I. That's why I don't want that—that woman around. She's filling Eva Novak's ears with our business right now, I bet."

"Exactly like you did, telling Eva about the attempt on my life?" I snap, exasperated.

"That—I was just—that was different," he protests. But he does at least look a little embarrassed.

Still, I'm extremely glad he doesn't know Nik was the one who saved me…and that neither does Eva Novak, by all reports. "Frank, if we play this right, Nik can be a conduit for us ," I go on. "We can feed any information to the Consortium that we want through her. Fake intel that helps us."

He pauses as though the idea is brand new to him. "That's true," he says thoughtfully, staring at me. "I guess that's true, Breezy."

I smile encouragingly. "So now we're on the same page. And we're late for the meeting, so let's go."

As we descend in the elevator, I think about Nik waiting for us there in the meeting room. Is she hissing into her boss's ear? Of course she must be.

But I'd like to think I can trust her with some things, at least.

We head into the room, where Eva sits with her Consortium members ranged behind her like vengeful shades.

And then there's Nik.

She stands off to the side in a surprisingly neutral position. Our eyes meet for a brief moment, and I feel a strange flutter in my chest. I push the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand.

I choose a seat close to Eva, my movements deliberate and unhurried. As I settle in, Nik moves to stand closer behind me. Her presence at my back is oddly comforting.

"Get lost," Frank snaps at Nik. "We won't be intimidated by?—"

"Now, now, Frank," I cut in sweetly. "Nik was a gift from our honored guests, here. It would be very rude to send her away, don't you think?"

Frank's face flushes an ugly shade of crimson, but he bites back whatever retort was on the tip of his tongue.

Good boy. Even old dogs like him can be trained with the right methods.

Eva slides a folder across the table, her manicured nails tapping once, twice on the glossy surface. "The new agreement, as discussed."

Frank practically shoves a pen into my hand. I take my time, flipping through the pages, skimming the contents. It's practically the same bullshit deal as before, just dressed up in prettier language and with a lower price on one or two things.

I hesitate, the pen hovering over the dotted line. Frank leans in, his breath hot on my ear. "Sign the damn thing," he hisses.

Eva's smile turns brittle. "Mrs. Colombo—Brie—I thought we had reached an understanding."

I set the pen down with a soft click. "I'm sorry, but my husband's funeral was just yesterday, after all. Perhaps we could revisit this when I'm feeling more myself?"

"Revisit?" Eva stands abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor.

Nik steps forward, her presence suddenly filling the room. "Mrs. Colombo has been under a great deal of stress," she says, her voice low and soothing. "Surely we can all understand that."

Eva's gaze snaps to Nik, then back to me. "May I have a word with my employee?"

I nod, rising from my chair. "Of course. I'll be in my suite when you're finished, Nik."

As soon as we're out of the room, Frank's hand clamps down on my elbow. He practically drags me into a nearby office, slamming the door behind us.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he snarls, spittle flying from his lips. "You were supposed to sign that agreement, not play games!"

I look up at him, letting my eyes fill with tears. Men never know what to do with a crying woman. "I'm doing the best I can," I choke out. "Can't you see that? I just buried my husband, for God's sake!"

Frank's anger deflates like a punctured balloon. He runs a hand through his thinning hair, suddenly looking every one of his sixty-plus years. "Christ, Breezy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

I sniffle, dabbing at my eyes with a tissue. "I know you didn't. It's just—it's all so overwhelming ."

He pats my shoulder awkwardly. "Look, forget about it, the Consortium can wait. Okay? In the meantime, I'll push harder for a resolution on the succession issue. We'll get this sorted out."

I nod, giving him a watery smile. "Thank you, Frank. I knew I could count on you."

As soon as he's gone, I drop the act. My eyes are dry, my posture straight. I make my way back to my suite, settling onto the sofa to wait for Nik.

She enters a few minutes later, her face unreadable. I look up from my phone, arching an eyebrow. "Well?"

"Eva doesn't find your little game as amusing as you do," Nik says, her voice flat.

I toss my phone aside, stretching like a cat. "Eva can sit and spin. That deal was bullshit, and you both know it."

Something flickers in Nik's eyes. Respect, maybe? Or just surprise that I'm not the airhead widow everyone seems to think I am.

"Besides," I continue, "the agreement isn't important anyway. It's just a useful tool to keep you around for a while. Because I've decided I need your help with something."

Nik crosses her arms. "And what might that be?"

I meet her gaze, all pretense gone. "Finding Terry's killer."