18. Nik

CHAPTER 18

Nik

I stretch languidly, savoring the warmth of Brie's body next to mine. My fingertips trace lazy patterns on her skin, committing every curve to memory.

Most people don't notice me when I'm walking behind Eva. Hell, most people don't notice anything except Eva when she walks into a room.

But Brie Colombo noticed me. And she wasn't just saying that, either, about being obsessed since the first time she saw me in that meeting room. I saw how she looked at me, over Eva's perfect shoulder, those eyes that slid right past astonishing beauty and charisma, locking with mine instead.

Almost like…

Like we were meant to be.

"Tell me about yourself," I murmur, genuinely curious about the woman who's managed to captivate me so thoroughly. "What were you like as a kid?"

Brie's eyes cloud over for a moment before she answers. "I grew up in a trailer park in West Virginia. Not exactly a glamorous backstory."

I prop myself up on an elbow, giving her my full attention. "And how did you get from there to here?"

"Simple. I decided I was never going to be poor again." Her fingers play with a strand of her hair. "You know, up until recently, that was my only goal. Make sure I was safe and financially secure, and always would be, no matter what."

The raw honesty in her voice strikes a chord within me. I've seen my share of people clawing their way out of poverty, but there's something different about Brie, something that keeps her fighting, even now. A titanium core beneath that glittering exterior.

"And now?" I ask, genuinely curious. "What's your focus?"

Her eyes harden, replacing the vulnerability of moments ago. "Finding Terry's killer and making the bastard pay. Him or her."

It's a dark path, the path of vengeance, but one I've walked myself. So I can't judge her for it.

"And then…I'm not sure." Her voice has turned vague. "Anyway, what about you?" Brie turns the tables, her gaze sharp and inquisitive. "What made you join the Novak Consortium?"

I hesitate, weighing how much to reveal. But after her openness, I owe her some truth. "Family legacy," I say finally. "My father, and his father before him, had a long association with the Novaks and the Consortium. And I was trained from childhood to take his place someday. He never had a son, you see. But…that never mattered to him."

Brie's eyebrows rise. "So it's similar to Colombos, in a sense. A kind of family business."

I shrug, aiming for nonchalance. "It's all I've ever known. After my father…died, after that, I wanted to prove myself. Make him proud."

"You didn't prove yourself enough when you took out his killer?"

"That was different. Personal. The Consortium—it's business."

"And guarding me helps your position in the business?"

The words slip out before I can stop them. "I don't know. But I could hardly refuse an order from Eva."

The moment the sentence leaves my mouth, I know I've fucked up. Brie's entire demeanor shifts, the warmth in her eyes cooling rapidly. She sits up, the sheet falling away to reveal her perfect body, but all I can focus on is the shutter I've accidentally slammed down between us.

"Well," she says, her voice clipped. "I suppose we should get dressed. How about lunch at the clubhouse?"

Before I can apologize, she's already heading for the shower, leaving me alone in the rumpled bed. I flop back onto the pillow, throwing an arm over my eyes.

"Fuck," I mutter to the empty room.

I lie there, staring at the ceiling, wishing I could rewind time just a few minutes. One minute we're sharing intimacies, the next I'm reminding her that I'm just here on orders.

Real fuckin' smooth.

I roll to my side, punching the pillow in frustration. This job was supposed to be simple. Protect the widow, gather intel for Eva, prove myself in the Consortium.

But nothing about Brie Colombo is simple. She's a puzzle, layers upon layers of carefully constructed facade hiding…what? A scared girl from a trailer park? A ruthless woman determined to avenge her husband? Or something else entirely?

And why the hell do I care so much?

I'm not just breaking the Consortium rule, I'm obliterating it.

Don't. Get. Involved.

The shower cuts off and I tense, knowing she'll be out any moment. I should get up, get dressed, pretend nothing happened. But I'm rooted to the spot, caught between duty and desire.

The bathroom door opens, releasing a cloud of steam. Brie emerges, wrapped in a fluffy white towel, and another wrapped over her hair. She doesn't look at me as she moves to the closet, selecting an outfit with meticulous care.

I watch her, words of apology dying on my lips. What can I say? Sorry I reminded you that I have loyalties to another woman?

She drops the towel, and I turn away, giving her privacy. The rustle of fabric fills the silence between us, heavy with unspoken words.

"I'll meet you in the living room in ten," Brie says coolly. "And then we'll go to the clubhouse. We should discuss our next moves. Talking to Sophie Johnson, for example."

And just like that, we're back to business.

The so-called clubhouse at Solara is more like a whole damn resort, and holds everything I'd expect from a billionaire's playground. As we walk in, a petite brunette with short-cropped hair and a megawatt smile rushes over to us.

"Mrs. Diamond!" she exclaims at Brie, her enthusiasm bordering on manic. "Why, your schedule's just all over the place these days. I'll rearrange the cleaner I planned to send over to your place today. But is everything alright?"

Brie's mask of polite sociability slides into place seamlessly. "Everything's fine, Katy. Just been busy." She turns to me, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "This is Nik, an…associate of mine."

Katy's gaze flicks between us, curiosity evident, which is probably not a useful trait in staff members of a place like this. "Pleasure to meet you, Nik. I'm Katy. I oversee maintenance, cleaning, and pretty much any other concerns our residents might have."

I nod, filing away the information until she's gone. And then I turn to Brie. "You allow random cleaning staff into your house? That stops now, until we find out who's after you."

Brie scoffs. "Terry had all the staff checked out when I moved in here—and they only ever come in when I'm out. They're on camera the whole time they're cleaning, and Solara security reviews the footage regularly."

"Still," I say.

"I will not be reduced to dusting ," Brie snaps imperiously. "I have to draw a line somewhere, Nik."

We're seated at a secluded table on the restaurant terrace, the Las Vegas skyline shimmering in the distance like a mirage. I let the cleaning thing go, but as we peruse the menu, the air is still strained between us, unspoken words hanging in the air.

"So," Brie says, her voice carefully neutral. "Sophie Johnson. How do you think we should play it?"

At least she's still willing to listen to my ideas. I lean back, considering. "Direct approach might be best. She's already spooked. If we come at her sideways, she might bolt."

Brie nods, her fingers tapping a restless rhythm on the tablecloth. "Agreed. We'll need to tread carefully, though. If she is the assassin the Syndicate seeks—or even just if she was involved in Terry's murder…"

"She could be dangerous," I finish. A waiter arrives with our food, and I wait until he's gone before continuing. "Maybe we could head back tomorrow, once the heat has died down a little."

"Fine," Brie says curtly, and I can't take it anymore.

"Look, about what I said—" I start, but she cuts me off.

"Don't worry about it. I get it. You're just doing your job."

I lean forward, my voice low and intense. "That's not what I meant, and I think you know it. I'm sorry I spoke so carelessly. The truth is…" I trail off, searching for the right words.

Brie's eyebrow arches. "The truth is what? You can't wait to get away from the wannabe gangster girl and get back to your real work with the Consortium?"

"For the love of God, when are you going to let that go?"

She just picks up her sparkling water and takes a sip.

I take a deep breath and decide to lay it all out. "The truth is, when you asked for me as your bodyguard, I was surprised. But I'm glad I've had a chance to get to know you." I meet her gaze steadily. "I intend to keep you alive and help you get your vengeance. But I do work for the Consortium. That's not something either of us should forget. This morning was amazing—but I don't want to make you think it was something more than it was."

To my surprise, the hard lines of Brie's face soften slightly. "I'm sorry, Nik. I got a little intense earlier. It's just…" She looks away. "Most women I sleep with, I send them on their way right after. To ensure their safety, you understand? So with you…I worry."

That confession really takes me by surprise, but it makes sense. And I see now what a lonely life Brie must have been leading, despite all appearances. Unlike her husband, she never felt safe enough to invite a long-term lover into her life.

I reach over the table and put my hand on hers. "It's not your job to worry about me. It's the other way around."

A ghost of a smile plays at her lips. "I suppose you're right. Can we…just draw a line under what happened between us? Get back to playing detective?"

Ouch.

But what else was I expecting? At least Brie's taking it well. This attraction between us is inconvenient at best, and dangerous at worst. She's being practical.

"Sure, let's do that," I say, patting at my mouth with a napkin. "And maybe we should head back to the casino tonight. Catch whoever's behind these attacks on you off-guard. Talk to Sophie, and see if Caruso got anything out of Vince Sabatelli. Find out if Frank made any headway?—"

"Unlikely," she says with feeling.

"—and we can see if Holden's made any progress with that footage. If there's trouble, we can bail fast and come back here."

Brie nods, her eyes gleaming with renewed purpose. "Let's do it."

And maybe I can take a moment to catch up with Eva. Apologize for missing the meeting this morning. Find a way to appease her.

Because she's not going to be happy with me.