That was a luxury for softer men, but I wouldn’t begrudge Benoit for enjoying life’s pleasures. After all, there was nothing soft about the body I’d used to its limit all night. He’d been as insatiable as I was, and had my presence not been required at this ungodly hour, I would’ve been tempted to wake him with my mouth around his cock.
Fuck.I couldn’t think about that now. Couldn’t think about the chaos he could bring to my life over the next month or howintriguing it was to have him around. Right now I needed to focus on what was about to go down.
With my suit already pressed and in the closet, I dressed quietly in the en suite, making sure I looked the part of the menacing arms dealer. Not that it was a difficult feat. I was barely forty-five and the lines between my brows were etched there permanently, whether I was scowling or not. The scar that ran down my left cheek was a jagged, ugly thing, still red and raised, but it no doubt added a layer of intimidation to my appearance.
I flicked off the light and stepped out of the en suite, pausing for a moment to make sure Benoit was still asleep, and then slipped out into the hallway.
My team was already waiting in the foyer, all of them silent and dressed in black—the ones going with me in suits, the others in tactical gear.
I ran my eyes over each of them, counting them up, making sure we were all set. Omar moved in beside me and handed me a gun, and I pulled back the slide, checked the chamber was full of lead, and then slid the weapon into the holster beneath my jacket.
“Let’s go.”
They all filed out in silence behind me, snow crunching under our footsteps as each team member made their way to the waiting cars that would drop us off several blocks from our destination. With our plans already set, nothing needed to be said outside of each person testing their mics as we traveled just outside the city center.
Though I’d heard Prague had a thriving nightlife, the scene obviously wasn’t happening on the side of town we were on. Everything was quiet as we exited the cars and started down the cobblestone streets.
Too quiet.
If I wasn’t here for business, I liked to think I would’ve taken more time to appreciate the medieval architecture and the beauty of the place, but if I were honest, we could’ve been anywhere. If I’d seen one city, I’d seen them all, though I could confidently say I was partial to the ones that stayed over eighty degrees on the regular.
We continued down the winding roads, all senses on alert. A block away from the flower shop, Hugo gave me a nod and then team two veered off to take up their positions at the back. I glanced over my shoulder, making sure Omar, the bodyguards, and I were alone, then continued on, slipping my hands into my pockets to ward off the frigid bite in the air.
It was just coming up on three a.m. and I couldn’t help but think of the words of my mentor—There are only ever two kinds of people up at this time of the morning, Dimitri: cops and criminals.I didn’t want any unexpected interruptions from either. I’d be dealing with the latter soon enough, but on my terms, the way I liked it.
We reached the flower shop, and the door was shut. AClosedsign hung inside the glass, and the shades were drawn on the windows. But that was to be expected. This wasn’t where we’d be entering. Instead, we headed to the side alley where they received their deliveries.
Omar took the lead, checking for any hostile bystanders before giving me the all-clear. I made my way down to where a lone light shone over a thick wooden door. Omar took position, facing the street as I knocked. Seconds later, a slat slid open and narrow eyes met mine.
“Turn around, face the opposite wall,” he ordered me, his voice gruff, his accent thick.
I wasn’t one to usually follow orders, but if I were sitting inside a flower shop at three in the morning waiting to meet upwith the most lethal weapons dealer in the world, I’d want to see his face too.
I pivoted and stared at the bricks opposite me, and it wasn’t until I looked closer at the mortar in line with my eyes that I saw it. A tiny camera, no doubt scanning my face.
Done playing exhibitionist, I turned back to face the door. “Either tell your boss I’m here and open the fucking door or tell them you let me leave and?—”
I didn’t even get to finish my threat before the sound of bolts echoed around us and the door yawned open. Apparently the idea of my leaving without seeing his boss would lead to consequences he clearly didn’t want to incur.
“Follow me,” he said. I stepped inside, Omar following, leaving the bodyguards outside to keep watch on the alley.
We made our way down a narrow hall, the old brick of the building’s façade having made its way to the interior as well. Then the gatekeeper opened a second bolted door and pulled it wide.
“She’s waiting for you downstairs.”
I eyed the stone steps that seemed to lead into a black void, then Omar moved ahead of me and we began our descent. Three steps down and the door shut behind us, and had I not been accustomed to such clandestine meetings, I might’ve thought something nefarious was about to take place.
As it was, a flickering torch blazed to life at the bottom of the stairs and Josefina Nováková appeared.
“Zdravím vás, pane Stavrosi.I trust you found my little flower shop easy enough.”
Her thick, chestnut-colored hair cascaded in waves over delicate shoulders as she angled her flawless face up toward us. She had a slender build but was taller than average for a woman, at around five eleven.
But what Josefina might lack in physical strength, she made up for with smart, cunning defenses. Something that came in handy when one’s field was political espionage.
“I did. Though I have to say, the greeting was much cooler than I expected.”
She laughed as we reached the bottom of the stairs, her painted lips curving into a crimson smile. “Why? Because I’m a woman?”
