Obsessive Boss (Bratva Brothers 4)

FIFTEEN

Savannah

Six Weeks Later

I've fallen naturally into a routine, starting a few weeks ago with Declan at Eagle Tactical headquarters. Their office is new, freshly painted, and larger than their previous office space.

At least that's according to Ariella, one of the other girls who works for the team. She's friendly and sweet and has been kind enough not to ask any probing questions about my past.

Does she know not to ask or has secrets of her own?

"Savannah, my office," Declan says and gestures for me to come into his office for a word.

The owner of Eagle Tactical, Jaxson Monroe, is already in the office, perched at the edge of the desk. "We have some news," Jaxson says.

He's been running primary on the Danvers case, helping poke holes into the bureau's airtight case against Anton and me.

"Good news?" I ask, hopeful that they've found something incriminating against the man. I step into the office and shut the door behind myself.

"Yes, and no," Jaxson says. "Massive deposits are going into an offshore account with his name, but they're not from illicit originations like we might expect."

"Where are they from?" I ask.

"We're still digging into it, but we have other news on the bratva front," Jaxson says and glances at Declan for him to elaborate.

"We thought it best to monitor all communication among the Russian Bratva in New York," Declan says. "We have audio recordings between Madisyn and Mikhail."

I press my lips together. I know Madisyn. We used to work together at the FBI. "Does Madisyn know about my disappearance and the bratva ordering my murder?"

Inhaling a nervous breath, I'm not sure I'm ready to hear the answer.

"Yes, she's aware, and from what I can tell, she's on your side," Jaxson says. "There's a rift forming within the bratva organization. Mikhail is coming head-to-head with the other members as they question his motives and decisions."

"What are you suggesting?" I ask.

"We can have you make contact with Madisyn. She may be able to run interference with Mikhail and have him stand down. But in doing so, you'd likely have to tell her the truth that Nikita shot and killed Dmitri."

I exhale a heavy breath. "You want me to trade one life for another. There's already been enough bloodshed."

"Talk it over with Anton."

"There aren't any better options? Can't you kidnap Madisyn and bring her to a neutral location for the two of us to talk?" When I say it, it sounds crazy. The bratva will be searching for Madisyn and will kill everyone involved.

"That's not a better option," Declan says.

He's right.

"What do you suggest?" I ask. "Other than throwing the man who saved our lives into the lion's den to be slaughtered?" I'm not about to have Nikita killed to protect us. As it is, we've managed to survive without being found. We'll be ready if we need to get on a plane or another train and get out of town. We have a bag packed just in case things get dicey.

"We can hack the cell phone towers and get you to contact her without being traced. But unless you give her information to prove you're both loyal to the bratva, they won't stop hunting you."

"Loyal to men who ordered Anton dead?" I'm appalled at their suggestion. "I'm not loyal to them."

Jaxson smirks. "It's probably for the best. Honestly, I don't see them as your biggest threat as long as you stay out of the big cities and off their radar. Which leads us back to Agent Danvers," he says with a sigh.

"Anything else on him?" I can't believe, six weeks, and they haven't been able to find more.

"The guy has multiple accolades. He's certainly got the bureau fooled into believing he's a stellar guy," Jaxson says.

"What about Agent Barrett Kingston?" I ask.

"What about him? He comes up clean. You didn't ask us to look into your boss," Declan says. "Is he working with Danvers?"

"No, quite the opposite. Those two don't get along, but if Barrett can't do much—"

"Trust me, he can't," Jaxson says. "Danvers just got offered a promotion. He hasn't yet accepted it, but we intercepted the offer letter."

"Can't you delete it or something?" The man should be fired from the bureau, not given a raise and more responsibility, which likely equates to more agents working under him.

"That wouldn't be very professional," Jaxson says with a smirk. "I wish I could, but even if it disappeared, I'm confident he'll be called into the office and informed of the promotion."

I grumble under my breath. "There's nothing we can do but let him take over the FBI." The room is warm, and I'm getting heated. I fold my arms across my chest. "I don't like our options," I say, "which seem to be little to none."

"There is one other suggestion, but I hate even to bring it up," Jaxson says.

Could it be worse than my suggestion or the one earlier, where we turn in Nikita to Mikhail for our safety? I'd never go along with that, and neither would Anton.

"Well, out with it," I quip, staring at Jaxson. I'm becoming less patient after being around Anton, and my temper is much shorter than it used to be.

"You turn yourself into the FBI."

"Then it's my word against Danvers, and the bureau is already questioning if I'm an accomplice. Besides, that would incriminate Nikita in Dmitri's murder."

"He did shoot Dmitri. Someone should be held accountable for the crime."

"He saved our lives," I say. "We'd be dead if Nikita hadn't pulled the trigger. He's not serving a day in prison for protecting us." The more I'm around Anton, the more I'm sounding and becoming like him.

"Then have Mikhail put behind bars for ordering the hit," Declan says.

"I'm not doing that," I say and expel a heavy sigh. "Anton would never go for it, and to be honest, I get where he's coming from. I'm an FBI Agent, well, I was, and I managed to get inside Mikhail's inner circle. I worked at his club. I slept with one of his men. This is my doing. And Anton would never forgive me if I took down Mikhail, even after the shit we've been through."

"He's a better man than I am," Jaxson says.