Merciless Hunter (Dark Syndicate 4)

I close the file and the whole folder when I see there’s even more naked pictures of her in the next one.

A knock on the door makes me lift my head.

“Come in.”

It’s Maksim. He walks in with an uneasy look on his face. The same expression he wore when I gave him the rundown of today’s discovery.

He’s been taking care of things at the office and keeping a look out for Jude’s men.

“Find anything else?” he asks.

“Nothing useful.”

He peaks over at my computer screen and takes note of the picture of Olivia with a spark of curiosity.

When he lowers to sit, he bites back a smile.

“What?” I demand.

“She’s got your interest cousin.”

“What of it?” There’s no need to deny anything or pussyfoot around shit.

“Nothing.” He smiles now and straightens up, settling his elbows on his knees. “Just saying. I’m just curious is all cousin. People die for less than what she did when it comes to you. Also, I saw the way you looked at her.”

“She’s a beautiful woman, I saw the way you looked at her too.” There wasn’t a damn man amongst us who saw her and didn’t gawk.

“All right you win. But I figured you’d make use of the chains. Are you looking but not touching then?”

“Investigating,” I answer and the sullen look on his face is a tell he knows I’m off with him.

He holds my gaze and all signs of humor fades from his eyes.

“It wasn’t me,” he eventually says as if he’s answering to some unspoken conversation.

I know what he’s talking about, but I want to say it. “Wasn’t you what, cousin?”

“I didn’t betray you.” He sighs. “Somebody did but it was not me. I don’t expect you to believe me, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to clear my name and the air with you. My father took a bullet for yours, and I’d do the same for you. That is who I am.”

I consider what he’s saying and let the words sink in.

I want to believe him. I’m surprised by how badly I do, but I can’t drop my guard and allow trust in just yet. Not now when the past is colliding with the present again.

“You look like you have your suspicions,” I point out.

He shakes his head. “No cousin. I don’t, so I give that person credit because nothing gets past me.”

He backs away and I watch him go.

Nothing is supposed to get past me either, but it did.