The Payback (Team Zulu 2)

“That’s it,” I whispered, staring at the screen.

“Son of a bitch,” said Brandon, although I barely registered it with the throbbing at my temples. “It’s not military. It’s Russian.”

Dizziness overcame me when I read the name above the photo.

Maxim Orlov.

Dante’s Russian bodyguard had murdered my boyfriend and almost killed me. Who knew how many other lives he’d taken?

Brandon looked ready to tear Maxim’s head from his neck. “Say the word, Sage. Say it, and I’ll find that bastard right now and end him in a very slow, creative way.”

My chest squeezed at his offer. Who ever said romance was dead?

But he wasn’t thinking straight. Once Brandon took a moment to breathe, he’d realize that gunning for Maxim before the ball would jeopardize all our hard work.

“No.” I shook my head and tried to smooth the quaver in my voice. “This doesn’t change our plans. It answers a long-standing question and allows us to convict his wretched ass for murder. That won’t happen if we kill him.” As satisfying as it would be, Kieran’s family and countless others deserved to see Maxim held accountable for his crimes. “I’d rather see him rot in prison. Death is too swift a punishment for him.”

I wasn’t sure if I truly believed those words. How many times had I dreamed of doing exactly what Brandon proposed? Perhaps I’d only said them to remind myself I wasn’t above the law. With the evidence Brandon had collected these last few days, we’d be able to put the city’s corrupt officials behind bars, which would allow fair trials to happen. As tempting as it was to deliver our own justice, that wasn’t what Philly needed. It needed stability and hope for a future where citizens could trust law enforcement and the legal system.

“I tried to find him for you,” Brandon said, interrupting my thoughts.

“What?”

“The shooter. Once I learned about the drive-by, I did my own investigation. Looked into nearby security cameras, hacked police files for evidence, tried to identify the vehicle.”

“You did? When?”

“Right after I read the news reports about the drive-by. Before you started working at Vixens.” He exhaled a deep breath. “I found nothing. Cameras had been wiped. The ballistics report came back inconclusive, which almost never happens. Whoever covered it up did a decent job.”

This man. How had I ever thought I could avoid falling for him?

I leaned into Brandon. “Thank you for trying.”

Large arms tightened around me. “Are you okay?”

I nearly brushed off Brandon’s comment withI’m fine, but I didn’t have to pretend with him.

“Not really.” I rested my head against his shoulder, soaking up his warmth, his comfort, his security. “I see him in my mind all the time. It’s like my brain took a high-definition recording of the moment the window rolled down and that creepy clown mask appeared. I wish I could wipe it clear. Hit delete, then empty it from the Trash folder. I thought brains were supposed to block trauma, not amplify it. Why is mine defective?”

“It might be because you’re stronger than most. Maybe your brain allowed you to keep that memory to bring you to this point. So you could fight for what’s important.”

I hadn’t considered that. I sat up to look him in the eye. “You really think so?”

“Without a doubt.” He curled my hair behind one ear. “There are two types of brave people in this world. Those who are too stupid to understand the consequences of their actions. And those who understand them, but choose to take the hard road for what they believe in. The first you’re born with. The second is learned, but also takes strength and courage. I hope I don’t have to explain that you fall into category two, because you, Sage, are the strongest, bravest person I’ve ever known.”

I kissed him long and hard, leaving us both a little breathless. “What did I do to deserve you?”

Brandon sighed, then rubbed his nose against mine. “I was done for the moment you gave me an unforgettable lap dance and followed it up by killing a bunch of mobsters.”

I tried to hide my smile. “That’s so messed up.”

“Luckily you like that about me.”

“I guess we’re both defective, then.”

“Told you we’re perfect for each other.” Before I could argue that two wrongs didn’t make a right, Brandon stood, lifted me in his arms, and carried me to the bed.

I recognized the heated look in his eyes. It told me we were about to be busy for a long while. I worried our lovemaking was distracting from Brandon’s evidence collecting.