Chapter 6 - A Dangerous Partnership
"A retainer," Lorenzo said, sitting in an armchair opposite her. "The Bratva think the dog is dead. They think the ledger was destroyed in the crossfire. But you and I both know the truth. They will come looking for you, Nina. They know you were here. They know you have a connection to the animal."
Nina’s blood ran cold. "You’re saying they’ll go after my brother."
"I am saying," Lorenzo corrected smoothly, "that you have two choices. You can take this bag of money, walk out that door, and spend the next week running from men who skin people alive for fun—or you can stay here."
"Stay here? As what? Your prisoner?"
"My partner," Lorenzo corrected, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. "You control the beast that knows where every body in this city is buried. And more importantly... he actually listens to you. My men are ruthless, but they are blind. You have instincts I can use."
Nina looked down at Ghost. The dog let out a soft whine, nuzzling his bandaged nose against her knee as if casting his vote. She thought of her brother's medical bills, the endless stack of eviction notices, and the terrifying realization that the criminal underworld had already marked her name down in ink.
May you like
She reached out, picked up one of the banded stacks of cash, and slid it into her jacket pocket.
"Five thousand was the catering fee," Nina said, her voice steadying as the fear gave way to cold, hard survival. "If I'm working security detail for a crime lord, my price just went up."
