Page 49 of Viper’s Reign

I pull the bedroom door shut behind me, Grace’s stare burning into my back until the latch clicks, and push away the tightening in my chest. There’s no point in feeling guilty. In a few minutes, she’s going to hate me anyway.

“His house or car?” I make my way down the hallway and up the stairs to my study, phone pressed to my ear.

“Car only, for now.” Some of his excitement flattens. “But with the audio and tracking device, it’s only a matter of time before we get to his house.”

I should feel more satisfied than I do. Small or not, progress is progress. But my mind keeps snagging on the image of Grace, alone in my room, and I have to force it away. This is more important.

“Anything usable from his car yet?”

The hope is clear: we need to catch him saying something that will ruin his political ambitions for life. I don’t doubt he says incriminating shit regularly, it’s just never been recorded before.

“Oh, I thought you’d never ask.” His tone makes my spine straighten. “There were several conversations—I’ll send them all—but there’s a phone call with Senator Cole I’m sending separately. Listen to that one first.”

Noah hangs up and within seconds, the audio file appears on my screen. I settle into the chair behind my desk and hit play. A familiar chuckle crackles through, and my jaw tightens before the man has said a word. Daniel Salvi has always rubbed me the wrong way.

“You have nothing to worry about, Cole. A curious cat who goes sniffing ’round a fire will get burnt.”

A pause. Probably Cole responding on the other end of the line. Then, “It means the problem of Dimitri Petrov sniffing around my business will be resolved this week.”

My hands curl into fists. The pause is longer this time. I fucking wish we could clone his phone, but that would require getting close to Daniel—closer than we can manage right now.

“Of course it won’t be traced back to me. I worked hard to get here. I won’t jeopardize it.” Another pause. “Yes, I’m prepared for the interview tomorrow. I’ve got this. You have nothing to worry about, Cole.” That chuckle again. “Everything will turn out as planned, you’ll see. And I won’t even tell you I told you so.”

Silence, and then the audio clip ends.

I sit with it for a moment, my fingers curling and uncurling as I tap a slow rhythm on the desk. Resolved this week. He said that like it’s already been arranged.

I don’t like the sound of it at all.

“What the hell are you playing at, Daniel?” I mutter under my breath.

Noah calls back before I can get lost in my own thoughts. “Done listening?”

“Yes. I want access to his house. Hurry Janice along.”

Janice is Pavel’s sister—Pavel being one of my men—sent to infiltrate Daniel’s house as a maid. She only got in a week ago, and Daniel’s security has been keeping her under tight watch, so she hasn’t been able to sneak out to grab any of our listening devices yet. That needs to change. I’m done waiting. Done being careful.

“Dima…”

“Get Pavel in as one of the drivers who delivers groceries to the mansion at the end of each month. He can slip the equipment to Janice without raising suspicion.” I don’t give him time to argue. “Start working on it right away. We have three weeks until the next delivery. That’s enough time to make it work.”

“Alright,” Noah replies reluctantly, and I end the call, resisting the urge to slam my fist on the desk.

Salvi has never been able to get close enough to us to do any real damage, but I don’t like the fact that he feels confident enough to still be trying. I want to hear every single conversation he has, his every waking thought. I need to know what his plan is.

He’ll regret the day he ever dared to fuck with the Petrovs.

I inhale deeply and roll my shoulders, trying to dispel the tension as I get to my feet and make my way out of the office.

Slowly, my mind shifts back to the little liar in my bed downstairs.

I need to deal with her tonight, then I’ll give Daniel my full attention.

Back in the bedroom, I find Grace fast asleep. I pause at the threshold and ease the door shut behind me, careful not to make a sound. The little liar looks so at peace I almost don’t want to wake her. She must not suspect a thing.

How foolish. How naïve.

How fucking heart-stoppingly beautiful.