Wicked Edge (Realm Enforcers, #2)(48)

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she studied him, her fingers picking at the bedspread. “I’m trying to protect you from having to make impossible choices, you big oaf.”

“How sweet,” he drawled. “How about you let the big, bad enforcer protect himself?” And her. Whether she liked it or not.

She shook her head. “Go away.”

“Nope.” He let loose his brogue. “Not garna happen. You have a choice here. Either start talking, or I’ll see if you’re ticklish.”

Her eyes widened, and she wrapped her arms around her legs. “You’re joking. The big, bad enforcer tickles for information?”

He slowly nodded, enjoying her discomfort. Yeah, he’d thought she was ticklish after sleeping with her in the tent. When his foot had rubbed the bottom of hers, she’d nearly jumped out of the sleeping bag. Was that only a couple of days ago? “I often tickle for data, and by the panic in your eyes, I’m thinking I’d get what I want.”

She swallowed and didn’t move.

“All right.” He prowled toward her, keeping his movements slow. Where to start? Feet or ribs? He liked her ribs. Then he put one knee on the bed.

“Wait.” She held out a hand. “Fine.”

He bit back another grin. She must be incredibly ticklish, and boy, was he going to explore that later. “Well?”

She drew in a deep breath and then exhaled, dark regret filling her eyes. “Fine, but I warned you. One of the banks I’m planning to rob holds evidence against Simone Brightston, the woman you love as a sister. She’s involved with Bychkov and Rudger, and she owns two of the mines currently supplying planekite to the manufacturer of Apollo.”





Chapter 17


Fire crackled and spread warmth across the cabin’s main room. Felicity sat at the long table and moved from the maps to the laptop, quickly accessing her online storage server. “I’m sorry, but I’ve looked at the documents I could find, and I’ve traced the original incorporation documents to the bank in the Caymans.”

Daire shook his head, no warmth in his gaze. “Impossible.”

She shivered, not realizing until right that second how heated he’d been with her. “It’s true. Simone initially signed on to a limited liability corporation with Trevan Demidov, another witch, and when he died, his son took over. It’s called Triad Financing, and it owns the land that contains the mines owned by Ivan.”

Daire frowned. “Ivan doesn’t own the land?”

“No. He, or rather, his people control the mineral rights and several easements to bring material in and out. He actually does not own the property.” The arrangement was fairly normal, even in the Pacific Northwest with silver mines.

Daire relaxed. “Trevan was Simone’s lover, and he used her to go after our family. He died decades ago, and his son died very recently.”

“I figured.” There hadn’t been any activity in Yuri Demidov’s accounts for the last week, and considering his connection to the planekite mines, she’d figured the enforcers had taken him down. “Did you kill him?”

“No. Kellach did.” Daire leaned back. “So any connection Simone had with Demidov ended years ago, and she must’ve forgotten about the corporation.”

Felicity’s stomach cramped. “The corporation has gone through several restructurings, and one time, Simone was even out of the documents. But she joined back in about five years ago and has been an integral part of moving property.” She swallowed. “The connection of Triad to the planekite mines was difficult to find, but I’ve had years to plan and study Bychkov. He’s in bed with a witch, and they’re going after the Coven Nine, I believe.”

Daire shook his head. “Simone wouldn’t ever do that.”

Felicity sighed. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” His face darkened. “For years, she got involved with one bad choice after another, but that’s over.”

No, it wasn’t. Ivan was handsome and charming, and even though Simone was a tough bitch, Felicity had studied her from afar. The woman had a gooey center and was looking for love. “You might be blind where family is concerned.”

“I am not.” He crossed his arms, muscles flexing. “Simone doesn’t know anything about Triad, and her involvement stopped when Trevan Demidov died.”

Felicity twirled the laptop so he could see the screen. “Simone made a series of bank transfers a week ago, and here’s her signature.”

Daire leaned over, his expression revealing nothing. Yet his jaw clenched. “That’s her signature, but it was just to transfer money.”

Felicity swallowed, trying not to throw up as she reclaimed the laptop and typed in keys. “And here?”

He crossed around to read over her shoulder. “Aye. That’s her signature.”

“This was on a shipping manifest from Russia to Seattle that should arrive any day.” Keys clacked as she typed in an order, and the manifest came up in full view. “This is one of the five shipments from planekite mines, and the manifest states that it is mining materials and minerals to be studied at the University of Washington.”

Daire moved away, taking his heat with him. A clank of crystal on crystal echoed behind her. “Tell me you didn’t drug all of the cognac,” he muttered.