Hostile Territory - Marie James Page 0,72

thinks I’m trying to encroach on someone she’s claimed, and if this situation were different, I’d be able to remind her that we have opposite tastes in men.

I can’t do that right now, can I?

I’ve slept with her ex-husband, felt him inside of me, and I know what he sounds like when he comes. I shake my head. Now, isn’t the time to come clean. Now isn’t the time to think about the night we spent together and how the brush of his fingers on my cheek left me confused because it felt like more than just a one-night stand.

“There’s nothing going on between Deacon and me.”

It’s possibly the truth. After all, he hasn’t made any overtures. If he wanted more from me than a way to get off, he wouldn’t have retreated into himself right after he came on my damn back.

“You’re certain Nikolay isn’t dead?”

For once I’m thankful for how easily distracted she is when a conversation isn’t about her.

“Yes. Deacon was able to keep him in the States, but I don’t think they can keep him there forever.” I instantly feel guilty for disclosing information I overheard Wren talk about during a conversation while I was there. “He took his team to West Africa to find you. He thought you might be in Cote d’ Ivoire.”

“He can’t find me, Anna. I’m as good as dead if he does.”

I step closer to her. “He won’t. Deacon will keep you safe.”

She steps away, continuing to pace the room. She’s legitimately terrified, and that only ramps up my own terror. Dani doesn’t get flustered and seeing her this way makes my skin crawl.

I gape at her back when she turns toward the hotel room door.

“Where are you going?”

“To blow off some steam.”

Before I can tell her that a massage isn’t the answer right now, she disappears.

Some things never change, and Dani, no matter the trouble she’s in, will always only think of herself.

Chapter 31

Deacon

Nothing has ever had the ability to piss me off the way my ex-wife can. I didn’t realize how much of a hair trigger I had where she was concerned until I saw her lounging on the damn beach like she doesn’t have a care in the world, like she hasn’t put her best friend’s life in jeopardy more than once since she pulled her most recent shit.

I was so mad at seeing her sitting there, fruity cocktail in hand, unconcerned about what she’s done, I didn’t even realize I forgot to bring up the fucking Russians and stolen diamonds until I walked away and had a few minutes to calm down.

“They aren’t on the beach,” I hiss into my Air Pods as I walk to the cabana I left Dani and Anna at minutes ago.

“Dani is registered to room 1401,” Wren informs me.

I hang up, not needing any more of my frustrations being witnessed by my guys. Flynn followed me around for a few minutes after I walked away, but he eventually got tired of trying to calm me down and split off somewhere else.

I find Finnegan outside of room 1401 when I step off the elevator, and he disappears when I nod at him. He won’t go far, but at least he doesn’t give me shit when I lift my hand to knock.

Dani doesn’t answer the door. Instead, it’s a frustrated Anna who pulls the door open.

“I didn’t talk to her about the diamonds,” I explain because the last damn thing I need is Anna thinking I’m here to speak to my ex-wife about anything other than the issue at hand.

“She isn’t here.” Anna doesn’t seem happy that her friend is gone, or maybe she isn’t impressed with me standing here even with my truthful explanation.

“Where did she go?”

Anna shrugs. “Who knows? She said she was going to blow off some steam when I told her that Nikolay was still alive.”

“Can I come in?” She hasn’t budged from blocking the door, but I can tell she’s upset.

How Dani treated her and everyone around her hasn’t changed, but I can see that there’s something different in her eyes, as if, just maybe, Anna can finally see through her friend’s bullshit. I know it took me years and hundreds of miles of distance to see the real her. It wasn’t a pretty realization for me, and I know it won’t be for her best friend either.

Anna steps to the side, allowing me entry, but she doesn’t reach for me when I pass. God, how did this woman