Submit (The Underground Book 4) (7 page)

“He’s already moved the bulk of his operation once—from Vegas to Chicago. It will set us back if he moves again. Which means you can’t run this story.”

Belinda opened her mouth to speak, but Taylor held up a hand. No way in hell was she going to abandon this story. It was career altering. If she didn’t cover it, another journalist would. Hell, six others were probably already working on it.

“At least not now. Not yet. We’re prepared to make a deal with you and your boss.” Taylor hesitated a second and then continued. “We need you to keep this entire case to yourself until it’s over. Everything is classified. Years of hard work will be ruined if you run a story before we have Yenin behind bars for life. In exchange we’ll give you exclusive access to the information after the case is solved.”

Belinda chewed her lower lip, wondering what her boss was going to think about this. Dale Sherwood was a fantastic man to work for at
Chicago Multimedia
, but he wasn’t known for easily backing down from a story. Belinda winced, hating the idea of facing him with this news.

Taylor smiled. “I’ve already spoken to Mr. Sherwood, if you’re worried about him.”

“Oh.” She widened her gaze.

“Yes. Met with him earlier today. I’m afraid this is more than a request. There’s a gag order. Judge issued it this morning. You or your boss could be arrested if you leaked any information pertaining to this case before it’s over.” Taylor pulled an envelope out of her purse and handed it to Belinda.

Jesus. This was serious.

“I gave a copy of that to your boss also. We had hoped to draw Yenin’s men out into the open earlier this evening when you and Haley went to that underpass, but unfortunately the operation ended up being much more intense than expected. Of the four men who took off after you after that explosion, the only one we have in custody is dead. He’s not offering up much information.”

Belinda gulped. Was that supposed to be a joke?

Apparently not because Taylor didn’t laugh. She kept right on talking. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea and assume you were used as bait. It was a lot more extensive than that. We didn’t take it lightly for one minute. Dozens of agents spent the day planning around your public appearance.

“In the end we decided it was in our best interest to let you and Haley head out to that underpass with Mikhail and Nikolav without making a huge deal out of the number of people who were watching you, hoping to make an arrest.”

“Jesus,” Nikolav interrupted. “How on earth is that not using us as bait?” He straightened his spine as he frowned at Taylor.

She shrugged. “Strategic decision based on the information we had at the time. Belinda was insistent about going. Haley was chomping at the bit to get back out there. The two of you were diligently on their tail. We had no reason to expect an explosion, and although we assumed Yenin would have people watching, the likelihood of them succeeding in capturing one of you was nil. Too many agents were out there.”

“And yet, somehow four men in masks chased us down the street with guns.”

“True. Unexpected.”

Nikolav inhaled deeply and let out his breath slowly.

Belinda thought he was barely containing his anger. She reached out a hand and set it on his over his knee. “No one is hurt.” She hoped her voice would calm him. Though she wasn’t at all sure why she cared.

He shifted his gaze to her. “Yet.”

“And we’re going to do everything in our power to keep it that way,” Taylor continued. “But we need your cooperation on this case. It’s imperative you follow our instructions from here on out. Your safety depends on it. Until Yenin is captured, none of you can breathe easily.” She glanced at Ivan and Alena to include them.

Taylor’s words sank in. This was serious.

Taylor looked at Belinda again. “I’m aware this story is meant for a one-hour special on prime time television that won’t air for several months, and that’s fine, as long as the case is wrapped up well before then. In the meantime, nothing can leak. Not a word.”

“She’ll do whatever you need,” Nikolav responded.

Belinda shot him a glance. Was he seriously answering for her? She released his hand and crossed her arms. “Really?” She lifted one eyebrow and then turned her attention back to Taylor. “I’ll cooperate in any way I can, especially if it helps stop this bastard from hurting any more people. But don’t expect me to sit on this. I’ll be working this story from every angle imaginable. Nothing changes for me. The story isn’t meant to air until it’s finished and verified anyway.” She struggled to keep from piercing Nikolav with a glare for speaking for her. And she wanted to slap herself for finding his overbearing tendencies hot. She should not be aroused by his firm stance with regard to her actions.

Why the hell was she?
Because it’s damn sexy that he cares
.

Taylor responded. “Thank you. And it would be helpful if you would stay here in this apartment. Is that going to work for you?”

Belinda hesitated. She knew this was coming. Nikolav had already insinuated so. But the testosterone in this place was thick. And the reality was she didn’t know how she could spend another night in the same space as Nikolav without attacking him.

And that thought scared her more than anything because it was unlike her to feel compelled to put herself out there so blatantly. She had no idea if the man even returned the level of sexual attraction she felt for him. He seemed interested, but maybe she was telling herself that to boost her ego.

Stay in his apartment? Lord.

Taylor spoke again. “If it’s a problem, we can move you to a safe house, but then you’ll be trapped there for the duration of the case without outside contact.”

“She’ll stay here,” Nikolav stated.

Belinda jerked her attention to him again. This time she did explode. “You can stop speaking for me any time. I’m a big girl.” He might be sexy all domineering like that, but she needed to speak up before he steamrolled her.

He grinned, lifting an eyebrow. “Okay, you tell her.” He held out an open palm toward Taylor, gesturing for Belinda to repeat his words.

She narrowed her gaze, her face heating before she turned back to face Taylor. “I’ll stay here for tonight, but only because I know it’s easier. I’ve only known Nikolav since yesterday, and I met his roommates a few minutes ago. I’m intruding here.”

“You’re not intruding,” he added.

Alena cleared her throat and agreed. “You’re welcome here as long as you need.”

Taylor held Belinda’s gaze. “I’ll be in touch with you directly and often. If we need to make any changes, we’ll address those as they come. For now, if you could stay here tonight, it would be helpful. The agency’s people are stretched thin. We’ll speak again tomorrow.”

“Understandable.”

Belinda needed to shake off whatever leftover adrenaline rush she had left and get to work. She needed to document everything she’d witnessed tonight while it was still fresh. Shit. Her computer. “I left my computer in Haley’s office.”

“We’ll get it tomorrow,” Nikolav said. “If you need one tonight, you can use ours.”

Belinda glanced at her watch. It was late. She needed to call Dale and touch base with him. She couldn’t wait to hear what Taylor said to him and how he’d responded.

Taylor stood. “You’re safe here. But don’t leave the apartment without anyone knowing. None of you.” She glanced at Nikolav and then Ivan and Alena. “Sergei’s on his way here. He was at the gym. I stopped there and spoke with him earlier.”

This woman seemed to know more about everyone’s whereabouts than each of them knew about themselves.

Nikolav stood to let Taylor out.

Belinda took a deep breath and tugged her phone out of her pocket. Thank God she hadn’t been carrying a purse, nor had she lost her phone when they ran. She turned it on to find she had dozens of texts and phone messages. “I need to work for a few hours,” she told Nikolav. “And call my boss.”

“Of course. What can I do? What sort of space do you need? I’ve been staying in Mikhail’s room since he moved in with Haley. There’s a desk in there. Will that help?”

“Yes. And coffee.” She stood, smiling. “And stop speaking for me,” she informed him. “I have my own voice box.”

In her peripheral vision, she noticed Ivan and Alena slip down the hall.

Nikolav growled as he turned to step into the attached kitchen area. The apartment was large, and the great room spacious enough for several people, but she still worried about five adults in tight quarters for long lengths of time. Days? Weeks? She was imposing on their space.

But most importantly, she needed Nikolav to understand she didn’t like to be bossed around. It unnerved her, partly because it was so high-handed, but mostly because her pulse raced every time he did it.

Nikolav filled the coffee pot with water and then turned to fill the reservoir. “You’d rather go to a safe house than stay here?”

“Never said that. But I’d rather speak for myself.”

He turned around and leaned against the counter as the coffee brewed, crossing his arms over his chest. He smirked. “Did I say a word you didn’t agree with?”

“That’s not the point.”

“Isn’t it?”

Oh, he was infuriating. “I don’t want to argue with you right now. I have to get my notes down before I forget something.”
And I need to get out of your space so I can think clearly
.

She sincerely hoped he would give her some time to work without breathing down her neck, or she would never be able to concentrate. No woman would ever be able to think clearly with him in the room. He filled it with his enormous sexy body, his domineering methods, and his sensual mannerisms.

Just the way he moved made her take notice. Even leaning casually against the counter, he was drool worthy. His muscles bulged in his arms. His dark hair was messy in a sexy sort of way that made her want to run her fingers through it, not to straighten it, but to feel the texture.

She yanked her gaze from him to pretend to study the rest of the great room, concentrating on the décor. The space was done in black, white, and gray. The cabinets in the kitchen area were white, sleek, modern. The counter was black. The tile floor and carpet were both a swirl of grays.

In the awkward silence, she returned her gaze to Nikolav to find him staring at her intently. “I’m sorry. I’ll try to remember to let you speak for yourself in the future. I tend to be…bossy. And I’m used to getting my way.”

She was taken aback. “Thank you. And this isn’t about you getting your way. It’s about our collective safety. I’m not stupid. I don’t usually make bad choices.”

He nodded. “I’m sure you don’t, but I don’t want you going to a safe house.”

She stared at him intently. “Why?”

“It would make me nervous if I didn’t know where you were, and I can’t control your safety if you leave here.”

Goose bumps rose on her skin. He was protective. She got that. But she barely knew him. Right? “We just met yesterday.”

He frowned for a moment and then slowly smiled and shrugged. “You grew on me fast. I don’t like the idea of you being in danger.”

Was he trying to lighten the mood? Perhaps. Either way, she appreciated his apology and his interest in her well-being.

The coffee pot made a hissing noise to indicate it was done, and Nikolav turned around to grab a mug and pour her a cup. “Cream? Sugar?”

“Both if you have them. Light, though. Just enough to mask the harsh taste.”

He grabbed a small covered bowl from near the coffee pot and put about half a spoonful of sugar in the mug. And then he turned toward the fridge and found the half-and-half. He held it up. “This okay? Alena uses it.”

“Perfect.”

He added a small stream to her mug and returned it to the fridge. With the spoon in the cup, he picked it up and nodded toward the hallway. “I’ll show you where you can work.”

She followed him, specifically noticing he still held her coffee. When they entered the first door on the right across from the bathroom, she paused in the doorway. The room was spacious, and she watched as Nikolav continued toward the desk across from the door under the window. The blinds were closed.

He set the coffee down and grabbed several papers off the desk to move them out of the way. “Will this be okay?” He flipped open a laptop and turned to face her.

“Perfect. I don’t want to put you out, though. It’s late.”

“Stop worrying about putting people out. It’s going to be cramped in this apartment for a while. We’ll survive. There are three bedrooms. Alena is across the hall at the end. Ivan is in the next room on this side of the hall across from Alena. Bathroom’s right out there.” He pointed toward the doorway. “Sergei’s been on the couch.”

She nodded. Where the hell did that leave her?

“You can have my bed. I’ll sleep on the other end of the sectional.”

“No. Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need a bed anyway. As long as I have a pillow, I can easily sleep anywhere. You can’t share the couch while I take your bed.”

He shrugged. “Couch is huge.” He pointed at the desk. “Get your work done. We can argue later.” He winked at her and strode from the room, shutting the door behind him.

She didn’t have the energy to tell him there was no way in hell she was staying in this apartment more than one night. Somehow, someway, she would work things out with the FBI. She wasn’t going to a safe house. And she wasn’t staying with strangers in their apartment.

Even if one of those strangers was smoking hot and made her squeeze her legs together every time he was in the same room.

Nikolav returned to the living room as Sergei arrived. He locked the door and reset the alarm before dropping his gym bag on the floor near the couch. “Heard we’ve added another house guest.”

“Yep. Belinda. She’s in my room working on her story.”

“Does she always work this late at night?”

“Only when there’s an explosion she needs to document while the details are fresh in her mind.”

“Right. Makes sense.” Sergei glanced at the sofa and pointed at it. “It’s big. We’ve slept in tighter quarters before.”