“You may not believe it,” said Vasiliy, “but there are some things that even people like me won’t touch. A nuclear bomb going off in a city is bad for everyone. You can have it. Take it to the police. Clear your names.”

“And in return?” asked JD cautiously.

“This man, Becker,” said Vasiliy. “He murdered one of ours. You put him in jail or you put him in the ground.” He raised a shot glass questioningly. Yes?

JD picked up a shot glass. “That,” he said, “we can do.” And he clinked glasses with Vasiliy. We all downed our shots. The vodka raced down my throat, a silky rush of fire and then a blossoming heat that warmed me from the inside out.

We were met in the living room by Luka’s girlfriend. “Try these,” she said, passing me a pile of clothes.

Just the idea of finally getting out of the soaked, freezing cocktail dress made me groan in relief. “Thank you!” I said. I went to hug her, then stopped short, not wanting to soak her. “I’m Erin.”

“Arianna.”

A few moments later, I was in sneakers, jeans and a thick sweater and feeling much, much better. We climbed into the two cars again but, this time, Danny persuaded Yuri to let him drive. He fondled the steering wheel lovingly, then tapped the coordinates from the file into the car’s GPS and fired up the engine. “Let’s go!”

57. Danny

57

DANNY

The Mercedes was armor plated and weighed about as much as a tank so it wasn’t exactly speedy. But it was a relief to be driving anything. Yuri was up front with me and in the back were JD, Gabriel…and Erin. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Arianna had given her a pair of black, figure-hugging jeans and a tight, cream turtleneck sweater that molded to those pert little breasts. Then over the top was a long gray belted coat and Arianna had found her some knee-high brown boots. She’d put her hair back into its usual braid and she looked sophisticated and cool and sexy as hell. But then she’d been sexy as hell in a deerstalker and layered shirts.

“Watch road,” Yuri muttered.

Yuri didn’t miss much. I tore my eyes away from Erin before JD noticed. But I could feel her presence behind me, tugging at me. I’d never wanted—never needed—anyone so much in my life.

Except JD. I sighed. The rock in my life, the one person who’d always been there for me. I couldn’t lose him. I cursed under my breath. How had I wound up having to choose between two people I loved?