Poisonous Desires Read Free Page A

and three gray walls, plus a thick metal door to stare at. Not even a calendar or a clock to keep track of time. The goons who had picked her up from her hotel in Paris hadn’t told her what they wanted. They worked for the Feline Quorum, the patches on their cuffs said so, but other than that, they hadn’t given her much to go on. At least they’d fed her simple chicken noodle soup and water with a bit of French bread. That was it. As much as she didn’t want to be, she was grateful that they were feeding her.
    “ Dolph , Maxim, I told you to make our guest comfortable, not hold her prisoner. Why didn’t you put her in the hotel?” Zerik Rezminsky demanded. “ K>BQ=>: , I’m so sorry. These lunkheads misunderstood me. I couldn’t get to you soon enough. My stepdaughter is getting married, and my ex-wife is demanding more alimony even though she’s getting remarried. And let us not discuss all the Quorum nonsense I had to deal with. Bah. Come, come, k>tQ=>: . Let us talk.” He stepped back and gestured for her to leave her cell.
    Ah, so it was Zerik . She hadn’t been sure about which member wanted to see her, or rather, imprison her. Nadia drew in a deep breath through her nose and blew it out of her mouth before she opened her eyes, rose, and grabbed her jacket off the chair. She said nothing as Zerik led her into his private luxurious office space. They’d put a bag over her head, but she’d suspected that she’d been taken to this place by the smell of amber and spices that had wafted through the air. Even so, she hadn’t been sure someone wasn’t using Zerik’s offices in Paris for something. With the Quorum, you never knew.
    As usual, Nadia ignored the rare art and breakables that were scattered around the space. It wouldn’t do to show interest, and if she needed to defend herself at any time, she was screwed. Not the plush Oriental carpet or the Stradivarius violin under glass fazed her. She wanted to get out of there and head to Draven’s Crossing to make up the time she missed with her best friend Isy , plus there was her condo. It hadn’t seen a vacuum or duster in months. For now she focused on the task at hand, which was walking out of the room and getting out of the country alive. Zerik may not have wanted her dead, but that didn’t mean his enemies weren’t waiting for their chance. At least she was safe, for now.
    Zerik sat down in the plush, padded guest chair and gestured for her to take the seat opposite him.
    She didn’t hesitate to sit on the cushy chair. She’d missed padding while being imprisoned.
    He steepled his fingers and looked at her. “Now, Nadia, again, I’m so sorry about the incarceration.” He placed his hands on the armrests. His body language was relaxed: shoulders down, settled into the backrest of the chair, legs crossed at the ankle, knees splayed apart. He was in control and knew it; Zerik didn’t fear her if he had been the one to train her.
    “No need for apology, Zerik . I want to know why I was escorted from the hotel like a criminal.” There, she’d at least seem angry, even if she wasn’t. Zerik would expect a response from her, even if she didn’t feel it.
    Zerik sighed and shook his head. He threw a glare to the goons who stood near the double doors. “I told them to ask you to come with them, not take you, but that is beside the point. I’ll deposit the usual amount and another million into your account for your trouble. I do have a job for you.”
    Nadia didn’t say anything, but her senses came alive with suspicion. She didn’t ask him why he was paying her for nothing. He wouldn’t tell her anyway, so she remained silent. She knew she could learn more by listening than by talking. And getting paid to listen was a perk. Besides, it meant that a vacation at Banyan Tree Seychelles in a presidential villa she’d been eyeing was closer than she’d thought. Spa services, here I come. If only I could bring Urban . As soon as the thought