Free Midnight Pursuits by Elle Kennedy

surprise, he didn’t utter a denial. “I would’ve killed him in a heartbeat. But . . . I guess I’m having a tough time picturing you torturing a man. Not many people are capable of such brutality, even when it’s necessary.”
    â€œI’m capable of a lot of things.” She met his gaze head-on. “Try not to forget that, kiddo.”
    He didn’t object to the nickname, but his nostrils did flare in irritation for a moment. “I take it he chose not to talk at first?”
    â€œNo, not at first. I only had to cut off one finger before he changed his mind.”
    She’d revealed the gruesome detail in an attempt to shock him, but Ethan didn’t even blink. Instead, he clasped his hands in his lap and said, “So, who’s the client? Who hired Grechko to kill Zoya?”
    Juliet hesitated.
    â€œOh, come on. Don’t hold out on me now. Who was Grechko working for?”
    She let out an uneven breath. “Are you familiar with Dmitry Orlov?”
    He looked startled. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
    â€œYou’ve heard of him, then.”
    â€œWho hasn’t?” Ethan shook his head in dismay. “No way. You can’t get tangled up with that man. He’s corrupt to shit.”
    Ethan wasn’t exaggerating. Of all the corrupt politicians on the globe, Dmitry Orlov made Juliet’s top ten Don’t Mess With list. The minister of defense in Belarus, he was a smooth, attractive man on the surface with the reputation of a coldhearted psycho beneath it. Whenever someone in the government opposed him, that person mysteriously disappeared or wound up dead in a Dumpster—deaths that always went unsolved because Orlov had the head of the police force in his pocket.
    Back when she stole for a living, Juliet had made many trips to Eastern Europe and had heard her fair share of stories about Dmitry Orlov. According to her sources, Orlov had a tendency to use heavy-handed tactics to get his way, but he’d become drastically more violent since he’d lost his son in a terrorist attack that had dominated every global media outlet. The man’s antiterrorist stance had only strengthened since then, and he now went to any lengths to eliminate threats to his country or his position of power. Blackmail, murder, rape, torture—the man had no qualms about using whatever method was available in order to achieve his goals.
    â€œI know exactly who I’m dealing with here,” she replied with a shrug. “Orlov is a violent maniac.”
    â€œWhich is why you should stay away from him.”
    â€œNot gonna happen, kiddo. He’s responsible for my brother’s death.”
    â€œAre you sure Grechko was telling you the truth?”
    â€œHe had no reason to lie. He said he met with Orlov personally at Orlov’s private estate.” When she saw Ethan’s dubious face, she went on. “Orlov is known to use outside contractors—it’s no secret he doesn’t have much trust in his own government—and he wouldn’t have been worried about Grechko talking out of turn. It wasn’t in Grechko’s best interest to advertise his arrangement with Orlov, not if he wanted to keep collecting millions by killing for the guy.”
    â€œI see your point, but I still don’t get why Orlov needed a pet hit man to begin with. Who were the other targets Grechko eliminated for him?”
    â€œHe told me the names of the targets he’d already hit, and three that he hadn’t taken care of yet. Grechko said he’s been on standby for Orlov this past year. He doesn’t move on the target until Orlov orders him to.”
    â€œDo you remember all the names?”
    â€œI put them in my phone. Grab it for me, will ya? It should be in my duffel. You know, the bag that’s sitting by your feet.” She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “You thought I wouldn’t