Ivan blinked and settled his stance. “Daire Dunne. What is a Nine enforcer doing on my island?”
Daire lifted an eyebrow and kept his stance loose. The odds sucked, especially if the soldiers were as well trained as they appeared at first glance. “I own two of the mines on this island, as you know.”
“Yet I own the actual island as well as two of the working mines.” Ivan smiled, youthful and charming. The soldier next to him was Vadim Deeks, one of the deadliest assassins around, and rumored to be completely loyal to Bychkov. They seemed to have a peaceful alliance with the main demon nation, which was currently being led by Zane Kyllwood, Logan’s older brother. If Daire killed Bychkov, there might be a problem with Kyllwood.
Daire didn’t recognize the other two soldiers. “Well, this has been nice. Go away.”
Bychkov sighed. “Where is she?”
“She?” Daire asked. Instead of letting the exhausted woman sleep all over him, he should’ve demanded answers. Right now, he didn’t know shit, and that was not a good place to be.
Vadim lifted a green gun and pointed it at Daire. A laser gun that turned into bullets as it hit flesh. Immortal flesh.
Daire responded by allowing fire to dance down his arms and morph into plasma weapons in his hands.
“Enough,” Cee Cee said from behind him, crossing to his side.
Bychkov sucked in air. “I’ve been looking for you.”
Anger, female and strong, cascaded off her slim form. “I hadn’t planned to meet up so quickly.”
“Yet here you are,” Bychkov drawled.
She chuckled, the sound low and hoarse. “I’m here to check out Dunne’s mine. Not yours.”
Her voice plus the double entendre rippled through Daire to his groin. When all four men facing her discreetly adjusted their stances, his temper moved from simmer to bring it the fuck on. A chuckle from a woman like her was a dangerous thing.
Bychkov’s gaze raked Daire’s bare chest. “Still slumming it, I see.”
Slumming it? Had the woman been with a witch before? Daire angled his body so he could cover her if anybody fired. “Would somebody tell me what is going on?” If he was going to fight, he wanted to know the reason, damn it.
Bychkov sighed, his gaze remaining squarely on Cee Cee. “We have an agreement, and you’re going to honor it.”
“Not a chance in hell,” Cee Cee spat, glancing up at the thick cloud cover.
What was she looking for? “Agreement?” Daire muttered under his breath.
Bychkov crossed his arms. “We were betrothed decades ago, and you ran away.” He shuffled his feet. “We could’ve worked things out.”
She stretched her neck, her body one tense line. “I’m not property to be bargained with, Ivan. There’s no betrothal.” Her boot made no sound as she took a step forward. “You should’ve let go, and you will pay for what you’ve done. In ways you can’t even imagine with your tiny mind. I will see you dead.”
He smiled. “There are four of us against two of you.”
She chuckled again. “Oh, I didn’t mean today. You get to live a while . . . first.” So much threat lived in the words that the hair on the back of Daire’s neck stood up.
Bychkov frowned. “You’ve forgotten how well I know you. Everything about you.”
Her chin snapped up. “I haven’t forgotten.”
“Then you know you can’t beat me. Can’t come close, in fact.” He finally turned his focus to Daire. “You know she’s damaged, right?”
Daire was more interested in the woman’s preoccupation with the clouds. “What are you doing?” he whispered, the sound slight.
“Time. Can’t see sun,” she whispered back.
The sun? Why did she need time? But Daire could go along for a moment. “Damaged? If you ask me, she’s pretty fucking perfect.”
Cee Cee smiled at him.