Rafe’s eyes flash. “Morozov. Christ.” He shares a look with Nico.
“You know him?” I ask, voice steadier than I feel.
“Yeah,” Rafe says, almost amused. “I know the motherfucker. He was on my list a couple years back. Didn’t get the chance to kill him, though.”
I swallow. “Oh.” I want to ask why, but I should probably just keep my mouth shut.
Nico leans forward. “Rook said he’s got blackmail on your friend. Jude Graves, right? Lead singer of Dissonance?”
“That’s right,” I say. “Um, years ago, Jude accidentally killed someone in LA. Nolan found out and held it over him. He made him hurt people. Kill people. Nolan’s not a manager—he’s a monster laundering money and drugs through the tour.”
Nico’s mouth twists. “That’s a new one.”
Rafe sips his whiskey. “And Alexei? When did he come into all of this?”
“Nolan partnered with him,” I say. “I'm assuming it's to work together, doing…whatever it is they're doing. Illegal stuff.”
"Legality is boring." Nico chuckles darkly. “Is Nolan based in the West Coast?”
I nod.
Rafe’s grin is slow. “At least he’s avoiding the East Coast. Because it’s mine.”
My stomach drops.
“Listen,” he continues, voice soft. “I’d like to help.”
"Why?" I blurt, and I mentally curse myself. “How?”
Nico’s grin widens. “We can hack the best of them, love.”
Rafe’s tone stays smooth. “My wife runs one of the most powerful cybersecurity firms in the world. She protects a lot of people. Many of whom are not morally superior, let’s just say that.”
My jaw drops. “Okay.”
Nico’s eyes lighten.
Rafe leans back. “Where are you staying?”
I force my hands to stop fidgeting in my lap. “A hotel down the street with my best friend and Jude’s bandmate, Micah.”
“The drummer?” Nico asks. “He’sinsane. Love his solos.”
Rafe waves him off. “I’ll send a car tonight. We’ll continue this at my townhouse.”
My mouth opens and closes. “Really? You'd just let us into your house?”
He raises a brow over his glass. “Of course. We’re about to walk into hell together. Might as well get to know each other a little. Plus, I already know a little about you. I remember when Rook asked us about you years ago.”
My jaw drops. "Wh—what?"
He chuckles. "He was pissed about your boy killing his brother, that's for sure."
"Mainly because he can't do it himself, now," Nico adds with a feral grin.
A small smile tugs on my lips, too. "Thank you. I—I don't know what to say."
"We wouldn't work with anyone that we didn't check out." Nico tilts his head. "Plus, boss and boss-ette would slit yourthroats and hang you in the basement to bleed out if you were to cross them."