The world is a stage, Cassie. Play to your audience and get them to love you. Life is an investment. Itâs like buying a satin suit and fabulous shoes. You get what you pay for.
Head up, shoulders straight, and remember, never buy cheap.
For twenty-eight years Casmir Balasi had lived by her motherâs words, as well as her motto: quality, not quantity. Sheâd been a trendsetter in her youth, a runway model by age nineteen, and for the past five years Ruzaâs teachings had turned the blonde with attitude into one of the most valued femmes fatales at EURO-Quest.
Her model figure and fashion sense, along with her catlike ability to land on her feet, had allowed her to infiltrate some of the most dangerous criminal circles in the world.
Code-named âthe actress,â she had recovered precious gems, exposed the most cunning criminals, foiled terrorists and carried top-secret documents across enemy lines, while entertaining evil in the process. And each time she had managed to keep her identity a secret to play the game another day.
Sheâd been as elusive as a grain of sand in a sandstorm. Her top-notch skills allowed her to haul her butt out of tighter spots than a Gucci leather skirt.
Until tonight.
Tonight, the black wide-brimmed Tularo shielding her green eyes and the silver Devicca suit outlining her curves had fallen short. Nasty Nicky was seated at the bar and he was looking straight at her.
Normally that wouldnât have drawn a red flag, but the smug look on his face warned Casmir that he wasnât just enjoying the sight of an attractive woman in a crowd.
There was something else in that look.
It was a look of recognition, and something more. As if he knew the secret life behind her secret life.
Casmir scanned the beautiful club, and the throngs of beautiful people who had ventured out tonight to play at the Kelt. If Nicky was here, Yurii Petrov must be somewhere close by. Which meant the Russian had escaped the maximum security prison in Prague where heâd been eating and sleeping, and dreaming of freedom, for the past seven months.
And if that was true, it meant Yurii knew everythingâwho, what and why.
Even more damning, it meant he knew that she was responsible for his recent address change, his dismal room with no view and, no doubt, his weight loss due to crappy prison rations.
She wasnât fool enough to believe that heâd suffered beyond what was bearable. Yurii Petrov had risen to the ranks of soldato early in life. He was a hardened criminal who had grown up in the company of hardened criminals. Heâd reached Don status to become the most notorious blood-seeking mobster in the Red Mafia.
An iron-tough son of a bitch topped the list on his profile. A detail man who was used to getting what he wanted and holding on to it. A man who didnât blink when it came to following the laws of the cartel.
Had she underestimated Yurii? If he was here, then, yes, she had.
A year ago her assignment had been specific. Trip up Yurii Petrov. Find his weakness and get close to him. So close she knew what brand of toothpaste he used, what made him laugh and what turned him on.
During her research sheâd learned why sheâd been picked for the job. Yurii had only two weaknessesâapricots from his homeland in Armenia and long-legged blondes.
Sheâd turned his head within a week, and literally brought him to his knees two months later.
The vision of Yurii on bended knee, pulling a velvet box from his pocket, flashed in Casmirâs mind and she glanced down at her left hand. She should never have kept the ring, but it really was beautifulâa ten-carat marquise diamond set in a circle of flawless rubies.
âNever take your eyes off your target. Thatâs what I promised myself that day on the Riviera. Remember, Kisa? You were sunbathing topless when I first laid eyes on your lovelies.â
It was Yurii. His Russian accent was thick, his breath spiked with the familiar brandy-soaked cigars he favored. His lips brushed the side of her neck, reminding her that they were a little too thin for her taste. Still, he knew how to use them; after all, he was the detail man and appreciated perfection in all things.
Yurii captured her hand, spun her quickly, and suddenly Casmir was looking into a pair of deep-set earthy brown eyes. He raised her hand and kissed it, his penetrating eyes locking on the ring heâd given her months ago.
There was an awkward moment of silence, as if heâd forgotten what he was going to say. Then he recovered. âI should be furious with you. But how can I be angry, my love?â His thumb slowly passed over the diamond engagement ring on her finger. âYouâre still wearing my gift. So just maybe Iâll have to rethink killing you.â