Polar Opposites (In Aeternum Book 4) by Aliyah Burke

against the side of the glass.
    Chatter. Bailey understood. There was always chatter.
    “Leave me a picture and I’ll see what I can come up with.” Bailey finished off her meal and wiped her mouth. “I have to go. It was good to meet the both of you and I’m sorry it was under these circumstances.”
    She made her way to the door, money left on the table to cover her meal. The redhead fell into step beside her. Outside the hotel, Bailey paused and looked up at her.
    “Are you as good as they say?” Anabelle Lee questioned without any derision in her tone.
    “How good do they say I am?”
    “Stone-cold killer.”
    “Not really an indicative statement as to how good someone is.” She shrugged and readjusted her hold on the bags. “Still, it’s accurate. I am.”
    “Good. You find the ones holding them and we can’t get back quick enough. I want you to kill them. All.”
    “You misunderstand, I’m not for hire. I work for Theta Corps. I kill sanctioned targets.”
    “These fuckers took my brother. I’ll pay you whatever, even if it’s to wound them and keep them until I get here. They will die and pay for what they’ve done.”
    Despite them being close to the equator, the ice in Anabelle Lee’s tone made it arctic. Bailey nodded. “I’ll be in touch.” She walked away, no doubt in her mind the words she’d just heard were one hundred percent the truth. Whenever that woman found those who’d taken her brother, they would die. Moreover, it wouldn’t be a pleasant death.
     

Chapter Five
     
     
     
    Ivan stared out of the window of his new apartment. The past few months had been extremely time-consuming as he’d overseen the creation of his new lab. Kevin hadn’t lied or even blinked when Ivan had sent in the sheets of what he wanted and needed.
    The facility resided in the countryside and was built underground with an organic farm over the top of it. Locals came to work there and none were any wiser about what went on below the ground they farmed upon. It was truly amazing how much could be done when big chunks of money were involved.
    The chime of his cell had him tensing. A specific ring for a special and unique person. He hesitated before he answered.
    “Hi, stranger.” Ivan spoke Russian, as he preferred to do.
    “You have been avoiding me.” She, too, spoke his native language.
    “You have a husband and children.”
    Jaydee scoffed slightly. “Should I then insinuate that to mean we are no longer friends?” Her reprimand was obvious.
    “Of course not.”
    “Then your reasoning for ignoring me?”
    “We’ve gone substantial periods of time without speaking. We are both busy.”
    “Not when one of us is recruited by Theta Corps.”
    Of course she’d know that. “You’ve worked for different groups before.”
    She was silent. “You have changed, Ivan.”
    “Did you think I wouldn’t after you turned down my marriage proposal?” He heard the lingering anger in his tone. Frustrated, he shook his head.
    “We were friends.”
    “I know. But you’re a wife and mother now.”
    “And capable of being a friend.”
    Ivan had to give Gio credit for this change in her. Prior to marrying that man, she never would have cared one way or the other if they hadn’t spoken in a while. Her husband was good for her, he knew that. Still doesn’t make it any less painful she chose him over me.
    “I always considered you one, Jaydee. That will never change, but I needed space. Need space. I don’t compartmentalize as you do.”
    “I understand. Goodbye, Ivan.”
    Their call ended and he lowered his cell back to his pocket. He stared at the wall and sighed before raking his hand through his hair. He missed his friendship with her but out of respect for her new life, he had backed away. Sure, some of it was his disappointment at losing her. But lately when he closed his eyes, it wasn’t Jaydee who lay with him. It was Bailey.
    His lips curved up as he smiled. Her memory always brought one to