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“And you won’t on your own. Definitely not when he’s gotten to your closest men.” He doesn’t like me pointing out the obvious. But he knows I’m right.
“What makes you so special? Now that I know it’s him, I could find him eventually.”
And that’s why I’m keeping Corrado a secret. Kieran would kill Corrado quicker than he killed Davide, then go on a fruitless quest that may never see an end.
“Come on now, Kieran. You’re not as equipped as me and mine. It took Cass less than five minutes to get the file before you on Cillian and Davide. It took me another five to get close enough to slash Cillian’s throat. Never even saw me coming. Yet you practically had the two of them in bed with you scratching your ass.” Again, pointing out the obvious.
It wasn’t his fault, though. Not entirely. The Irish valued loyalty and the length of your service to them. But all that gave them was a nest of Judases waiting to deliver kisses of betrayal.
His jaw tightens, a sign I’ve hit a mark. But he can’t argue. “I need to think about it. And I need to see more.”
I reach into my pocket and hand him a USB stick. Cassian edited it, removing everything to do with Corrado. “The evidence is all there. The trail runs cold after the last incident. That’s where we come in. We need access to your reports and off-grid databases to do the rest of the work.”
He takes it, holding it out to the light. “I’ll get back to you in three days.”
Something in me loosens. It feels like hope, something foreign to me. People like me experience the emotion so rarely because we usually have everything under control. “No problem. I’m getting married tomorrow, so… if you don’t get me, call back.”
He lowers the stick and stares at me, amused. “You? Married?”
“Yes.”
“Who’s the lucky lady?”
“Corrado’s daughter.”
I’d have more chance of finding leprechauns with a pot of gold in his backyard than fooling Kieran into thinking Corrado and I had renewed the old contract he had with my father. He also certainly would never believe that I’d suddenly catch feelings for Corrado’s princess, or that we were some type of star-crossed lovers.
“What in the hell are you up to?”
I grin and stand. “Reform the alliance, and maybe I’ll tell you one day.”
He chuckles. “We’ll speak in three days.”
I dip my head and make my way out, feeling his eyes burning into me. He’d be a fool to turn me down. The obvious choice is to team up with me.
But sometimes people go the wrong way on purpose, because they’re too stubborn to see what’s right in front of them.
It’s late when I get back home. After seeing Kieran, I had a full day at Karsavin Global Logistics.
The empire must keep going no matter what else is going on. Today alone I added another ten multi-million-dollar contracts that will take us into the next quarter.
It’s almost midnight, but I’m not tired. My brain feels wired from everything that’s going on. Meaning sleep won’t come tonight.
I get like this when the pressure is on. Side effect from my childhood trauma. Something about being shot too close to my heart and my brain having to work overtime to compensate for the shock my body went through at such a young age.
I park my car and head inside the house. Most of the lights are out downstairs save the hall light that always stays on in case of emergencies.
I have every intention of retreating to my office, but there’s something more pressing on my mind, something I need to tend to first.
My little house guest.
Zoya reported that my wife-to-be behaved herself quite well today. Honestly, after our encounter this morning, I expected nothing less.
Gabrielle wouldn’t have gone running her mouth to Zoya because she knows there’s nothing Zoya can do to help her. Gabrielle would have also been compliant because she’s shit scared and worried. I also imagine she’s in shock about tomorrow.
The wedding.
Maybe if our union were something more than a business tactic, it would mean something to me. I’d probably never know. Marriage the way my parents did it was never in the cards for me.
