“Which brings us to my father,” Cainsaid.
“Finally,” Damon muttered. “No more interruptions from any of you. It’s hard enough for Cain to get throughthis.”
Cain gave him a grateful smile, but it disappeared quickly. “Since Alexei can’t use you, he wants to ‘tie up looseends.’”
Drew and Bas exchanged a glance. That soundedominous.
“My father said he wouldn’t be involved in hiring out another murder. But Alexei said he didn’t need a ‘trigger man.’ He just needed to get everyone in one spot. And my father agreed… and then called to tell meeverything.”
The strain in Cain’s voice was mirrored on every face in the room. They’d known all along that Alexei was dangerous, but to hear Cain speak it aloud - to confirm that Alexei literally wanted to kill them all - wasterrifying.
“Did he say how?” Drewcroaked.
“Yeah. There’s a black-tie charity auction being held by the Cambridge Collaborative,” Cain continued. “They’re a great organization - a reputable one I’m pretty sure isn’t connected to Alexei in any way. The senator is supposed to get us all togo.”
“That’s not quite what he said,” Damon growled. “He specifically said thatyoudon’t have to be there, Cain. That youshouldn’t.”
Cain shrugged. “Irrelevant. If you’re going, I’mgoing.”
“We’ll see about that,” Damonmuttered.
“Whoa, wait a minute.” Bas’s scowl was fierce. “Nobodyis going to go!” He turned to Cort. “Right? We’re not all gonna traipse along to some party where we know we’ll have targets on ourbacks!”
Cort winced. “I agree with you,” he said, but not as firmly as Drew would haveliked.
“Tell them,” Cam insisted, nudging Cort. “Tell them what Seansaid.”
“Camden, I told you, I don’t give a shit what Sean said. Not aboutthis.”
“Fine, I’ll do it then!” Cam said, ignoring Cort’s glare. “Sean said we should do it. He’ll get a team on-site. Maybe claim there were threats about the auction or something. The team will be our security, but they’ll also be there to watch for Alexei or his ‘trigger man.’ If they can nab him on a weapons charge, they have probable cause to get a warrant and search his premises. If they can nab his guy, they can lean on him to talk, andthenhave probable cause for a warrant. Either way, Alexei goes down.” He dusted his hands off. “And we are finallydone.”
“If welive,” Bas exploded standing up to pace once again. “Do you hear the words you’re saying right now, little brother? You’re talking about using yourself, usingall of us, asbait!”
“What’s the alternative?” Cam said coolly. His eyes, a paler version of Sebastian’s blue, wereresigned.
Drew leaned forward, bracing his knees on his elbows, and ran his hands through this hair. This was the stupidest thing he’d ever heard. He couldn’t imagine Sean would go along with it. Andyet…
“I can’t think of one,” Drew saiddully.
“No!” Bas said, turning to glare at Drew. “You’re on board with this, too? Is everyone in this roomcrazy?”
“Don’t put words in my mouth! I’m not on board with it. I just said I can’t think of analternative!”
“The thing is,” Cain said softly. “It’s not like we have the choice to just stay home and stay safe. You know? If the senator doesn’t get us there, Alexei will ruin him. Or, for all I know, kill him.” He rubbed his palms on his jeans and said softly, “And maybe that’s justice. But that’s not going to stop Alexei from coming after us, too. It’s personal now. And if he doesn’t come for us this way, he’ll come for us some other way. A way we can’t predict, and can’t take action toprevent.”
The room fell silent after that. Drew looked at Bas, who was staring at Cain, seemingly frozen. And then suddenly, Bas exploded intomotion.
“I can’t handle this right now,” he announced. “I’m going to Seaver Tech. I’m going to see what’s behind that fuckingpainting.”
“But Bas,” Cam argued, pushing to his feet. “We need to agree so we canplan…”
“I’m not agreeing to a goddamn thing, Camden!” Bas insisted. His eyes were wide, and he was shaking his head like a madman, but his voice was very precise as he bit out, “I’m going to see what’s behind that painting. And when I know, I will call you. But I’m warning you right now, no force on earth is going to make me change mymind.”
Drew shook his head. Bas, when he’d made his mind up about something, was an unstoppable force. Unfortunately, Alexei Stornovich was an immovableobject.
He felt a spurt of anger in his chest. Anger, and hurt, too. They didn’t have time to deal with Bas stalking off in a huff until he could wrap his mind around anissue.
Not now. Notagain.
Not after he’d fucking promised tocommunicate.
Bas stomped to the front door. Drew turned in time to see him grab his coat from the peg that hung there, and reach for the door handle. But just as Drew opened his mouth to protest, Bas stopped with his hand on the knob. He didn’t turn. “I’ll be in the car. If you’re coming, Andrew, you can borrow a pair of mysocks.”
Drew let out a relieved breath he hadn’t known he was holding and stood. “I’m stealing your sweater, too,” he told Bas, then hurried to thebedroom.
