“That’s why they called it a random act of violence,” said River. “No one gave a damn how she died. They were just happy she was dead. She never sent me the information I needed on Vasily. What was she doing for him?”
“Buying and selling weapons. The cargo on theReliefwas meant for Vasily. When it wasn’t delivered, he was pissed off but agreed to work with her if she helped him with something else.”
“I don’t want to ask this but I will,” said River frowning at the room. “Did she, did Natalia and Priscilla’s father ever…”
“No. Never. Not that anyone could find. In fact, he was suspicious of her from the moment she started with the bureau. There are at least six formal complaints about her unprofessional and unethical behavior, all from Paul Marciella. The dude was a paragon of virtue.”
River stood and paced the room. He walked into the kitchen and they heard him open a can of soda, then he returned, taking a seat on the floor.
“What’s on your mind, son?” asked Patrick.
“Her mother. Where is her mother? Did she really go off to sing opera in Europe or is that a bunch of bullshit too?”
“She’s alive, if that’s what you’re asking,” said U-Jin. “AJ found her living in Budapest. She works for the Hungarian State Opera but she isn’t listed as a singer.”
“Maybe she got as close as she possibly could,” said River. “Maybe her talent didn’t pan out for her the way she hoped. Doesn’t excuse her leaving a kid with her father, albeit a good one.”
“This is her address,” said U-Jin. “Just in case she ever wants to see her mother.”
“I don’t think she does,” he said shaking his head. “I offered to help find her but she didn’t want anything to do with her.”
“Her choice, brother,” said Cole.
“It’s getting late. Get some rest now. We could get the call in the middle of the night,” said Sebastian.
There were plenty of bedrooms and beds available, but a few of the guys chose to sleep downstairs on the sofas and chairs. Something about being ready at a moment’s notice.
River looked at his watch and then walked toward the back door.
The other men smiled at one another shaking their heads. They’d all been right where he was, right now. The place where love is new and you can’t stand the thought of being away from her, not even for a minute.
With any luck, that wouldn’t wear off.
He stepped out onto the patio, ankle-deep in snow. It was so cold every breath he exhaled froze mid-air. He hit the number and then heard what he wanted to hear.
“Hello, handsome.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Hi, beautiful,” he said smiling to himself.
“Are you okay? Is everything going alright?” she asked.
“Just a waiting game right now. I wanted to tell you something because I don’t ever want to hide anything from you.”
“You know where my mother is, you know that Natalia was bribing Greene, and dozens of others, and you hope that I’ll give Tony a chance,” she said. He could hear the smile in her voice and grinned.
“I didn’t realize that you were fitted with your comms piece,” he chuckled.
“Oh, definitely. I have a cute little bracelet, a necklace, a little something behind my left ear, and access to you and your conversations. For now. I won’t listen in all the time. I promise.”
“Priscilla, I have nothing to hide from you. You can listen to my conversations all day every day if you want.”
“No, that’s not what I want our relationship to be. We trust one another and I don’t want that to change. If I have to ask to see your phone or listen to your voicemails, we don’t have much of a relationship.”
“Man, I love you.”
“I love you, too. I’ve been wedding planning while you were away. I have to say, your female relatives are almost as scary as the males,” she laughed. “And Claudette, Erin, and the senior wives, they are definitely pushy when it comes to committing to things.”
