Even more important, I’d learned how to finesse the gray area in between right and wrong.
Or in the case of the Bratva, good versus evil.
In offering protection and increased business for various organizations, I’d created a strong network of friends. Friends who knew one day I might call on them to return the favor.
They wouldn’t deny me for fear of repercussions.
Or worse.
The first call? Alessandro Costa. In my mind he was the world’s best at obtaining information and hacking.
“Sasha,” Alessandro answered. “I heard what happened.”
“I hope not from the news.” Which I knew better. We’d managed to keep the kidnapping quiet, at least for now. I’d use the media if and when necessary, but on my terms.
“Vissarian called. He’s worried about you.”
“Uh-huh. No offense, but why call you?”
“He had his reasons,” Alessandro admitted but I knew wouldn’t disclose. “How can I help you?”
“What I need to share and ask for assistance with is between you and me. Do you understand me?” There was an edge to my tone that few ever heard, least of all the Costa family. I’d neither been for nor against the alliance. They were nearly as successful as we were and I certainly had never considered them a threat.
“Understood.”
“I’m serious, Alessandro. I won’t take another betrayal.”
“Jesus, Sasha. I have no intention of betraying you. We have families too.”
I glared at the items on the table. “I’m going to send you a picture of an emblem. I believe it’s an old Russian family crest. In addition, I have a birth certificate from a child born inMoscow. I need you to learn everything you can on the family. Can you do that?”
He half laughed. “You know how the Russians are.”
“Yes, which is why I need your help.”
“I can’t make any promises.”
“Don’t. I won’t accept any from a single person any longer. I will find Lainey Rose and my daughter if it’s the last thing I do on this earth. Do I make myself clear?”
His hesitation brought annoyance. “Absolutely. Send me what you have. I’ll put a rush on it.”
“Done. And thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.”
After scanning the birth certificate and sending him everything, I returned to my computer. While I couldn’t be certain, I believed I was the only member of the family to keep a little black book of contacts and reasons why the person highlighted would help with anything I needed.
What my family didn’t know was that the kid brother, the younger sibling and cousin had teeth.
And they were sharp.
I was workingoff adrenaline and way too many cups of coffee. While I’d yet to see that my hard work over the last fifteen hours had come to any real fruition, reconnecting with old contacts and searching through the remainder of Selena’s items had kept me from losing my mind.
Or acting on my need for revenge.
While it had become apparent I hadn’t known my wife as well as I’d believed, what little I found in her things that drew questions didn’t cause me concern. An heirloom necklacewrapped in crinkled tissue paper with a single photo inside of a beautiful girl obviously taken many years before. A flower pressed and kept inside a book of Russian lullabies. From what I knew, my wife hadn’t spoken Russian. She’d certainly never acted like she’d known what I was saying.
Or was I wrong about that?
