“I wasn’t in jail.”
“Weren’t you?” His eyebrows raise. “I watched Mass kill a man and marry you while still covered in blood. From my perspective, he insulted the five families and kidnapped you right in front of us.”
“I know, and I think that’s a big reason why I’m here.” I rub my hands together and shiver. “I begged Mass to send me instead of his soldiers. I told him you’d be reasonable.”
“Reasonable how?”
“First, I need to know something.” I blow on my hands and lean toward him. “Why Medved?”
His face tightens. He stares at me, calculating. My oldest brother has always been the more cautious of the two. That’s probably why he has a safe house only he and I know about and why he’s most likely going to inherit control of the Russo family operations. Being the firstborn isn’t always a guarantee.
“Medved came to me around the time Mass took you. He told me that you were being held against your will, but he knew a way to get you out. All I had to do was help. He provided me with funding, information, and a connection to his insider. I put together the operation from there.”
“It would’ve worked if I hadn’t realized what was going on.”
“Why did you run?”
“Because Medved’s the real enemy here.”
Gabe’s face twitches slightly as he fights to hide his real feelings. I’ve seen that look before a dozen times, mostly when he’s doing his best not to show me how much he disapproves of something I’ve done.
“Are you sure, Allie? Do you really know that husband of yours?”
“There’s so much more happening here than you realize. Believe me, Mass isn’t perfect and his hands sure as hell aren’t clean. But whatever Medved told you, Mass isn’t the problem.”
“And Medved is?”
“From my perspective, yes.”
Gabe hesitates. He leans toward me. “What if you’re wrong? What if Mass has you all confused? He’s a liar, Allie. That man’s famous for saying anything to get what he wants, no matter how much it hurts people.”
I bite my lip. It’s hard to disagree with that. Mass kept the existence of Elias from me for a long time, and he didn’t bother mentioning that he’d been keeping an eye on me for years before we ended up in bed together.
“I need to know something before we keep going.” I cross my arms again. “Where’s Satya?” My voice hardens as I stare at my brother.
He returns my look. “I don’t know.”
“Bullshit. You saved me back on the island. You dragged her off.”
“After we got into the boat, I took us out into the water. Satya was livid when she woke up, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. Medved’s ship intercepted us and brought us on board, and from there, I was sent back here to the city. I don’t know where Satya ended up and I don’t really care. I went into hiding after that. I figured your husband wouldn’t be happy with me.”
His story makes sense. It’s more or less what Mass told me to expect.
But rage still simmers in me anyway.
That old bitch nearly hurt my daughter, and I’ll never, ever forgive her for it.
“Okay, I believe you. Here’s the deal. Mass is willing to take you in. He wants to talk to you about Medved. You have to agree to tell him absolutely everything you know. And I mean it, Gabe, you can’t lie to him and you can’t hold things back. Full truth or else.”
“If I refuse?”
“I think he’ll kill you. You’re not going to refuse though. I begged him for this chance. I pleaded with him that you’d come in without a fight if I went alone.”
He rubs his face with both hands. “I don’t have much choice, do I?”
“I promise you’re going to be okay.”
“I’m not worried about me.” His gaze is level and steady. My older brother is a strong, brave man. “It’s my family I’m afraid for.”
