“I guess.”I ran a hand through my hair.“He disappeared after that.No activity.No sightings.”
“So you have no idea where he is?”
“No.But I’ll find him.”
He hesitated.“You could…,” he started before trailing off.
I set my glass down a bit too sharply.“What?”
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.“You could use Ariana.”
“No.”It tore out of me, loud enough that both women looked over.I forced a calm smile for their sake, then turned back to Gideon, dropping my voice to a lethal whisper.“Absolutely not.”
But even the glare I gave him didn’t make him back down.Nothing did.
“It could work.”
“I’m not involving the police,” I snapped.“They won’t do shit.He’s too well-connected.”
“I didn’t say anything about the police.But think about it.He’s obviously looking for her.He sent the fucking Bratva up to Maine.If she resurfaced under circumstancesyoucontrol, he’d come out of hiding.I guarantee it.”
He wasn’t wrong.I’d already considered the same thing.More than once.
That didn’t mean I’d do it.
“No,” I repeated.“She’s been through enough.I’m not using her to get to Victor.”
Gideon’s mouth lifted.“Wasn’t that your plan in the beginning?”
My stomach twisted, all the guilt and shame I’d been burying since I learned what Ariana had endured roiling like acid.“You, of all people, should know plans change.”
His gaze flicked toward Imogene.He’d once intended to use her for revenge, too.Until he learned the truth.Until he fell in love.
“If you were in my shoes, would you use Imogene as bait?”
Gideon’s expression softened instantly, and he pushed out a long sigh.“No.I’d shield her from everything.”
“And that’s what I’m trying to do.Shielding Ariana.Keeping her safe.”
He studied me for a moment before a slow smile curved on his face.“I’m happy for you, brother.You deserve this.”
I let out a dry, humorless laugh, leaning against the counter.“I don’t know about that.”
He squeezed my shoulder.“You do.Stop letting the guilt eat you alive.Stop letting your past dictate your present.Or your future.”He dropped his hand.“God knows I did.And if someone hadn’t smacked some sense into me, I might have lost everything.”
He didn’t have to spell it out.I remembered every conversation, every argument, every time I’d tried to keep him from drowning in revenge.
But this wasn’t the same.
This wasn’t about settling a score.Not anymore.
This was about Ariana.Protecting her.Giving her something she’d never had.
A life free from fear.
A chance at something better.
And she’d never have that while Victor’s heart still beat.
