I still don’t know the whole story and feel like now isn’t the time to ask.
“When I get Playboy’s real name, I’ll run some checks on him,” Holden says quietly. “Maybe if we pay him more than Zane for information, we can flip him.”
“Hm,” Ryder grunts. “That’s a good idea.”
Holden smiles and blushes. “Les would have thought of it too.”
“Give yourself some credit, man,” Ryder says gently. “The shit you do is badass.”
“Fuck yeah,” Gage says excitedly. “Les asks for information, and it’s there before we can blink.”
“I definitely couldn’t do it,” I add, sensing that Holden doesn’t think highly of himself. “I don’t know how you do it.”
Holden chuckles. “It’s not that cool.”
“Yes,” Ryder says, a little more determined. “It is.”
Holden looks at Ryder, and it’s like his eyes get captured by something. I look at Ryder, and he’s giving him the same look. I look at Gage at the same time he looks at me, then we both look between them and back at each other.
“What the fuck?” Gage mouths. Relieved I’m not the only one that sees, I just shrug because I’m just as confused. Do Ryder and Holden have a thing? Or the beginning of one?
Alessa walks into the living room in an oversized shirt that I’m sure she stole from one of us because that’s her new thing. Not that any of us mind seeing her in our clothes. She has her phone in her hand on speakerphone while it rings. She sits on the loveseat beside Holden, snuggling into his side with her legs tucked under her. I swear I see all the tension leave his shoulders when he wraps an arm around her.
“Hello,Moye sokrovishche,” the person on the other end answers in a faint Russian accent, one I remember from the games. I swear I hear Ryder and Dex both growl at the greeting.
“Hey, Alexey,” she says with a roll of her eyes. “This is a business call. Where’s Dmitri?”
Do they have phone calls that aren’t business related? They both seem familiar with her in the way they hang on her.
“Yeah. You’re on speaker.”
“There is no easy way to say this,” Alessa sighs. “But your dad is making a move against me.”
“What?!” they both shout at the same time.
“What do you mean?” I’m guessing this voice is Dmitri. They sound very similar, but his voice isn’t as deep as Alexey’s.
“He’s gained a new interest in blow and the Vipers.”
“What does he want with street vermin like Xander’s crew?” Alexey asks.
“It’s not Xander’s crew anymore,” Alessa says casually. “They were doing the selling.”
“Father knows blow is your business. Are you sure?” Dmitri asks. I don’t think he’s asking because he doesn’t believe her. This is their friendship on the line, one I think they aren’t supposed to have.
“I’m sure. Spinner is the middleman.” She runs her fingers through her wet hair. “You know what this means.”
“Fuck,” Alexey mutters. “I don’t want this,Moye sokrovishche.”
Whatever he just called her again makes her eyes sad. “I don’t either, but I can’t let this slide.” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “I won’t ask you to go against your father, and I also don’t want to see you guys hurt.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Dmitri says, whispering something inthe background. “We actually would like to speak with you about something else.”
Ryder and Alessa exchange a look. “About?” she asks.
“Not on the phone. Meet us at the gala?” Alexey answers.
“I can do that,” Alessa replies then they say their goodbyes.
