“You know him?” Tension threads through Alexei’s voice.
Roman nods, his stiff neck barely bending. “An investigative journalist. He specialized in mafia crimes. Our crimes, specifically. He was on the island because he was tracking rumors about the summit. Along with so many others, he died on the island.”
“We assumed.” Igor crosses his arms over his chest. “His body was never found, just like…” he stops himself “…so many of the others who died in the fires.”
They assumed Alistair was dead. I assume Gio is dead. Will these assumptions rise from the grave to stab us in the back?
Alexei pulls out his phone, fingers flying across the screen. “Alistair Thorne. Died, presumably, on Isla de Huesos fifteen years ago. Survived by a daughter, Jordan Thorne, now twenty-five.” He looks up. “She’s a content creator living in Chicago.”
The pieces fall into place with terrible clarity.
The diamonds. The key. The message.
Someone’s threatening to expose what really happened on that island fifteen years ago.
The muscles in Roman’s jaw bunch. He holds up the note to reveal a single handwritten line that reads,It’s only the beginning.
We all exchange glances.
Someone has been waiting fifteen years to send this message and the diamonds.
Why?
Roman’s face hardens into the mask I know so well. The Pakhan, the leader, the man who built an empire on blood and fear. “We need to find what this key goes to. Learn what Allistair Thorne knew.”
He shifts to me, his eyes cold and calculating. “As for you, Kolya, your mission has changed. Now that you secured the diamonds, you need to protect Chloe Davidson. I get the feeling that was already your intention.”
I say nothing. There’s no point in confirming what he already knows.
“You will keep her close. She’s your personal project now. Others might come for her. Perhaps the same person who’s fucking with us. When they do, you’ll be waiting.”
My new mission. Become Chloe’s constant shadow and protector.
Her official jailer in the eyes of the Bratva. Her lover and defender in reality.
The assignment aligns perfectly with my desire to keep her safe and with me.
“Understood.”
Igor turns to Roman, the gray in his hair glinting in the light. “We need to find the next piece of this puzzle. Thorne’s daughter may know what happened. We should start surveillance and make contact.”
“I can do it!” Sasha throws up his hand, flinching as he pulls whatever is causing him so much pain.
Igor opens his mouth and then snaps it shut.
Roman chops his hand through the air. “No.”
Max steps forward at the same time. “You’re not ready for such a complex job.”
Sasha wilts, his eyes darting to his father.
Igor scowls and shakes his head. “Listen to your Pakhan, boy. I’m sorry, but they’re right. You still need to heal. This might seem like a simple job, but so did finding Chloe and the diamonds. And look how that panned out.”
“We need someone who knows how to handle things and can make snap decisions.” Roman examines the five of us before zeroing in on Kirill. “We need a shark.”
The Shark. A nickname Kirill earned courtesy of his ability to always track his prey, no matter how much blood contaminates the water.
Roman drops the key into his hand. “Find Jordan Thorne and learn what she knows, by any means necessary.”
