“And yet, you are here. So, tell me, Alexei, what can I do for you?”
“I want to know who is trafficking women to America through Devon and Cornwall. An Italian organisation are claiming it is them, but I don’t believe it to be true.”
Understanding flared in Sidorov’s gaze. “This upsets you.”
“I need them to stop.”
“Why? I mean, aside from your personal feelings on the matter.”
“It is not their territory, and I am on the side of those who it belongs to.” Loyalty kept me from naming the Rebel Kings, but it was pointless. If Sidorov took my request seriously, he would know who they were before the day was done.
“I am assuming,” Sidorov said, “that your associates would not seek to take the trafficking trade for themselves?”
“They would not. They have fought against it for many years. It was Romanians who killed their previous leader. Do you think they could be pulling the strings behind the Italians now?”
“Which Romanians?”
“I do not know.”
“And the Italians?”
“Sambini.”
Sidorov snorted. “The Sambini family are not an organisation to be afraid of, Alexei. You could wipe them out by yourself.”
“That would not help if they were not at the top. Besides, the group I am with doesn’t have the reach of an international outfit. They are halfway to legitimacy.”
Sidorov sat back in his seat, dissecting what he’d learned and what, if anything, it meant to him. A more cynical man would think nothing, but I knew him. In his own way, he had the same morals as Cam.
It was the only reason I was here.
“I can find out what you need to know,” he said eventually. “And I will accept that you do not wish to compensate me in the usual way. But that does leave me with a dilemma, don’t you think?”
“We are old friends. I ask for your help, you should freely give it.”
“That is not how this world works.”
“So, change it. You have the power.”
I spoke casually, but Sidorov’s eyes narrowed all the same, deciphering the faint threat for what it was.Push me and I’ll snap. I do not have time for your games.
“May I make a phone call? Or is this a hostage situation?”
I smiled a little. “You are not my hostage.”
“That is good. I have not known many you have taken to survive.”
The quip reminded me of an issue I’d left behind, one that would cause Cam and Saint problems if I could not get them answers from this skin-crawling trip down memory lane. “Make the calls, Pavel. I will wait.”
* * *
The answers came in the early hours of the morning. Sidorov took too many phone calls to count, then he came to where I stood at the window and offered me vodka again.
This time, I didn’t turn it down. “You have bad news for me?”
“I do not know what is bad for you anymore. Just that the situation I have learned is complex.”
I tipped my drink down my throat the way Cam did when he was eager to leave pleasantries behind and hypnotise me with his body.
