“Quite the display of emotion,” he remarked, voice slightly hoarse. “I wonder if Isabella knows the effect she has on you.”
Vince tensed next to me, and my vision threatened to go red again. But Roman’s voice cut through the bloodlust.
“Ivan,” he said urgently, “you should see this.”
There was the sound of helicopter blades and not just one.
“Holy shit, here come the big guns,” Anton murmured.
I forced my breathing to steady though adrenaline still pumped through my veins, demanding action, violence, and release, and I moved to the window as did Moretti and Grey. Multiple helicopters flew over the compound, and security alerts sounded throughout the building.
Roman’s eyes widened, and we looked at each other. The helicopters weren’t standard transport but the sleek, armored models.
“The Paraskia Council,” I confirmed. In fifteen years, I’d encountered the council exactly once, in a carefully orchestrated meeting. Never like this. Never without extensive planning or at least a heads-up.
What the fuck was going on?
Grey’s composure slipped completely. “Did you know they were coming?”
“No.” I was aware of someone coming, but not this. This was unprecedented.
Moretti’s eyes narrowed. “Is this a trap?”
Grey didn’t respond, but the look they exchanged spoke volumes. Whatever they’d been planning, whatever they’d been doing, the council’s arrival had not been on their radar.
Did that mean Grey and the syndicate weren’t on the same side?
“Anton, secure the perimeter,” I ordered, my voice returning to its usual cold precision. “Roman, alert the team. I’ll help Grey escort our guests to welcome the new arrivals.”
Grey stepped forward. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll handle the council myself; you go with Anton.” Even Grey, with his years of experience, couldn’t hide the panic in his eyes. It was unmistakable. He wanted me gone. And he was nervous.
As he should be.
I stood my ground, letting him feel the full weight of my presence. Men like Grey responded to power, and right now, despite his rank, I was the most dangerous thing in the room.
“This is hardly the time or situation,” I said, my voice deceptively gentle again.
The challenge hung in the air between us. For a moment, I thought he might refuse outright. I almost hoped he would. But he decided to save face.
“Fine,” Grey conceded reluctantly. “Let’s all go.”
As we moved toward the reception area, I noticed Marcus and Grey hanging back, engaged in heated whispers. Whatever partnership they had was showing cracks.
Vince was suddenly next to me, and my focus shifted. “You completely overreacted, and he didn’t even mention Bella,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I warned you once; this is strike two. If you so much as touch my sister, you’re dead.”
I side-eyed him. “This is between your sister and me.”
“Is it?” he asked, his voice deceptively soft.
I sighed. Was it? How would I deal with the situation if the roles were reversed? How would I deal with anyone approaching Mila or Nina like I had? My eyes fell on Matt.Because there was something going on between Matt and my sister for sure, and once I found out what was going on, I sure as shit wouldn’t just stand by. “Let’s come back to this conversation at another time.”
Vince narrowed his eyes. “Let’s not.”
For fifteen years, I’d been the perfect robot. The ideal killer. The flawless weapon. Then Isabella Salvini looked at me with terror in her eyes, and suddenly, my whole life’s mission meant nothing compared to her safety. “That’s not your decision to make,” I replied.
Vince grabbed my arm and stopped me, ready to end this discussion once and for all.
“Grey’s gone,” Roman suddenly said, which stopped us both in our tracks.
