Anton stopped pacing, his expression hardening. “If Grey knew she and us had that connection, why didn’t he tell us?”
“Because he knew you wouldn’t bring her in,” Nina answered, her voice flat. “You would’ve protected her instead.”
Roman leaned forward, elbows on knees. “This isn’t just about getting the Salvini family’s cooperation, is it? Grey’s obsession with having her specifically—it’s personal.”
“It can be personal but also about her hacking skills,” Nina whispered, rubbing the circular burn scar on her thigh—our shared mark from the rings.
“We’ve been digging into him these past couple of days. He has been making millions with dubious side jobs he’s kept secret from the Paraskia Syndicate,” Roman said.
The implications crashed over me. The plan was for us to have a clean exit while staying on friendly terms with the Paraskia Syndicate. When Grey mentioned that stupid kidnapping mission to me, I ordered my siblings to lookinto Grey more, in an attempt to get leverage in case the Paraskia wasn’t happy about our exit.
“He’s been playing everyone,” I said, the bitter truth settling in my gut.
“So what do we do now?” Anton asked, looking to me as he always had—the big brother who’d protected them in the rings, who’d taken their punishments, who’d taught them to survive, who’d led them their whole life.
“We protect her,” I said without hesitation. “We figure out what Grey really wants with her, and we keep her safe until we do.”
“And then?” Roman asked.
“Then we finally execute our exit plan.” I met each of their eyes in turn. “We’ve been saving, preparing to leave the Paraskia and start our own security firm for years. It’s time.”
Mila nodded slowly. “We need to understand Grey’s endgame first. What does he want from Iset? Why now? Why use such an elaborate setup with the Salvini and Falcone family?”
“And why bring all of us here?” Nina added. “He almost never orders the whole family to one place without a concrete mission.”
“I think he used the opportunity that presented itself. The Paraskia wants the Salvini and Falcone families. This is his opportunity to have a reason to grab Isabella. And he ordered us here because he needs us to run interference when a very pissed Vince Salvini arrives,” I said. “He’s using us as his front line. His most loyal operatives.”
Roman’s eyes narrowed. “So we play along for now. Gather intelligence. And protect Isabella without Grey realizing we’ve switched sides.”
“Exactly,” I said, a plan already forming. “First, we need to understand why Grey is so obsessed with her. What does he think she knows?”
“Or maybe it’s not what she knows but what she can do,” Nina said.
Which made absolute sense.
16
IVAN
The Salvini jet started its approach and descended toward the landing strip, a sleek, black speck growing larger against the clear blue sky.
“ETA two minutes,” Roman, who, along with Nina, had taken overwatch near the control tower, reported through the comms. “And Grey’s jet is right behind them.”
I nodded, grateful for Grey’s absence until now. The call from Italy had bought us precious time—time we needed to prepare.
With the noise of the engines cutting through the morning air, my gaze drifted to Isabella. She stood next to her sister, both of them tense but composed.
Last night’s revelation still echoed through my mind. This woman—this fierce, brilliant woman—had saved us all those years ago without even knowing it. With a child’s scribbled note that had changed the course of our lives.
How many times had I wondered how different our lives would’ve been? How many nights had I lain awake, grateful to Grey and the Paraskia Syndicate for rescuing us? Never had I thought our real savior had been a little girl. And now, here she was, standing mere feet away, completely unaware of our connection.
Isabella Salvini…Shorty caught me staring and raised an eyebrow. “Take a picture, Zotov. It’ll last longer.”
Back to Zotov, were we? She’d called me Ivan yesterday, hadn’t she? “Maybe I will,” I replied, my voice steadier than I felt.
Mila snickered beside me. “You two should just get a room already.”
I shot her a warning glance, but it was too late. The damage was done. My siblings had essentially adopted the Salvini twins in the past twelve hours, treating them more like family than anything else. It complicated things but also provided additional layers of protection for Isabella.
