Vsevolod Nikiforov kicks back in his chair. “Are you serious about no trafficking?”
“Absolutely,” I say, meaning it. “I want nothing to do with trafficking people. Why? What do you know?”
He flushes. “I know that Hendrix is well involved in it and is making a lot of money.”
Anger flows through me. Our father may not have been the kindest of men, but he had set rules, and that was one of them. We don’t mess with women, and we don’t mess with kids. I don’t see myself as any sort of hero, but I do believe in karma and protecting the most vulnerable.
Yet I know how to explain my position to these men. “Trafficking is unacceptable. The authorities are finally cracking down on organizations, and I want to be free of exposure. If anybody feels differently, you can leave now.” I’ll probably kill them later, and they should know me well enough to understand that fact.
Nobody moves. “Good. Plus, I do believe in karma.” I cross my arms and look toward Garik. “I’m retaking the organization, and I value your loyalty. Garik is my second in command, and that decision is final.”
A couple of men frown, and an older one, a former assassin named Jac, shakes his head. “He’s not from a main family.”
“He’s my family,” I state calmly.
Garik doesn’t move and reveals no expression. Good.
“Any more discussion?” I ask softly.
Several heads shake. I clear my throat and glance at Garik. “Do we have anybody with computer expertise?”
He shakes his head. “No. Anybody with computer skills is paid well by Hendrix. They’ll be loyal to him for now.” He cocks his head. “However, your lawyer has a good friend who’s one of the best.”
“Ella?” I ask, my eyebrows rising. I do remember hearing something about her being a phenomenal hacker. She even trained in the motherland briefly.
“Do you want me to take her?” Garik asks.
“Probably,” I note. “Let’s wait until we have a decent setup.” The first job I need her to do is figure out who framed me for David Fairfax’s murder. How had anybody found time to throw that knife in the pond—and make sure my fingerprints were on it? They might’ve been planted, or perhaps that was just bad luck since I was there so often. It had to have been somebody investigating the crime, who worked with the judge and prosecuting attorney. As well as my dead attorney. “How good is she?”
Garik shrugs. “I don’t know. Just heard rumors, but say the word, and I’ll have her available to work for us.”
Power finally begins to flow through my veins again. I don’t think anybody knows about my need to get back to my servers. I’m sure Hendrix has them well protected now that he knows about my backdoor tunnel, and it’s going to be all-out war. In this game, at least from the outside looking in, Caine is going to kill Abel again.
So be it.
I look around. “I’m sure I’m being watched, and Hendrix will know you came here. You’re all in danger.”
Not one of them looks scared or even bothered. Jac speaks for the group. “We’re taking precautions and are ready for war. There are many inside the organization who will make the jump and return to you if there’s a show of strength.”
Meaning I need to kill Hendrix. I don’t like the idea of murdering my father’s son. We do share blood, after all. “I understand.”
The group stands and files out, all heavily armed and watching for threats. I like that. Jac is the last to leave, and he hands me a folded piece of paper.
I take it. “We’re passing notes now?”
He shrugs. “It was taped to the front door of the bar. I read it. Doesn’t make sense.”
Ah. The kill list from Urbano Reyes. I’ve been waiting for this. “Don’t worry about it.” I shove the paper into my pocket to read later.
Jac nods, following the others out and leaving Garik and me alone.
“How many of them do you trust?” I ask.
“About half. I’ll make a list of who we want to watch—who I think Hendrix might’ve sent. But betrayal always comes from the inside.”
True words.
We have a couple of drinks of the good vodka, and both of us turn when the front door opens. I sit back and blink. Well, this is a surprise.
