“All of this for a man who’s sure to kill him next. Oland will always be out for himself. Archie is just a pawn, but he will pay for his actions.” I seethe.
I am to be next, but not before Archie is wiped from the face of the earth.
“Och, we know this. Archie has been working outside the family for some time now with that auld bastard Oland,” Ken says.
“He’s our brother, but our da was right not to trust him. We never will again.”
“Then you give your approval?”
“Aye, but with conditions.”
“Name them,” I bite out.
“We will watch.”
I lift a brow in question.
“This must be completed without wind of who or how. We believe he was involved in Da’s demise, but we haven’t been able to prove it. Da was as fit as a fiddle.
“To drop dead of a heart attack. Rubbish. Now Angus.
“Our own nephew. Och, it’s not right. The only reason I don’t take his head off myself is because I don’t want my own blood on my hands,” Ewans says.
“All right.” I shrug. “As long as you know I’m not going to show mercy.”
“Aye, understood. Once it is done, you can never come back. We can’t justify allowing our brother’s murderer to walk Scotland. If anyone found out, it would end badly for all involved.”
“Fine. Deja and I will leave and never return.”
“Is that wise?” Ewan speaks up.
“What do you mean?”
“Ye said yerself Archie has revealed to the Russians yer whereabouts. Deja isn’t our blood, but we love her like our own great-niece. Angus would want us to protect her.
“Mum would be devastated if something happened to her. She’s already broken up about her grandson,” he says.
“What are you suggesting?”
“Leave Deja with Mum. We will keep the lass safe. I can teach her just like Ian Black taught ye?—”
“That’s the problem. I never wanted this for her. I don’t want her to become what I was,” I say.
“Och, but do ye have that choice now?”
I ball my fists. Ian Black warned me I should have started training Deja years ago. I refused. I didn’t want this for her.
“Once ye handle the Russians, ye can send for her. We will verify it’s ye and hand her over,” Ewan coaxes.
I swallow hard. I have no fear of the Krupin family. At least not when it concerns my life.
It is my daughter I fear for. Deja is in the path of danger every second she spends with me. I cannot return to her until I settle this.
This is why I came to ask permission first before my next move. I refuse to place another target on her back. Not killing everyone connected to the Krupin name before I retired was my mistake, not my daughter’s.
They may be dangerous, but so am I. Once I handle Archie, they will still remain a danger I can no longer ignore.
“How do I know you won’t take her life for Archie’s? He is your blood after all. Deja and I are nothing to you.”
