“Until they’re not,” Alessio remarked.
“Exactly,” I agreed.
During his life cut short, Senator Ashford was no exception. I owed him a favor posthumously, dating back to my younger days. He was the reason I was able to join the military and stay under my father’s radar, who’d wanted me dead. It was that which made me untouchable, although I was under no misconception that the man had done it out of the goodness of his heart. He had counted on me becoming the head of two mafia factions and the kickbacks that would come along with it.
“They just don’t know when to stop. People in power think they can get away with everything,” I continued.
“Spoken like a man who’s never been caught,” Kristoff remarked wryly.
“The night’s young.”
“Damn, introductions are due,” Alessio chimed in. “Kristoff Baldwin, Byron’s buddy from his military days. Kristoff, this is Kian Cortes, the man who saved my wife’s life and got her out of Afghanistan. A debt that can never be repaid.”
Byron raised his glass. “Ditto.”
“No debt, it’s been forgotten.” I waved my hand. “Besides, Kristoff and I worked together recently. Good to meet you in person.”
“You as well. Thank you, by the way.”
“My pleasure.”
“Sophie’s lucky she lived through that car wreck,” Byron remarked.
Kristoff nodded.
“She’s a tough cookie, although she’s worrying me lately.” He raised his own glass. “To family and friends.”
“And surviving this fast and furious life without selling your soul,” Byron chimed in.
“I sold mine years ago,” Alessio said. “I just rent it back occasionally.”
“We all did,” I echoed. We all downed our drinks, then sat silently until the server came by with a refill. When he left with our glasses, I spoke. “So you three called this meeting. What’s the occasion?”
They shared a glance.
“Maybe we just wanted to see your pretty face?” Alessio suggested.
I scoffed, recalling how the trio of friends I just left outside said a similar thing. “You could have seen my pretty face via Zoom.”
“We wanted you to experience DC in February,” Byron joked. “It’s such a pleasure. All the snow and bone-chilling cold.”
“You guys are pussies,” Alessio grumbled. “After a winter in Canada, you’ll come to realize that this is basically spring.”
“Tempting, but I’ll pass,” I retorted dryly.
“I called this meeting,” Kristoff cut in, clearing his throat after taking another drink, the tension in his shoulders hard to miss. “Let me start with a hypothetical question.”
I turned my head, homing in on him. “Those are never hypothetical.”
“Are you able to have discreet, practically invisible security lined up for a long period of time anywhere in the world?”
“Possibly. For whom?”
“My cousin,” he said quickly. Good lord, not his cousin again. Did she get herself into another messy romantic entanglement? “I know of your and Blackhawk Security’s reputation. I need someone tailing her without her knowledge.”
I raised my eyebrows. “I no longer run Blackhawk.”
“But you have connections there,” he pushed. I dipped my chin and he continued. “Sophie needs… I don’t know if it’s exactly protection, but I need her safe. She’s done a lot for me. Plus, she’s family.”
