I sit up a little as I look at her, remembering that last big argument we had at the old Mercer building. “So, that’s why you wanted to know if I was sober the night he died.”
She nods, then rests her head on my chest. “It was more than just that, though. She found out things about the car he wasdriving and the brake system, that sort of thing. She was really sure that his death wasn’t an accident. So sure that she was talking about going to the authorities.”
My blood runs ice cold. Shit. That’s enough to get a person killed… and I don’t really want to believe the one holding the gun was the same person who handed it to me to do the job.
“I brushed her off,” Tati continues. “But… but something happened today that makes me think that maybe she was onto something.”
“Something? Like what?”
She pauses, then, “I overheard my father talking about her. Talking to someone about how he was glad the problem of her was handled. I think he knew, Viktor. Somehow, he found out.”
I sigh. I can’t tell her what happened the day she died. I can’t tell her she was my target, at least not yet. There’s more pieces to this puzzle that need to be solved first. “Are you sure he was talking about Marla?”
“Very,” she says. “I want to look into it. Find out what she found. Maybe pick up where she left off.” She bites her lip thoughtfully. “Will you help me?”
“You should stay out of it,Tanechka.”
She lifts her head up, hurt in her eyes. “You don’t believe me.”
“I didn’t say that.” I sigh and add, “Whoever is responsible for Nicki’s death, they probably will do anything to keep it secret. Including hurt you. If they had no problem taking out the son of a Pakhan, you’d be easy prey.”
She’s reading my face, her eyes darting over it carefully. “Even if that person is my father?”
“Maybe especially. We don’t know for sure that he’s behind Nicki’s death, or even Marla’s.”
“Viktor, you should have heard him talking?—”
“I’m not denying what you’re saying, love. I just want you to understand that it’s safer for me to look into it. You get that, don’t you?”
She pouts for a moment, then rolls her eyes and rests her head back on my chest. “So, what, then? We do nothing?”
“Just let me handle it. I’m in Nikolai’s inner circle. I can find out more than you can. And no one’s going to come after me for it.”
I feel her smile against my chest briefly. Then, “I want to be in the loop, though.”
“Of course.” I kiss the top of her forehead. “Of course.”
