“Because they know you matter to me. Whoever is behind this, they've been watching. They know I'm staying here. They know we have history. They know that hurting you is a way to hurt me.”
“So this is about leverage.”
“And intimidation. And proving they can reach me anywhere.” I met his eyes. “They're not just trying to kill me. They're trying to break me first. Make me scared. Make me isolated. Take away anyone who might help me.”
“That's fucked up.”
“That's how this world works.” I set my beer down. “People like Luka, like Adrian, like whoever is behind this, they don't just eliminate targets. They destroy them. Strip away support systems. Turn allies into liabilities. Make you so alone anddesperate that when they finally come for you, there's nothing left to fight with.”
Declan was quiet for a long moment. “And you've been living like this for years.”
“I have.”
He stood up and paced to the window. He stayed to the side where he couldn't be seen from outside. “How do you do it? How do you live knowing that everyone around you is a potential target?”
“You just do.” I looked at Dmitri. “Right?”
“Da.” Dmitri took a long pull from his beer. “You stop getting close to people. Or you accept that getting close means putting them in danger. Is shit either way, but you adapt.”
“That's no way to live.”
“Is the only way we know.” Dmitri's expression was serious now, none of the easy charm visible. “But Troy is right. Someone is trying to hurt him by hurting you. Which means you are involved whether you want to be or not.”
Declan's jaw tightened but he didn't argue.
“So we do this. We lock down your house. We bring in security. We make it so expensive and difficult to attack you here that they give up or make mistake.” Dmitri grinned. “Is more fun this way anyway.”
“You're insane,” Declan said.
“Everyone keeps saying this.” Dmitri stood and stretched. “I am going to check upstairs. See how bad the damage is. You two stay down here. Try not to get shot while I am gone, yes?”
He headed upstairs before either of us could respond.
The silence that followed was heavy and loaded with everything we weren't saying.
“So. That's Dmitri.”
Declan turned to look at me. “He's exactly what I expected.”
“What, charming and inappropriate?”
“Insufferable.” But there was almost a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Does everyone you work with have a death wish?”
“Pretty much.” I leaned back against the counter. “It's required for the job.”
“And the accent? Is that real or is he fucking with me?”
“Oh, it's real. Wait until you hear him start swearing in Russian. It's a whole experience.”
Declan shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. “This is my life now, isn't it? Russians with guns showing up at my house. Snipers taking shots through my windows. Security teams turning my home into a fortress.”
“Could be worse.”
“How?”
“Could be boring.”
He laughed. Actually laughed, short and burst out of him surprised. “You're an asshole.”
