He’s hiding something bigger than just being David’s partner, and I can feel it crawling under my skin.
“Everything,” I say and rub my jaw, tasting copper.
I crouch in front of him and keep my eyes locked on his. “You won’t like it when I get bored, so make it quick.”
He stares at me, then takes a deep breath. “David didn’t know about the rest of it. We were just skimming evidence money together, that’s all he knew. But I-I was approached months ago by someone who knew about my financial situation. They offered me cash for information. Small things at first, nothing that seemed important. They said they worked for the Nozares family.” He swallows hard. “But then we got forced into surveilling your family. We sent warnings to them when we knew the Avrorins were moving on targets. That’s how you got shot.”
I keep my face locked down tight, but my blood’s buzzing, and my hands twitch with the need to put them around his throat.
“Go on.”
“David’s father,” he says, voice barely above a whisper. “He’s a retired captain. Before, he was a detective. He’s the one who recruited me, been feeding information to the Nozares family for years. He’s the leak you’ve been searching for.”
We’ve always been on top ever since we came to America and took New York from their control twenty years ago. Dismantled their empire piece by piece until they had nothing.
So why now? Why are they making moves?
I’ve heard rumors about their leader, Santiago Nozares. He’s been acting strange. Erratic. Making decisions that don’t make sense. His sons are trying to cover for him, but everyone’s noticed. His sons are probably using it. Letting the old man think he’s building an empire again while they make the real plays behind the scenes.
But there’s something more to this. I can feel it.
This isn’t just a desperate power grab from a family that’s lost everything. There’s a plan here. Something bigger.
“Fuck. I had no idea this guy was even involved. What are the odds I found the fucking rat who got me shot?” I laugh, but there’s no humor in it.
“I told you it wasn’t my fault,” Mikhail mutters.
I roll my eyes and walk over and pick up the crowbar, holding it out to him. “Want to finish this one? We need to take care of David’s father tonight when we are done here. Text Daniil and ask for an address.”
He takes it but points it at me instead of Mendez. “I’m getting tired of this family blaming me for everything that goes wrong. One day, I’m going to fucking snap.”
He walks toward Mendez. The crowbar splits his skull open with a sharp crack.
Chapter 24
Kelly
The sound of the keyboard tapping echoes across the room while I scroll through job listings. Squinting at the screen through the lingering headache that’s been my constant companion since the concussion. I’m so done with the harassment from Gary. Though he hasn’t messaged me in twenty-four hours, which is a goddamn miracle. Next time he calls, I’m telling him I’m done.
There aren’t many openings right now. I did just send an application to one of the biggest clinics in New York even though I probably don’t stand a chance of getting called for an interview. Still felt productive to send it, like I’m actually doing something to get out of this mess.
Alexei walks in with his hair still wet from a shower. Probably washing off evidence from one of his little “jobs.” I roll my eyes and keep tapping at the keys while he brushes past the counter, kisses the top of my head, then heads straight to the freezer and pulls out a bottle of vodka and taking a sip straight from the bottle.
“Really? It’s nine in the morning.”
He starts to respond, but my phone vibrates against the counter. I wave him off and answer without checking the caller ID.
Camilla’s voice blasts through the speaker so loud I have to pull the phone away from my ear. “Jesus, wait, slow down. Start over. You’re making my ear fall off.”
She sighs. “Sorry, forgot you’re sensitive to sound right now. I still feel so guilty for missing your call at the hospital. I’m so sorry about that.” She pauses. “Anyway, Gary is dead.”
“Gary is what?”
Alexei chokes on his vodka. Takes another sip, screws the cap on, then walks out of the kitchen without a word.
I narrow my eyes after him. That was suspicious as hell. He didn’t … right?
“He’s dead, Kelly.”
