“He’s Russian,” I said again, my voice flat.
“I’m aware.”
“Then you should also be aware that he can turn on us at any time.”
Atlas’s gaze held mine, steady.
“He hasn’t,” he reminded me.
“Yet.”
“He’s had every opportunity.”
I scoffed softly, shaking my head.
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means something to me,” he said.
I stilled slightly.Because Atlas didn’t trust easily, nor did he say things like that lightly.
“Archie is what’s standing between us and total ruin, Tone.I didn’t want to verbalize it, but maybe I need to with you.So you’re aware.He’s not the enemy.”
“It sounds like you’ve put a lot of faith in him,” I said, my voice bitter even to my own ears.
“He’s been very instrumental in cleaning up what’s left of the Russian faction trying to move in on our territory,” he continued.“The ones who don’t respect the line we’ve drawn.”
My jaw tightened.
“And now,” he added, “someone’s put a contract on his head.”
That I hadn’t expected.My eyes flicked to his, searching.
“He didn’t even know at first,” Atlas said.“Gianni found out before he did.”
Something shifted in my chest.Small.Unwelcome.
“And you feel like you owe him,” I said.
It wasn’t a question.
Atlas nodded once.
“I do.”
I let out a breath, sharp and disbelieving.
“We owe him nothing,” I said.“He’s Russian.That alone makes him a liability.”
Atlas didn’t react.Instead, he watched me carefully.
“Do you remember the night your brother’s home was stormed and you and Izzy were there?”he asked.
My stomach tightened.Of course I remembered.I’d never forget the night we almost died at the hands of the Russians.
“He didn’t have to step in,” Atlas said quietly.“He could have walked away.Saved himself.”
But he hadn’t.
