Page 112 of Violent Pawn

None of this feels like a formality. Something in my stomach despises the concept of Anastasia behind bars.

“This is fucked. Whoever this is, I want at them after we find them.”

Zeno goes silent for an agonizingly long few seconds before murmuring, “Alright. Van’s calling now. I’ll let you go.”

“Keep me updated.”

“As long as you stay in Rome and don’t do anything stupid, sure.”

Click.

My head falls back against the headrest as the phone slips from my hold and into the car’s cupholder.

I need a fucking drink.

Instead, I head for the gym.

When Zeno’s name pops up on my phone later in the evening, I nearly shatter the device in my rush to answer.

“She’s out?”

“No, Vanessa and the lawyers are getting tied up in every level of red tape there is. The crown is charging her for weapons possession and smuggling. The evidence is damning. Vanessa’s government contact apparently no longer works there, so she’s stuck fighting the law, but the law knows her name. She has to be careful how much she fights before they go rooting through the Bratva too.”

“Convenient she loses her contact. So, Z, I ask again, what are we doing about this?”

“All they need is time. It’ll work out.”

A nerve ticks in my jaw. “If it doesn’t? What’s she looking at for jail time?” Anything beyond an hour isn’t happening, but I’ll entertain Zeno by letting him respond.

“Stay out of this, Nero. Your involvement isn’t wanted nor needed.”

My hand forms the fist I picture shoving into his face. “She’s not getting locked up for something she didn’t do, dammit! There’s been enough shit in her life. She doesn’t need this.”

“I agree, and if this goes on too long, I’ll give Vanessa any available resources, but right now, she’s dealing with her own country’s laws and us getting involved won’t help.”

“What if the person we’re looking for is in their government? What if someone there despises the Bratva, and they’re working with someone from Italy to pit the organizations against one another? This is obviously a set-up, and Vanessa’s connection disappearing isn’t a coincidence. If we ignore this, I don’t think Ana’s getting out anytime soon. It’ll become a court battle their lawyer will be fighting, and a possible longer sentence.”

He sighs. “I considered that, sì, but there’s still nothing we can do. I have no jurisdiction there.”

“What if we do?” Ideas start knitting together in my mind, each more insane than the last. At the centre of it all is Anastasia’s face, which makes the knot, no matter how tangled, entirely worth the discomfort. “Somewhere in Italy, the government’s bound to have a few Russian prisoners lying around.” Prisoners of every background, more likely. “Russia’s known for their prisoner swaps. They’d prefer to take back one of their own citizens than keep one of ours locked up. I’ll go, confess the weapons are mine, that I was trying to frame Anastasia. They can take one apart and see the Italian manufacturer for themselves. It’s not far off the mark. She’ll be released, and I’ll be in custody. Then the Commission can convince their government contracts to propose the trade because you know they won’t stand for Cosa Nostra imprisoned in another’s territory.”

Silence is stifling for seconds before he utters, “And if that doesn’t work?”

“Then Ana’s not falsely locked up.” I will be.

His inhale is sharp. “It’s a big jump. We shouldn’t hop into this yet.”

“Zeno—”

“You care about her, I know you do, but I’m ordering you, as your Capo, to stay the fuck in Rome. Do not come here until I learn more. Your plan is chaotic at best and thought out in two minutes of consideration. I’m not endangering you over this.”

This is Anastasia, and I’ll damn well endanger myself for her time and time again.

Like he knows where my thoughts have gone, he repeats, “I mean it, Nero. Stay the fuck home.”

When he hangs up, I immediately jump into my car and take off for the airport.

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