Page 54

“What does Levon want with her?” I asked.

Sarkisian exhaled slowly through his nose. “The Caruso Atlantic Trust. After her mother died, Raffaele moved the American companies and port contracts into it. Alessia is the only person who can claim the authority to change who controls them.”

“Levon wants her to appoint his own man then?”

“Yes.”

“And if she refuses?”

“They put her in front of a camera and make it look voluntary. By the time Raffaele challenges it, Levon’s people are already inside.”

I drew in a sharp breath.

“What does Dmitry want?”

Sarkisian’s face closed. I reached across the table and pressed one finger into the damaged joint at his shoulder. He grimaced and sweat appeared along his hairline.

“The second order,” I said. “Why does the Shield have to follow?”

“I don’t know.”

I increased the pressure slightly, enough to make him hiss.

“Dmitry said she had to be taken where you could see it,” he answered quickly.

My hand went still.

“What was the premium?”

“Half a million if you witnessed her removal. Another half if you followed without your brothers.”

Dmitry didn’t merely want me distracted; he wanted me isolated.

“Dmitry works for Levon, then?”

Sarkisian gave a small, humorless laugh. “Dmitry works beside Levon. Not for him.”

That confirmed it. Dmitry Volkov had a hand in the Petrosyan war. I stood, and Sarkisian’s expression tightened.

“That’s it?” he asked hopefully.

“For now.”

“You said I go free.”

“No. I said that you’ll leave this room alive.”

The distinction reached him a second too late.

I crossed to the door and opened it. The guards entered as I stepped into the observation room. Alessia stood where she had been watching behind the one-way glass, arms folded tightly across her chest.

“You heard everything?” I asked.

“I did.”

She looked through the glass as the guards removed Sarkisian from the chair.

“My father put companies in a trust for me after my mother died and never told me. I need to call Matteo. Now.”