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“Family is the reason he is doing this in the first place. He blames me for his father’s suicide and won’t want another death on his conscience, so he will agree to whatever I ask.”
“And Laura?” I refer to the woman who is center stage in all of this. Laura Kincaid, Don Vieris granddaughter and Troy Remington’s new pa.
“She will be returned to family where she should have always been. I will return Melissa to Troy, and we will all be happy.”
I nod and take a sip of my bourbon, and my heart settles as the alcohol dulls my senses. Come to think of it, I drink a lot and I suppose it’s the only way I can cope with the shit I deal with every day.
Don Vieri leans back and studies me through narrowed eyes.
“Now, to your other problem.”
I swear my heart rate trebles as I stare at him in anticipation.
“Shade has arranged for a young woman to take the place of another. The switch has been made and they are on their way to the island.”
“What’s the plan?”
I swear my words make it out on their own because my mind is completely on somebody else right now.
“Serena is–” He rolls his eyes. “Dating Alexei Romanov.”
“I heard.” It makes me smile because Serena Vieri has always been headstrong, and her grandparents won’t like the thought of her merely dating someone without the promise of marriage at the end of it.
He carries on. “Alexei is perfectly placed to receive an invitation to the island.”
“You would allow them to go?” I’m surprised at that because I’m aware that an invitation comes with two tickets.
“I’m not saying he will go at all.”
Don Vieri says with a wicked gleam in his eye.
“No, the best Romanov for our mission is his brother Mikhail.”
I swear even I shiver at the sound of that man’s name.
Mikhail Romonov makes the mafia look like amateurs. He operates with no emotion, more like a machine, really. He uses methods I haven’t even heard of to get results and if a man was a machine, it would go by the name Mikhail Romonov. I almost pity Hosea Madeira for what is surely coming, and I say with interest, “When?”
Don Vieri shrugs.
“The next party is scheduled for two weeks today. We don’t have long to arrange our attack.”
“Attack?” I lean forward because he is definitely speaking my language.
“We stage an invasion. Combine forces and head in quickly, as silently as possible and remove our target with hopefully nobody any wiser.”
He drums his fingers on the desk and sighs.
“You will return home after our meeting. Dimitri is fully aware of the plan. I am expecting Troy Remington to pay me a visit when he discovers his sister is here and I will take steps to remove Laura from her current situation, which will free Adonis to join you.”
He shakes his head and I watch the pleasure shine in his eyes, and I marvel that the years fall away from him as he plans an operation that will be both devious, cunning, and hopefully successful.
He fixes me with a soft expression that has been earned over the years by my loyalty and says huskily, “Patience, Apollo. You have waited a long time for this. Melissa will be returned to family, Laura too and Phoebe–” He shakes his head. “Well, I can make no promises, but if all goes well, Phoebe will be returned to where she belongs.”
I can’t even speak because I dare not even consider it. I have built an impenetrable wall around my heart where it concerns her, and I will only believe she is safe when I hold her in my arms.
He nods to the clock ticking on the wall.
“The boat leaves in thirty minutes. You must say your hellos at the same time as your goodbyes, and you go with our most sincere thanks for moving the chess piece into position.”
