"Think of all that we've done for you. For your mother and keeping her safe. What we did to those people who killed your brother."
"I haven't forgotten," I say through a clenched jaw.
There's a pause on his end.
"Now listen, we've got word that they may try and take her."
I straighten up, pushing off the wall. "What?"
"If they do," he pauses again, "let it happen."
The air leaves my lungs.
"What?"
"Let it happen," Nicolae repeats, slower this time.
"I've never lost a client," I say, my tone firm.
"Who cares about your reputation?" His tone sharpens. "This is bigger. Let her be taken. Find out who does it. That'll be the leader. You call me, I broker the takedown, you get them, and clean house. We win."
My hand tightens around the phone. "And Keira?"
"The girl? Your package?" He laughs, short and cold. "Who cares. This is our way into the U.S. She's not your problem unless you make her one. Just get it done. Do the job."
He wants me to sit back and watch. To let her scream while I wait for leverage. My jaw locks and I don't answer.
"Don't disappoint me," he continues. "We'll send you more intel as we get it. Remember who's really paying you here, Octavian. You do this, I'll give you more money than you could ever imagine. You'll never need to do anything again. Find a nice girl, buy a yacht, fuck on the deck all day. I'll make that happen for you. Just do what you need to do."
Then he hangs up, and I stand in silence, staring at the phone in my hand.
I love my uncle. As much as you can, given our history and his ruthlessness in the mafia world. I've never wanted to harm him.
But when he disregarded Keira, reduced her to a "package," a thing, I wanted to fly back to Romania just to break his fucking neck.
I pocket the phone and lean back against the wall, my breath coming harder than it should.
Let her be taken.
The words repeat in my head like a taunt.
I've spent weeks keeping her alive. Watching her. Knowing her better than she knows herself. I've killed for her, and Nicolae wants me to just let it happen.
I start pacing the length of the room, my hands curling into fists.
This was supposed to be simple. Protect her, get paid, and go home. But nothing about Keira is simple.
She's burrowed under my skin like a splinter I can't pull out.
What the fuck am I going to do?
If I do what Nicolae asks, Keira gets hurt. If I don't, I betray my family.
But I don't know if I can do it, and I don't know if I can betray Nicolae.
Shit, I don't even know if I can keep my hands off her much longer.
AllI know that what I promised to do before I came here, the man I was before boarding the plane, is not the same man. If anything happens to Keira I don't know if I can forgive myself.
