Aidan’s eyes narrow, but it’s Eoghan who roars, “What?!”
Brennan stands taller. “She had to kill someone?”
“It was kill or be killed,” I intone grimly.
Aidan glances at Brennan, who shakes his head. “She told none of us this.”
“If she told Shay, he’d have looped us in.” Withstanding their scrutiny is child’s play. Brennan eventually ruminates, “But she told you.”
“I was there. I vouched for her.”
“Explain,” Aidan barks.
“You’re on Russian turf, O’Donnelly,” I warn. “This is a coordinated effort because of Victoria, but don’t forget whose land you’re standing on.”
Though I see a nerve twitch in his eye, his annoyance clear, he lifts a hand. “I apologize.”
Bowing my head in acceptance, I tell Brennan, “We can at least scope out the situation once we have more on the guy who took her. I doubt she’d have reckoned on this game of theirs running this long.
“As for the other, I looked into the Veronians when she told me her plan.”
“There isn’t that much to find,” Eoghan argues. “It’s why her becoming a member would be useful.”
“I’m not going to surprise anyone by suggesting that the high-class girls in their stable have cameras in their rooms?”
Aidan frowns. “Of course.”
“The more interesting individuals, I’ve been harvesting info on for a long time. They were ex-Bratva customers.” That sparks their interest. “I cultivated them. Cheaper rates to keep them loyal, the best of the stock, you know the drill.”
“They could have been playing you. Feeding you fake intel.”
“You give these arrogant men more credit than they’re due,” I concede. “They were born thinking they were better than everyone else. They die with that same belief. I do, however, check their intel before actioning it. Does that pass your approval, Eoghan?”
He scoffs.
“One of these men, Harrington Sr., is a regular of mine. The fucker talks in his sleep. Even before Victoria told me about her desire to become a Veronian, I already had him earmarked as potential if I needed an outside source.
“The second she came to me, I had his Domme call him to tell him she had a client cancel. He nearly tripped through the door in his haste to get to her.
“The problem with masochists is they have a pretty high pain tolerance. But we found our in and he sang like a canary.”
“So, you knew what was going to happen during the rites? Why the fuck didn’t you warn her?”
“The shit isn’t the same every time and I told her what I could as and when he broke. That intel is why I was there. They partner off the women with a brother. Literally. It typically ends in marriage.” Or death. “I vouched for her and put my name into play. As for this bullshit, they place them in high-pressure situations and watch the fallout. I told her as much.”
“High-pressure… like a hostage situation?” Eoghan exclaims.
“What did you want me to do?”
“Protect her, dammit.”
“I DID. I have. I’ve been protecting her. Making sure that people in this city know she’s mine. There’ll be repercussions?—”
“No one’s untouchable,” Brennan rasps, and I can see memories in his eyes. Memories I share.
I saw his wife when we went looking for her and Victoria after my enemies had taken them. Abramovicz wanted Victoria. That dirty cunt wanted a fourteen-year-old girl. I still regret letting Brennan have that kill.
Aidan grabs his shoulder. “We’ll bring her home, Bren.”
