Page 81 of Dangerous Promises

I don't have time for this. Annoyed, I check over my shoulder to make sure Sage is still asleep. "Get to the point," I say to urge her on.

"The DeMarcos lost a big piece of territory to Chet last night. It could hurt them. It's a good time to urge them to stick to the plan." Isla's voice is desperate but excited and I almost admire her for thinking a simple piece of territory would be enough to change things.

There's nothing we can do about that. Only Sage can.

"I can't change Dimitri's mind."

"Don't be annoying. Please just use this. Has Anton reached out to you?"

I check the missed calls on my phone before going back to her.

"Yes."

"Well did you answer him?"

"No."

"For fuck's sake, Alexei!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll call him back now."

I hang up on Isla before she can get another word in. Doesn't matter what Anton has to say, though. If I didn't believe that Sage was the only one that could change Dimitri's mind I wouldn't have come here last night.

I stand up and head for where I'd left my shirt and pants hanging over her dresser. They're still damp. I dial Anton's number back as I carefully put my clothes back on.

"Rushkoff."

"Hello to you too, Anton. I'm just returning your call."

I slide on my pants and buckle the belt.

"I'm sure you've heard," he says.

"I may have," I say, keeping things purposefully vague.

"Figures," Anton says. "Well I need Freddie to get it back. And I… I need…"

"Yes?" I say, a bite in my tone as I slide my damp shirt back over my head and try not to shiver at the cold.

"I need you to help."

I let the silence fill the space over the phone as I put my shoes back on, leaving my undried socks behind.

"Rushkoff…" Anton says, annoyance bleeding through his voice.

"We will help," I say. "It was never us who were a threat to calling off this truce."

I hang up, standing and readying to leave the way I came in, but can't help sneaking a look back at the bed when the phone rings again.

This time it's Fallon.

"Word travels fast," I say as I answer.

"Yeah, so I'll meet you at the gate. Best to get this done quickly."

"Yep," I agree.

"How long will you be?"