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“I’m going to Dallas. To kill my father.”
I blink at her and then shake my head. “Like hell, you are.”
“Like hell, I’m not.” She narrows those spectacular eyes on me. “You’ve been training me for weeks. Do you think I’m not capable of this?”
“I think you’re perfectly capable, Ivie. What I won’t allow is having you sneak out of here to go there alone.”
“Oh, you won’t allow me?” She drops her bag to the floor and crosses her arms over her chest. “Because I’m what, your child?”
“Now you’re just pissing me off for the sake of pissing me off.”
“No, I’m being an adult woman who doesn’t need your permission for anything, Shane. You’re not my father or my husband.”
We’ll be rectifying that little detail as soon as possible. But now isn’t the time or place to propose.
She’d tell me to shove the ring up my ass.
“Now, excuse me. I need to go call a cab.”
“No, damn it.” I take her arm but quickly let go when she swings around and punches me in the jaw, just the way we taught her. “Hell.”
“I’m not playing around, Shane.”
“Obviously. Fine, but you’re not going alone.”
She starts to argue, but I’ve had about enough of this bullshit.
“Stop talking for two fucking minutes.” I pace in a circle, frustration pulsing through me. “We’ll go to Dallas, but you won’t go by yourself. If you think I’d be okay with that, in any universe, you don’t know me at all.”
“You’re right. I thought I knew you, but all you do is fucking lie to me.”
“Stop it. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know if it was fucking true. You wondered, as well when we saw his name tied to those phone records. I wasn’t going to tell you something that would change your entire world off hearsay, Ivie. We needed eyes on him. Confirmation. And then I was going to tell you. Today. I needed the intel from Rocco.”
“I should have been in on the information from the get-go. And then, if it wasn’t true, I should have known that, too. I’m not some damsel in distress here, Shane. Now, get me to Dallas, or I’ll go myself.”
I want to shake her. I want her to just listen and try to see this from my perspective, but she’s too angry.
It’ll have to wait.
“We’ll leave in an hour.”
She turns on her heel and walks away, and I return to the kitchen, where everyone is still waiting.
“Looks like we’re headed to Dallas,” is all I say.
“I really like her, son,” Pop says with a grin. “Keep that one.”
* * *
Ninety minutes later, we’re all on the jet, headed for Dallas. Even Pop and Igor decided to join.
They don’t usually go into the field anymore—haven’t for many years—but they wanted to come along. They’ll visit a friend in Dallas while we find Pavlov.
“Do you realize what you’re about to do?” I ask Ivie, who’s sitting across from me. Her gaze flies to mine and holds steady.
Good girl.
“Yes.”
“He isn’t a stranger,” I remind her, aware that all eyes are on us. Nadia watches with concern and reaches out to pat Ivie on the shoulder.
“No, he’s a monster,” Ivie says in a firm voice. “And he killed my mother. I’ve seen the photos of what he did to her. To save his own ass. And I remember, in vivid detail, the things he made me do on his behalf. He doesn’t deserve to live.”
I sigh and realize that I won’t be able to talk her out of this. But she won’t go alone.
“Blood isn’t always family,” Igor says, looking intently at Ivie. “Sometimes, what’s born into a family is not the same. Does not belong.”
I glance at Nadia, knowing full well that Igor is speaking of his son.
“And there are other times when family has no blood tie at all, and that’s what we have with you, Ivie. You are one of us, and we will do everything in our power, which is considerable, to keep you safe and make sure you have your revenge.”
Ivie blinks quickly, soaking in his words.
“Now, you said earlier that you thought you could trust these men, and I’m here to assure you that you can. But you already know that. Your anger is warranted, but make sure you focus it on the appropriate target. Shane was doing what he thought was right. Because he cares for you and doesn’t want you hurt.”
“I know,” she whispers and blows out a breath then looks up at me. Everything we’ve been through together flows between us. We’re going to be okay. “I know that.”
“Good.”
“One more thing,” Nadia adds. “Don’t hesitate. If you do, you won’t go through with it, and you could be hurt. If your intention is to kill, don’t pause. He may be an old man, but he could be dangerous. Keep your mind clear. Don’t let him surprise you. I made that mistake, and it almost cost Carmine and me our lives.”
