Page 186 of Lethal Obsession

The dream is over.

The swamp has sucked me back into its depths and reminded me that there is no escape.

Not for me.

Not now—and not ever.

Now all that’s left to decide is what kind of swamp I run.

Now it’s just business.

And if anyone will want in on this particular piece of business, Mak is that man.

I unscrew the bottle of Graf and pour us both very large drinks. “Do you remember,” I begin, “when you first came out to the yacht and suggested that I code myself into nonexistence?”

37

Ofelia

I know I should probably go and see Mickey and Lourdes. But I don’t want to leave Benny alone, and I’m not entirely certain I’m able to face either my brother or my father with any degree of composure.

In the end, my father comes to us. Seeing his unsmiling face through the glass window, I tense, but to my surprise, he gives me only a cursory nod before going straight to Benny. Gripping my friend’s shoulder, Papa virtually pulls him upright, then embraces him. “I’m relieved to hear Lars is out of surgery,” he says, meeting Benny’s eyes directly. “But I can’t imagine how you must be feeling.”

“Thank you.” Benny is too shattered to show surprise at my father’s uncharacteristic display of empathy. “I hope Mickey is doing okay?”

“Oh, he’ll be fine.” Roman brushes off his concern. “We all need a decent scar or two. He got off lightly, all things considered.”

His tone is light enough, but I don’t miss the hard set to his mouth, nor the way his eyes rove from one side of the room to the other. My father is deeply pissed—and more than a little worried.

I stifle yet another urge to roll my eyes.

Here we go. Off for another ride on the bratva roller coaster.

I’ve lived too much of my life on that particular ride to feel either exhilaration or fear.

“They won’t let me in to see him.” Benny speaks directly to Papa, his face white and set. “Is it possible—”

“Leave it to me.” Papa grips his shoulder again, then turns away. Gesturing for Jack to join him, he goes to the reception window.

“I’ll say this for your men,” Benny murmurs. “They do know how to make shit happen.”

“Ha.” I do my best to keep the cynicism out of my tone, but I guess some of it leaches through, because he gives me a sideways glance. “You should go and see your brother.”

“You heard Papa.” I avoid his eyes. “Mickey is fine.”

Besides, he has Lourdes with him. And the last thing I can face right now is being around a happy couple. Even two people I love.

“I know you’re pissed at Mickey about what he said,” Benny says. “But I doubt there’s anything you can say to him that Lars didn’t cover already.” He stares at the floor with distant eyes. “I’ve never heard Lars speak like that to anyone,” he says quietly. “Ever.”

I remember the cold fury in Lars’s eyes when he walked into the salon, the slight chill I felt when he told me to go after Alexei. “He was furious.” I close my eyes briefly. It hurts to remember Lars’s face. “He even looked at me like he wanted to kill me.”

Benny’s huffed exhalation makes me look sideways at him. “What?”

“Nothing.” He puts his head in his hands. “It just hurts talking about him, I guess.”

“God, Benny.” I put my arm around him again. “I’m sorry.”

He doesn’t look up, just shakes his head. Papa comes back over to us with the nurse from reception, and we both leap to our feet. She shakes her head resignedly, then addresses Benny in faltering English. “Your friend sleep now,” she says. “Not sleep, but—” She waves her hand.