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I scan my surroundings. Men sitting at the tables nearby glance at me, but no one stares for too long. They’re all afraid.
People have reacted that way around me since I was seventeen. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Fear keeps people in line and creates fewer problems.
Aleksandr returns with two extra-large glasses of beer and places them on the table.
“Thought we could do with the extra tonight.” He chuckles, sliding in opposite me. He seems to be in better spirits tonight and is dressed more casually than I’ve seen him in weeks. Though, maybe that’s because I’ve seen more of him at work.
“I won’t complain. Beer is always good.” It will loosen me up. I’m still charged from last night. I reach for the glass and take a big gulp. “Tell me you have good news.”
“I have good news.” Aleksandr grins, taking a swig of his beer. “Our hacker is a fucker called Petr Maxinoff. Russian.”
I lean back and bite down hard on my back teeth. “Is he linked to the Bratva?”
“No. But he has a lot of connections with the Malina. His other work is mostly off-grid. He’s done a lot with Moretti.”
“How do we find him?”
Aleksandr sighs with frustration. “That’s the hard part. I can’t pin him down. I think Corrado gave him a heads-up. There was a series of messages last week going to a number we couldn’t trace. Could have been a burner. The messages explained what happened with you and requested contact with Moretti.”
“Was there no response?”
“Just one lone message—Received. It never occurred to me that the number could be Petr’s until Cassian got access to the Devlins’ system and discovered the virus.”
I release a frustrated sigh. “So, now we have to look for him, too.”
“Hey, bro, all roads lead to Moretti. Remember that. I have no doubt we’ll make more progress soon, whether that’s here in New York or in Morocco.”
“Yeah. I think so, too.”
“We should definitely continue the search here for Petr. He’s the brain behind the operation and may give us that advantage we need. If we focus on him, we’ll hopefully know the moment he makes contact with Moretti.”
I nod. This is good news. It gives us another trail, and Corrado did exactly what I thought he’d do. It’s just not soon enough for me.
In my experience, it’s often the case that when you find what you’re looking for, you’re already too late.
The moment Moretti finds out that the Russians and Irish are hunting him, things will change. The clever thing to do is what we’re already doing.
“We’ll work on it first thing in the morning.” I take another swig.
“Sounds good.” Aleksandr leans back and gives me a curious stare. “How are things at home? You haven’t said.”
I can’t blame him for being curious. How do I explain that I have more than a business interest in the woman I forced to marry me? “They’re fine.”
Aleksandr raises a brow. “Just fine? You married Corrado’s princess, his most prized asset. Give me a little more than fine.”
On the surface, it sounds like he wants to know how many times I’ve bedded her, or simply how married life was treating me. That’s what I’d assume if I were talking to a normal guy, but my brother is different. He’s not normal.
He wants to know if I’ve put her in the dungeon—which Gabrielle doesn’t know about—and locked her away in a cage. That’s how Aleksandr treats prisoners regardless of who they are.
“She does her thing, I do mine.”
His curiosity deepens. “Hope she’s not making you soft.”
“No, she’s not.”
“Alright.” He drinks his beer but keeps his gaze fixed on me. He knows I’m withholding and I’m doing so on purpose.
Just then, one of the regular waitresses walks up to the table. Her name might be Miranda. She’s a fiery redhead who has a thing for Aleksandr. Lucky for her, the feeling is mutual—at least while it lasts. Aleksandr has never met a woman who can tie him down for too long.
