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CHAPTER 27

SERENA

Rafael enters with two other men behind him, in dark suits wearing sunglasses. The men walk to the diner’s bar as Rafael swaggers in, flashing his silver tooth at the room as though everyone should be happy to see him. I harden myself as he approaches, as his expression changes from cocky to confused and then enraged.

He slips into the booth opposite us. Laughs, shakes his head, looks at Owen and then at me as if trying to confirm that his vision isn’t betraying him. On the drive over here, Owen told me he had an idea. I’d make myself part of the deal, pretend I want to switch sides, but then I’d trigger Rafael, get him talking about all his sordid deeds.

It’s all so flimsy. But Owen seemed certain. I have to do this for Sasha. For Zoe. For Rosa. For Nikolai.

The waitress approaches before any of us can say anything. “One coffee, bonita,” he says, then turns his cold eyes to us. I try not to look outside to check if Nikolai is here yet.

“I must say, I am surprised to see the two of you together,” he says. He speaks low, carefully, as though he’s afraid of triggering a bomb inside himself. He nods to Owen. “I thought you were in the company of Uncle Sam.”

“It wasn’t the Feds,” I say. “It was Nikolai. He took Owen. I guess he said something to make it seem like the Feds.”

The waitress returns, pouring his coffee. We stop talking, the atmosphere tight.

“Then we have another reason to hate him,” he says once she’s gone. “This coffee smells like shit.” He grits his teeth, flashing the silver tooth. It reminds me of a bullet. Sweat streaks down my back. “You went to the big bad Bratva prince, hmm, Owen? Instead of me, who has always treated you so right?”

“You dosed Kaleigh up to her fucking eyeballs,” Owen hisses. “You didn’t treat me right. You didn’t treat her right.”

“Regrettable business,” Rafael mutters dispassionately. What a sick way to describe something so evil. “But you have some misunderstandings there. I was trying to help her.” I feel my phone pressing against my breast in my bra. I hope he can’t see it changing the shape of my sweater. I hope the mic picks up what it needs to.

“You told me you killed her,” Owen hisses. “And I’ve seen what you and the other Marlin men do to women.”

Rafael spreads his hands, as if to say, that’s not relevant. They mean nothing to him. Sasha means nothing. The only things he cares about are power, money, and respect.

“The drive could ruin you,” I say. “There’s a nuke in there, Rafael. Shipment details. Evidence of criminal payments through your legitimate companies. Evidence that connects you to shell companies paying your trafficking ring. Your whole corrupt empire is going to burn.”

Now he looks almost inhumanly angry. His face turns red. The two men at the bar begin to walk over, as though they’re accustomed to moving whenever their boss is this angry. A single wave of his hand puts them back into place.

I force myself to meet his gaze, thinking of all the times I let Mateo’s rage turn me small. I won’t let this man shrink me. I won’t let him think he can break me.

“We’ll have to see about that,” he says eventually. “And yet, here we are. I assume we’re here for a reason.” He looks around, out the window, giving me a chance to do the same. I can’t spot Nikolai, but the street is busy. There are several stores across the road. He could’ve parked and hidden in one.

Or I’m on my own.

“I’m sure you can figure that out,” I say.

He smiles thinly. “Money. It’s always money.”

“Enough for me and my family to disappear,” I say. “You’ll never see us again. You won’t have to send your friends to visit us or throw bricks or rush us with swords anymore.”

Another snake-ish, thin-lipped smile. “You liked my gifts, hmm? I thought you and Volkov were in love, no? That’s why he rode in like some gallant knight that night?”

I look at the table, biting down, my mind whirring. This is going to be difficult. I don’t want to say this. But I have to sell it. I realize, as I hesitate, that Nikolai and I must have something real. Otherwise, this wouldn’t be so hard.

“That’s a one-sided thing,” I say, not meaning it for a single second. “I work for him, and he’s taken an interest. It’s flattering, sure. But I don’t want to get pulled into all this. Now he’s forcing me to hide with him. To stay with him. But I just want out.”

“And you?” Rafael turns to Owen. “I thought you hated me, hated all of us?”

“I need cash,” Owen says, trying to sound desperate. “And I want to get away too.”

Rafael leans back, interlocking his fingers. “How much?”

“Wait a second,” I say, sitting up, too confident for a man like Rafael. “Before we go on, you need to answer a few questions. I’ve got concerns.”

In Spanish, he says, “Ah, the bitch has worries. I’m sure I can fix them with a fist.”