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"He asked you to swing by." I prop my palms on my hips.
"You can trust me." One side of her lips kicks up in a smile. "My brother is Nikolai Solonik."
I stiffen. "The head of the Bratva?"
"The very same. He’s one of your allies now, I believe."
"I still wouldn’t trust him, so if that was meant to be reassuring—"
She laughs. "It was meant to show that I understand what you’re dealing with here."
She grabs a paper bag I hadn’t noticed before and hands it over. "That has clothes for the two of you, as well as money, passports, and everything else you need to leave the country."
I peer into the bag and spot the passports. "That was quick."
"You’re Axel’s brother." She pulls out a phone and holds it out. "It’s a burner; no one can trace you through it."
I accept it. "Thanks." Then a thought strikes me. "How did you get into the pub? Weren’t the doors locked?"
She laughs. "I have my ways."
"Karina?" A man walks into the pub through the front door. "There you are." He walks over to her, wraps his arm around her, and pulls her close. The two kiss and keep kissing.
"We do have rooms upstairs," I point out.
Neither of the two heed me.
Gesü Cristo, all this loving in the air; it's nauseating.
"Thanks for your help." At least my disgust doesn't show in my tone; that's something.
I turn to leave when Karina calls out, "Sorry, Arpad and I haven’t seen each other for nearly two hours." Her tone is self-deprecating. "Hence—"
I pause, then turn to face him. "You’re Arpad Beauchamp, one of the Seven who own 7A Investments?"
"Have you invested with us?" He scans my features. "Have we met before?"
"I don’t think so." I turn to Karina. "Appreciate your coming through for us."
"If there’s anything else I can help with…"
I hesitate.
"You can tell us. Any friend of Karina’s has my full support," Arpad chimes in.
Not sure he’d be saying that if he knew the identity of my father. I shove that thought aside.
"We need to return to Palermo as quickly as possible and without attracting any attention."
"So commercial flights are out?" Karina narrows her gaze on me. "Whoever is after you—"
"Why do you assume someone’s after us?"
She glances around the pub. "You’re in a room above a pub, just far enough from any town that it's a deterrent to tracking you down, there are blood specks on your shirt—" I glance down at my sleeve and spot the drops of red. She continues, "And your brother just asked me to issue you fake passports." She arches an eyebrow. "Also, the woman standing behind you doesn’t seem too happy with you. Not that it’s connected to your question, but thought you should be aware."
I pivot around as Jeanne approaches us. She draws abreast and levels a look filled with curiosity at the couple. "Everything okay?" she asks.
"Everything’s fine." I put an arm around her and pull her close. To my surprise, she melts into my side.
