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“It seems our interests may intersect at this moment,” Bane said.
Lyon stared into his eyes and was pleased when the other man didn’t flinch. Theirs would be a difficult agreement.
A dangerous one.
Lyon couldn’t afford to flinch, and he couldn’t afford partners who did either.
“Please explain.” Lyon had an idea of what Bane wanted from him, but Bane would have to say it, the parameters of their agreement crystal clear for everyone involved.
“Yakov Vitsin must be eliminated,” Bane said, his gaze steady. “If what you say is true, he acted alone in taking the boy, which means he has become a liability to your organization and an ongoing danger to the woman and her child.”
There was something in the other man’s voice, the smallest of hitches that belied his cool gaze.
“You have a personal relationship with this woman,” Lyon said.
Bane tried to hide his surprise, but Lyon caught it in the moment before the other man tucked it behind his eyes. “That’s irrelevant.”
“No," Lyon said, “but I understand why you might like me to think so.”
“I understand it may be in your interest to see Yakov eliminated,” Bane continued, moving on to less personal ground. “And if Baranov has had enough, it’s in his interest as well.”
“It’s safe to say Yakov isn’t very popular at the moment,” Lyon said.
“You’re in a unique position to eliminate him. You’re close to him, close to Baranov,” Bane said.
He didn’t know how Logan Bane knew such a private detail, but it was no matter. It was true, and for the purposes of their agreement, it would work in Lyon’s favor.
“Viktor was close to my father,” Lyon said. “I’ve known him since I was a boy.”
He was like family. Like an uncle. Someone I trusted.
He left the words unsaid and shook loose the images they conjured in his mind: Viktor younger and laughing, ruffling Lyon’s hair, patting him on the back when he hit another child for pushing Baranov’s daughter on the lawn.
“Let’s say I approach Viktor, get permission to eliminate Yakov. What do you receive in return?”
“The woman and her child have to be safe,” Bane said. “Forever.”
“And me? What do I receive?”
“The woman would drop the case against Yakov,” Bane said.
“That would happen anyway. The D.A. can’t prosecute a dead man,” Lyon said.
“Yes, but the murder charge wouldn’t be the end of it, and you know it. If you agree to eliminate Yakov and guarantee safety for the woman and her child, I might be able to convince her to let things cool down with the bratva before pursuing other investigations.” Logan hesitated. “And there is something else.”
Lyon stared at him and after a long moment he continued.
“This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for,” Logan said. “Isn’t it?”
The insight shook Lyon, and he immediately wondered who had fed the information to Bane. Lyon had talked to no one about his aspirations.
No one.
“Perhaps,” Lyon conceded.
“Baranov has no heir, and while there are other men ahead of you in line for leadership, Baranov knows you.” Logan looked into his eyes. “Owes you. If you bring him a solution to the problem of Yakov, a promise that the D.A.’s office will stand down — for a brief time, mind you, just while they regroup — he may see the merit in promoting you.”
Lyon forced himself not to scoff. Logan Bane knew more than most, but he didn’t understand the bratva. These concessions alone would not be enough to convince Viktor to endorse his promotion.
