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I hated how he was right.
“Here.” Will handed me a black briefcase. “It’s all there. I’d go with you, but the baby could come any day. I can’t leave Miranda.”
“I understand. Wouldn’t want you to anyway.” I lowered my voice and leaned in. “Don’t tell Simone about any of this. We don’t know how it will play out. She thinks I’m never coming back again.”
Fury flared in Will’s eyes. “You didn’t.” He gritted his teeth.
“I did. If your old man gets me out of this clusterfuck of a situation, I’ll grovel and pay penance for breaking her heart for the rest of my life.”
“It’ll be longer than that,” Mr. St. James said from behind me. “Let’s go.” He stalked off with my brother in tow and York and the other guy trailing behind them.
Will leveled his harden gaze on me. “It was bad, wasn’t it? She’s the most sensitive person I know. I oughta kill you myself.”
“Yes, it was fucking awful.” I rubbed my hand down my cheek. “I love her. I fucking love her to death, but we’re dealing with the Russian Mafia, Will. My brother slept with Abram’s virgin daughter. She was betrothed to—”
He put his hand on my shoulder. “I know. York filled us in. You better go. My dad doesn’t wait for anyone.” He jerked his chin toward the double doors.
“Thanks, man. Take care of her for me.” I gave him a brotherly hug and ran out to the tarmac with a briefcase filled with over seven hundred grand. I’d never had so much money in my possession before. It was insanity.
“You’ll be back to take care of her yourself!”
I hoped to fuck Will was right.
Everyone was already in their seats when I stepped onto the jet. Mr. St. James pointed at the chair directly across from him. I didn’t think I had a choice, so I dropped into it and exhaled, setting the case of money on the floor between my feet. My damn head was pounding.
My brother was talking to York, grinning like a fool. I didn’t understand how he could look so happy going to the lion’s den. But I was suddenly exhausted, and for the next several hours, we were all safe flying high in the sky.
“We’ll discuss my daughter later. For now, I want to know what you were thinking, offering to take your brother’s place. It’s noble for sure. I was quite surprised when York told me what was going on last night.”
I glared at my boss across the jet. He just stared back, wholly unapologetic.
“He’s my responsibility. I couldn’t have lived with myself, knowing they killed him if I could have saved him.”
“Now see, you’re making me see you in an entirely different light. There is a lot more to you than a grunting oaf, isn’t there, Mr. Pérez?”
I had to chuckle at the grunting oaf part. “I love my brother and would do anything to protect him.”
“But you also love my daughter, or so I’ve been told. It must have been difficult having to choose between the two.”
“Damn near killed me. But in the end, another man’s life was at stake—my brother’s. I really didn’t see any other way. They want blood and now you’re endangering him by taking him right into the Russians territory.”
“They’ll take the money instead of his life or yours.”
“That’s not how it works. York said—”
He raised his hand, silencing me. Oh, it pissed me off when he did that.
“I wouldn’t have both of you here if I thought either of you might not return with us alive.”
“Okay, then what do you plan to do?”
“Money talks, Mr. Pérez. I’m a businessman and so is Abram. I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
Great, now he was quotingThe Godfather. Why did rich-as-fuck people think they could buy their way out of everything?
“Beverage?”
I looked up at the flight attendant. “No, thanks.”
