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21
KILLIAN
We’re going to kill the Pakhan.
Archer - with the aid of his brothers - had been placed in charge of running down and checking the validity of the weapons warehouses that Feliks had provided for us. The information proved to be accurate and per Feliks’ word, the warehouses had been empty of Russians but full to the brim with weapons and paperwork. This, along with Owen’s confirmation that Feliks had indeed murdered the two remaining Brigadiers, had been enough to persuade Sienna and Dante that Feliks was indeed someone worth listening to.
So, they put a plan into motion.
Which is why we are on our way to oversee a Russian meeting between Feliks and the Pakhan, and whoever else decides to show up.
Every fiber of my being protested leaving the heat of my bed and my wife this morning, but duty calls. And although Cara also seemed a little under the weather, she insisted she was fine. The ever-shifting mafia world waits for no full recovery and I scarcely have the patience for it either.
Dante sits to my left, his face drawn tight as he discusses the final details of the plan on the phone with Sienna as the car pulls to a stop. The door to my right opens and Archer slides into the car, slightly out of breath and when our gazes meet, his eyes go wide.
“Killian!” Without pause, he flings an arm around my chest, pulling me into a brief yet tight hug that sends a shock straight through my body.
I hadn’t expected to be greeted so warmly. I lift an arm and pat him on the back. It's nice to see him. I haven’t had the opportunity to properly thank him for immediately supporting Cara when she received news of my illness. The trust of my men is important to me but their trust in Cara matters too.
“Archer,” I smile before he sits back, settling into his seat and clicking the belt into place before the vehicle pulls back into motion.
“I hadn’t believed it when I heard you were out of the hospital, not until I saw it with my own eyes!” he exclaims and the warmth from his hug lingers slightly in the heat of my jacket.
“Can’t keep me down,” I tease out smoothly. Archer’s brow dips and he nods solemnly as he settles into his seat.
“How are you feeling? Further from death’s door, I hope?”
“Honestly?” A small, rough laugh brushes past my lips. “It feels like I’m just off a twelve-day binge. Nothing I can’t handle though.”
Archer nods knowingly which further tugs at the smile on my lips. He’s always struck me as the calmer of the Arco brothers so indeed, I would pay to see him on a twelve-day drinking binge. I bet there are a few carefully kept secrets under that armor.
“I missed out on all the fun of the weapons warehouses though.” The thought pulls a grimace from my heart. As much as it’s a victory for us, I’d have spent my entire time comparing their setup to ours even though I’m confident my plans through the clubs are superior.
“They ain’t got nothing on you, Boss,” Archer reassures me quickly. “Sure, they have the weapons and the shipping lanes but their setup wasawful. How they kept track of stock I have no clue and don’t get me started on their out of date books. Offering credit just to threaten people for not paying it back?Awful.” His smile fades the second Dante hangs up the phone.
“Alright,” Dante begins, “Sienna’s men are already in position. We’ll take cover near the abandoned video store and wait for the cue.”
“Which will be?” I prompt.
“When Feliks kills the Pakhan.”
“Right.” Of course.
Pretty big cue.
“Are we absolutely sure we can trust this guy?” I ask. The culprit behind my poisoning is still at large and so far, to my knowledge, all searches have come up empty. “Maybe he poisoned me somehow.”
“Honestly?” Dante presses his hands together and shakes his head. “I suspected him too but Sienna did a full workover of the guy. Sure he’s Russian but he's at the bottom of the list of suspects. She thinks it’s someone else, we just… don’t know who.”
Fuck sake.
The lack of information drives a blade of acid deep into my gut and my muscles churn restlessly. I want to know more - no, Ineedto know more. Someone dared take me out in a way that threw suspicion, however brief, onto my wife, and the fact that they are still out there, oblivious to the rage burning in my heart for them… it’s infuriating.
Bastards.
Just as I’m about to hint at my fury, the car lurches to a stop and Dante slides out of his seat.
Now is not the time. Time to focus.
