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Ryan puts his arm on Tommy’s shoulder. “He’s our nephew. His father wants him to come back into the fold and help Ethanavenge Liam. You know, the prodigal son. I hope he does, too. Isn’t that right, Harrison?”
“So, let me get this straight — you’re going to rob the Russian mob of some diamonds they stole from you? Ivanov isn’t even with the Andropov family. Won’t that restart a war between the two groups who should be allied in this? You ready for that?”
“We’re in the planning stage,” Tommy says. “Ronan wanted to take care of this before his stroke, so now, with Liam gone, Ethan, Tommy, Ryan and I are going to finish the job. It’s going to be the last job we do before we go after the big fish. We need the money if we’re going to go to the carpet.”
If so, it’s damn foolish.
I shake my head. “That can only start a war that will make fighting Andropov even harder,” I say and put my hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “Ryan, I would think you’d know better than this. Better to just wait until we deal with the Andropov clan first. After that, force Ivanov to fork over the diamonds. Then, Ethan can slowly and quietly extricate the business from the whole world. But what do I know about war?”
I smile as I emphasize the last line, hoping to talk some sense into Tommy.
“It was what your father planned.”
“Not with me he didn’t.” I sigh. “Let me talk to him and Ethan first.”
“It’s already planned out and in the works.”
“Just let me talk to him and to Ethan,” I say and look deep into my Uncle Ryan’s eyes. I turn to Tommy, who won’t meet my gaze. “If they still think it’s okay, then you’re on your own. I won’t be part of it.”
I take the stairs to the second floor, shaking my head in disgust. Before I reach the top, Tommy makes a crack.
“You know, for someone who fought in a war, you seem like quite the pussy.”
“Tommy,” Ryan says, frowning. “Harrison’s a war hero.”
“Huh,” Tommy says. “Some hero. Won’t even stand up for his father.” He leaves the hallway, rejoining the men in my father’s study. Ryan glances up at me and shrugs.
“You talk to your father, and I’ll abide by whatever he says.”
“You’re the lawyer,” I say and stop on the stairs, my hands holding the railing. “I’d think you would have talked him out of it.”
“Talk to your father. Then, we’ll talk, okay?”
I nod and go up to my room, needing to get away from the crowd until I can talk to my father and brother alone.
I’m not sure what they’ll say, nor am I entirely sure that my father’s in the best state to decide whether to rob the Russian Mafia, even if it is to recover stolen goods that were taken from our family. To me, it will only inflame relations between the two groups at a time when Ethan is supposed to be taking the business legit.
I wait until the guests have left the house and make my way to my brother’s bedroom. I knock at his door.
“Come in,” Ethan calls out. I poke my head inside.
“Hey, Ethan, can we talk for a minute? In Dad’s room?”
He nods, looks back at his wife, who’s sliding into bed, and comes to my side. He closes the door to his room. “What’s up?”
“I just spoke to Ryan and Tommy earlier about the op they’re planning to take the diamonds from the safety deposit box at the bank Ivanov uses. Are you sure about this?”
He shrugs. “One last thing to get us set up for going after Andropov. Those diamonds are ours and we need the cash flow…”
“Can we talk to Dad?” I point to the room at the end of the hallway where my father is.
“All right, but he’s already made the decision.”
Ethan follows me to my father’s room. I knock on the door and wait.
“Come in,” he calls out, so we enter and see him sitting up in bed, wearing his pajamas. My stepmother is in the master suite bathroom getting ready for bed.
“Ah, my two boys. Come and sit here,” my father says, patting both sides of the bed beside him. I sit on his left, and then I take his hand. Ethan sits on the other side of the bed.
