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“It was a tip from overseas.
Rage raced through my veins. Always my fucking brother. He was trying to ruin me from afar.
“I’ll get Roger on the phone and try to see what is going on from their end.”
Roman looked uncomfortable, like he wanted to say something, but didn’t want to get in trouble. My patience was at an end. First Sloane wanted to pick a fight, now my soldier in training couldn’t be straight with me?
“Spit it out,” I hissed.
His eyes flicked to Sloane and more broken Russian tumbled from his mouth.They also now know who you are, and where she is.
“So?” I responded again in English. “They were bound to find that out sooner or later.”
“But only one person overseas knew that information, and it was not your brother.”
“Roger has been in my family for a long time. He’s like a second father to me. There is no way he would betray me. Not now, not after everything he’s done for me already.”
“Didn’t your brother stab you in the back?” Sloane interjected.
I looked at Roman who ducked his head. Nothing was sacred around here.
“You don’t understand the intricacies of our world,malishka.”
She sat up in my lap. “I’m not a child, Alexie. I understand betrayal just fine. If your own blood was willing to gut you in front of everyone you’ve ever known, who's to say that this Roger character wouldn’t do the same thing.”
Even my captive didn’t believe in loyalty among men. “I’m telling you both Roger wouldn’t do that.” I looked at Roman.
“When was the last time you spoke with him, sir?” Roman pressed.
“It’s been a while, but we have had a lot going on. After he helped me get the Irish on board, he had to go silent.”
“Had to? Or wanted to?” Sloane quipped.
“Your smart mouth isn’t cute at a time like this,malishka.”I leaned forward to nip her ear.
She shook me off. “Look, I know I’m the last person who should be helping you at all, but I think you’re being naive in thinking that this Roger fellow owes you anything. Is he not your father’s man? Is he not working directly with your brother? You’ve been gone a long time and are not there to show the man that you’ve become against all the adversity.”
Roman cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, sir, but I agree with Sloane. He might think of himself as your father, but at the end of the day, his loyalty lies withyourfather, your brother, and the Italians they have an alliance with, which are the same Italians who want you dead.”
He was about to have his twelfth birthday and in his eyes I saw the beginnings of a man. Maybe I shouldn’t brush their findings off so quickly. A leader would get nowhere if they didn’t listen to the sage advice given by their closest confidants.
Sloane went on, uncaring about the turmoil roiling in my gut. “I’ve been affiliated with the bikers for a long time. My own father was probably betrayed by someone close to him, but I could never prove it. They talk about loyalty and blood all the time too.”
“What would you have me do? Cut Roger out of my life for good? He is our inside man who can tell me what is going on with my brother.”
“He will betray you, Alexie,” Sloane said quietly. “I’ve seen it firsthand. The purpose of knowing history is to make sure you don’t repeat it.”
“Was that all?” I asked Roman.
He straightened his suit, then responded in Russian.“I just want to make sure you both are extra careful. She’s in more danger now than she’s ever been.”
It was odd seeing him wearing such an adult outfit. At first glance he wouldn’t be taken seriously. But once you looked into his eyes, you could see that he was incredibly intelligent, and wise beyond his years.
I gave him a tight nod.
Roman departed, and I rubbed soothing circles on Sloane’s back until she sank into me once more.
“See, I can be useful,” she mumbled.
