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“So you know?”
“She told us. We’re her family.” The possessiveness in Neil’s voice gave me the urge to punch him. “Returning to my previous question, will you let Devani continue to put herself in danger?”
“No one lets Devani do anything. She won’t stop until the very end if she knew the information I do.”
“What do you think you know?”
I lowered my gun, with only half of my men standing down. The others remained on guard and ready to shoot.
“I know enough that if you saw the list I did, you would put a bullet in your father’s head within seconds of seeing him next.”
Neil gave no reaction outside of the rage whirling inside his irises.
After a few moments, he said, “He’s not my father, but you already knew this. And his time on this earth lasts as long as he is useful.”
“Before we go any further, let me make something clear.” I holstered my firearm and adjusted my coat. “Devani is what matters to me. I don’t give a shit about your mission or your fucking objective. I’m not Solon. However, if you fail to take the Circle of Ten down, my brothers and I will do everything in our power to eliminate them and their network.”
“Why are you after them?”
“Let’s just say they tried to erase the existence of a little boy after his mother’s death.”
“I see. So this runs on the side of elimination versus retribution.”
“You should know, our tactics aren’t instantaneous. Instead, we like to draw things out and make them public. This way, our prey wishes it was pure elimination.”
“Thanks for the warning, King. I plan to take care of them and won’t need you to clean up any mess.”
“Then why ask for my help?”
“It isn’t for me. It’s for Van. Her pregnancy puts her at risk, and she doesn’t even know it.”
“I’m listening.”
“First, I need your agreement.”
“She’s mine. That’s all the answer you need.”
“That’s a bit possessive for a man who walked away from her.”
Instead of giving him any outward indication that his dig struck home, I asked, “Was that a question?”
“In the fifteen years I’ve known her, she’s never let any man twist her up the way you have. Now I believe I’ve figured out what it is about you she finds so irresistible.” He smirked. “You’re both assholes. Like attracts like.”
I almost commented on him being as much of an asshole as me since we were related, but I kept that to myself. I doubted he’d have found any humor in my words, especially knowing the method of his conception and the horrors his mother had endured.
I’d accepted Nik, Kir, and Rey as my brothers without sharing blood. When I’d learned about Jayna, it hadn’t mattered her mom was the one to replace mine. Jayna was still my sister, and not once had I felt anything but compassion for Monica Shah. Through no fault of her own, she’d become a victim of a fucked-up circumstance.
“I am an asshole. I own it. If you want my assistance, I get a favor to call in at a time and place of my choosing.”
“Your assistance will more than likely save the lives of your unborn child and their mother. So I would say it is a net even collaboration.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit. I know what great lengths you go to protect your agents. The multimillion-dollar operation Carter and his European team implemented to save Lilly is proof enough. Meet my terms, and you have a deal.”
“What is it you think I want you to help me do?”
“You want me to follow through with my original plan and destroy Joshi, Shah, and the remaining Circle of Ten. You want me to do it in the most public way possible while keeping your mother and sister squeaky clean. And while I’m doing my part, you will eliminate everyone who fucked with your mother and sister.”
“What makes you believe that’s my goal?”
