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“Twenty dead, dozens injured. The Feds are calling it an act of terror. So far, no finger pointing but it’s only a matter of time.”
“That was a risk Zakaryan took, not me. I used another identity when booking the passage. We shall see if the Feds can weed through the dockets finding anything leading them to this organization.”
His eyes twinkled. “Excellent. You’re very cunning.”
I took a sip of my drink. “Yes. Cunning indeed. Find a location for a strike. Continue to monitor Elena.”
“Oh, I think you know I will.”
His affection for my sister was understandable. It was also growing. That could become a problem within the family as my father was determined to marry her off to gain more power. A truly barbaric activity.
“There will be a family meeting tomorrow. Then I’ll finalize plans on how to handle Zakaryan. Make certain you glean as much information from the informants as possible. I want to know if there is a single incident of unusual activity.”
“I’ll keep you informed. What about your guest?”
I shifted my gaze to my open office door, my chest tightening. Seeing her so vulnerable, all the fire ripped away because of decisions I’d made in my life had taken a significant toll, one I wouldn’t admit to anyone. It was brutal enough to realize the beast in me could care about someone again.
The electricity had sparked as always, but her determination to destroy me was evident in her eyes. That would make for a tumultuous few days. “To be determined.”
“Are you planning on going to Miami?”
“Potentially, but first and foremost, we handle the necessary business here.”
“Understood. I’ll call you if anything comes up.” I sensed his hesitation in leaving, as if he’d planned on offering up some advice on relationships. No one in our world was good at that, including the members of the Brotherhood. The women they loved, the families they’d created would always be in harm’s way. There was no amount of security, no systems that could be set in stone to stop what was usually inevitable.
Heartache and devastation.
The monster in me wanted no part of it but the man wasn’t listening.
With the ticking of time parading in front of me, the need to possess her grew stronger. She’d called herself a fool for daring to allow me into her life. Maybe I was the chump to have believed I could easily toss her aside.
He thought better of interrupting my train of thought, leaving without saying another word. Fortunately, I knew I could count on him to provide what I needed. I pulled my phone from my pocket, searching for Maxim’s number. At least he could get a handle on whether Zakaryan had hired mercenaries or sent soldiers to the southern city. I knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t mind crushing a few in the process.
The savage Russian did enjoy violence.
He answered on the second ring, the private number given to a select few. “The Greek. I had a feeling you’d be calling me.”
“Constantine gave you a heads up.”
“Yes, as he so enjoys doing as leader of our illustrious organization.” He was more jovial than usual, a trait only discovered after his change of heart regarding women. While I wouldn’t call him going soft, the rough edges had been smoothed out with the woman’s love.
I was heading down the rabbit hole again, thinking of Whitney as anything but an end to a means. “Any sign of activity in your part of the world?”
“There’s always activity, Phoenix. Miami is ripe with snakes, but nothing more unusual than any other day. What specifically are you looking for?”
“I need an address searched. Is that possible?”
“All things are possible for the right amount of money.” He laughed, another change in his hard demeanor. “I owe you a favor. What are my men looking for?”
“A package sent from California.”
“Easy enough. And if it’s found?”
Snickering, I moved toward the window, staring out at the pool. As Whitney walked outside in bare feet, clutching sandals in her fingers, my breath was suddenly captured, taken to a tomb. The woman always took my breath away. “Bring it with you to the party in a few days.”
“Ah, yes. The quarterly meeting. You trust me with the information?”
“I trust no one. You’re a smart man, more intelligent than most. You know exactly what I’ll do if you betray me.”
