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“What bar?” Conor snarls.
“The Black Bear.”
“Never heard of it,” Shane says.
“It’s in Newark. It got closed by the cops last week.”
“Convenient,” Liam snorts.
“It’s true,” Hayden adds.
“So you never asked this guy’s name?” Shane asks.
“No. He didn’t seem like the type of guy who appreciated me asking questions about who he was. I was happy not to know.”
“And you think we do look like the kind of guys who appreciate complete strangers turning up at our place of business and asking questions about dead Russians?” Conor barks and Hayden jumps in his chair.
“No.” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Is she really dead?” he whispers.
“She no longer exists,” Shane answers, “so it seems you’ve had a wasted journey.”
Hayden swallows hard and I’m sure I see tears in his eyes. “I understand. I’m sorry I took up your time.” He pushes himself up from his chair.
Mikey places a large hand on his shoulder and pushes him straight back down. “Nobody said you could leave, fuck-face,” he snarls.
Hayden visibly trembles as he looks between Shane, Conor and me.
“If we let you leave here,” Shane says, his fiery green eyes narrowed and fixed on Hayden, “we expect you never to come around here asking questions again. You got that?”
Hayden nods furiously. “Yes, Sir.”
“Let him up,” Shane inclines his head to Mikey who takes his hand from Hayden’s shoulder before escorting Hayden from the room.
As soon as Mikey is back inside and he closes the door I let out a long, deep breath that I feel like I’ve been holding in for the past five minutes.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Shane asks as he takes my hand and squeezes it in his.
“Yeah,” I breathe. “You think he was for real?”
“No,” Liam replies and his brothers turn and glare at him but he shrugs. “Just some loser looking for some easy money.”
“Maybe he was telling the truth though?” I suggest. “It’s perfectly plausible that Alexei had another child he didn’t know about.”
“You’re saying you believe that guy, Red?” Mikey asks.
“I’m saying it wouldn’t hurt to look into him a little more and see what his story is – whether he’s genuine or not.”
“I agree. Then we can find out who the asshole was who gave him your former name too. Because I’m going to cut out his fucking tongue,” Shane snarls.
“Now that I can get behind,” Mikey agrees.
“Hmm. Now if only we knew a super-hacker who could get her hands on that kind of information,” Shane chuckles before he stands and plants a soft kiss on my forehead.
“I’ll make a start as soon as I’ve helped Conor with the books.” I smile up at him and he winks at me before bending his head until his lips are grazing my ear. “Don’t be too long, I miss you working in my office with me.”
“I won’t.”
“We should all get back to work,” he adds as he looks at his younger brothers.
