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Sophia tipped her head to the side and considered me. “You want Constantine back, right?”
“Right,” I whispered, the exhale leaving my chest tight. “I just don’t know if doing this will be enough.”
“True, but it’s a start. And if you don’t try, you’ll never know.”
This woman!How did she understand me so well? Looking around her office, I remembered the guards when we’d come in...yeah, she was used to a life in the underworld.
“Can you help me?” I breathed. This was it. I was sealing my fate. I would go after Claude and bring him down or be buried in the process. Either way, it would begin to clear the slate of what my family had done to not just Constantine but society at large.
Sophia nodded. “I’ll get you a pistol and some car keys.” She rose, but then paused. “Talia, do you really think you can do this?”
It was my turn to toss her a questioning look. “Can I do what?”
“Kill your brother.”
My answer was immediate. “Yes. He was nothing like your Viktor, or Constantine and his sister. Viktor has your back and will always be there for you. Claude has never been like that to me. He’s a monster.”
Her face was solemn. “Yes, he is.” She curled her fingers into fists, then beckoned me to follow. “Okay, let’s get you sorted!”
I followed Sophia down a hall. My heart beat rapidly in my chest. I wasn’t nervous about what I had to do. The uncertainty would come with the aftermath.I can’t worry about what Constantine will do to me once he finds out.I had a part to play in this mess, and the cards would fall where they would.
Sophia stopped before a high security panel. Her painted, albeit short, nails tapped on the screen. The door slid back, revealing a well-stocked weapons room. I let out a whistle of appreciation.
“Well, what do you want?” she asked with a smirk, sweeping her hand toward the shelves of goodies.
What did I want? I stopped short. The premise of my plan was simple. It was a good bet that Claude was with his gangster friend, and if he wasn’t, it was likely Frankie could lead me to him. It was also a good bet it was unlikely I could poison my brother. However, that option was too slow with too many variables, which meant this would have to be a physical fight. My bruised side pulsed, a reminder of what Claude could do. I would have to fight smart and use every advantage I had in this altercation, because this would be a fight to the death.
“What are you two doing?” a rich, low voice teased from down the hall.
I squeaked. Viktor might be a large specimen, but damn, he could move with feline silence when the need arose.
“Talia’s going on a mission,” Sophia stated.
“Is she now?” Viktor mused. He prowled closer, smirking at his sister.
“Shouldn’t you be alarmed that the devil’s daughter is looking at weapons with your sister?” I announced.
“First, Sophia could take you; she used to fight bears as a child.” At her brother’s words, a peal of laughter filtered from the soft, rosebud mouth of the computer genius. But Viktor continued, “Second, you’re not here to hurt us.”
I gaped at him. “How can you both trust me so blindly?” I asked, lifting my hands. “My own husband kidnapped me!”
“He only did that because little birds whispered terrible suggestions into his ears, and his judgement was too clouded to see clearly. As to us trusting you, well...I know what it is to be wounded and let an angel heal me.” Viktor’s voice was somber, reverent, completely unlike the teasing tone of before. “I should have listened to my sister the first time, but I won’t make that same mistake again. This is also why I know Constantine needs you.”
All I could do was nod. Something choked in my throat at his words.
“So, that’s settled!” Viktor clapped his meaty hands together and then rubbed them. “Now, what’s the plan?”
“Talia has a good hunch where the devil’s spawn is.” Sophia smiled encouragingly at me.
“Did you send your husband on a wild goose chase?” Viktor’s dark brows drew together. There was an edge in his voice this time.
“No!” I quickly stammered. “The idea struck after he left, I swear it.”
“It’s true,” Sophia agreed.
“I’m going to the ghetto, and I need to be armed and ready to kill. I’ll need a small weapon, easily concealed.” I fisted my hands at my sides, refusing to think about how they would soon pull a gun on my brother. “Your sister found someone I know my brother was close to, someone who my father didn’t care for. It’s as likely a lead as any.”
“Are you able to do what’s necessary?” Viktor narrowed his eyes.
