Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“Russians,” he repeats. “It’s a small group.” He opens his jacket to take out an envelope he has tucked into his breast pocket and sets it on the coffee table. He leans back and crosses his ankle over the opposite knee and sips his coffee. “Malek Lombardi provided this new evidence just this morning.”
“Lombardi?”
He nods.
“What the fuck is he doing?”
Jet shrugs a shoulder. I study my stepbrother. Ever since his mother married my father, he’s been curious about mafia business. Where Severin has made a point of steering very clear of my family, Jet’s not queasy. Not that Severin’s queasy. Money like we have doesn’t go hand in hand with queasy. Severin’s made it very clear he wants his little brother out of this side of things, but thing is, Jet’s not a kid anymore. He’s a grown man and although I don’t include him in Trevino business, given his name, he has contacts I do not and can be valuable. After my shipment was seized, he’s the one who got me Moretti’s name. But I’ll only allow him so far. Jethro and I are not related by blood and at the end of the day, blood matters. We may be stepbrothers, but our two worlds will remain separated. That’s the one thing Severin and I agree on.
After a too long silence, I take the seat across from Jet. I set my coffee down and pick up the envelope to read what’s inside. The Russian group is one I vaguely remember hearing about years ago. They’re not important, not here.
“Malek Lombardi sent them barking up the wrong tree?”
Jet nods. “Maybe he wants the girl back. I heard she had a marriage contract in place that would be politically advantageous.”
“And where did you hear that?” I ask. I’d heard rumors about a marriage contract, but there’s no reason Jet should know.
“Can’t remember. Why did you take her? That’s not how you operate.”
“You know how I operate?” I raise my eyebrows.
He shrugs a shoulder. “I know you. You don’t involve the women. Isn’t that a rule of yours?”
I toss the sheet of paper onto the coffee table and pick up my mug. “What do you know about my rules, Jet?”
“Take it easy, Cassian. I’m on your side. Things just looked a little heated out there and it’s not like you.”
“She’s collateral, that’s all.”
“It didn’t look like that to me.”
“I’ll take care of Allegra. You don’t need to worry about her. In fact, I don’t even want you thinking about her.” I stand up. “What do you want for this?”
He finishes the last of his coffee, sets the mug on the table, stands and buttons his jacket. “What do I want?” he asks, eyebrows raised. “Nothing. It would be bad for Blackstone business if our stepbrother were to be connected with a seized arms shipment, don’t you think?” he asks testily. “Besides, since when do I have to want something to help you out?”
I’m being an asshole. I know. I push a hand through my hair. “Then I’ll thank you for bringing me the information.”
“You’re welcome.” He checks his watch. “Better go. One word of advice. Watch out with her. She’s under your skin. It took me a split second to see it. They’ll see it.”
By they he means her family. Jethro isn’t stupid. I’m sure the same thought that crossed my mind has crossed his. Now that her father is gone, I could expand my territory. Michael isn’t his father and Malek isn’t blood. Any truce we had in place they broke when they tipped off the Feds. Allegra could be the bridge. If I want that.
When I went over there last night, it was not with that in mind. When she walked into that office and I laid eyes on her, that wasn’t my first thought. She may be more useful than I realized at first, but that’s not why I took her.
I see.
I want.
I take.
I am a man. And when I saw Allegra, I wanted her. So, I took her. Simple as that.
I nod to Jet. It’s not that I don’t trust him. Out of the three of them, Sybil, Severin and Jet, he’s the only one I’d come close to trusting. But I wouldn’t give him my back.
Once Jet is gone, I go into my bedroom to find Allegra sitting on the edge of the bed staring at the door. No, glaring at the door.
“I want to see Amal and Daniel,” she demands. “They’ll be worried.”
I pause for a moment, thinking, then walk into the closet to grab my suit jacket. I pull that on and walk back out.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
“Wait. What?”
“Fine, we’ll go see them.”
It’s clear from the furrow between her brows that she’s surprised and suspicious. “Why?”
“You’re concerned for them. Or am I mistaken?”
She narrows her eyes, but stands. I notice she’s wearing the ballet slippers she had on last night. She will need a proper pair of shoes and a coat. It’s freezing out there. The shoes she’ll have to wait on. The coat I can provide.