an

ear l

IMILI

ith Archambault

n the collared shirt grinned at me and my cousin.

s a shit... He and Mykaela didn't share any other physica

ke he could knock anyone down with a single punch. The way he talked as if we'd already met only

life kind of friend?" Ric

om his seat and flung me a 'Fuck! It's Ste

impatient. Downright paranoid like that immoral, sadis

gh. Although deep and quite intimidating, hi

te shirt. Jeans. No flashy jewelry. Nothing about him overtly said billionaire's son

lanted grin, leaning forward to seem

ont of all these clueless strangers the moment t

e rest," Magnus replied. "But they do

as as corrupt as his father. "You

his entire clan in the clink." Magnus sat up straight and finished his iced drink

k to him

n the co

y genuine curiosity etched cr

ch other most

chill and believably hungry. As though he couldn't care less that sitting in front of h

hat helps paint a clearer picture." Keeping u

e tried to k

y as his eyes turned

't wear a wire, contrary to what that Interpol agent advised, but my gun on my hip might come in handy. The

his father. Ilya's crimes, business plans, and the sick, twist

en mention Ilya's whereabout

d I contin

ounded quite sincere. "Ilya's not one to say sorr

, I eyed him when Ricc

t it. Did Magnus find out about Ricchar's attempts? That for weeks, he manipulated and paid one

d his throat. "Your friend'

wo made a deal?" Ma

Leandro help run the trafficking ring," Ricchar answer

cousin never mentioned we'd fly all the way out here just to willingly divulge ou

blanket immunity?" Magnus pulled a face,

tify agai

sinis and

ig names on th

or whatever it's worth, I think it's great. That you're bo

ething about it." Ricchar g

doing, if

"She's with her family.

atulat

ank

rk-haired wife from afar. Evonne looked busy with her phone a few tables away. "My wife can

d his wine glass. "When's the last tim

k on his deathbed, but, his hea

h this stupidly heavy fork, pretending I

s world didn't need anothe

's life. Why a filthy rich Russian mob boss would suddenly take an interest in his

Ricchar

is oldest doctor suggests it coul

a casual nod. "So, Ilya married a Russ

s an unwanted accide

turned restless under the table. I eyed the guy sitting ac

Did he really just apologize for his father's crimes? He must

he looked away. "What do

bbed the blueberry cake slice on his plate. "I guess he just wants to introduce

ly grew a conscience?" I almost

agnus squinted at me. "Do you know

sin

d Ilya? Relate

s he talk

ou kid

d some real digging when I paid them to find out what really went

gain?" Ricchar

e Blac

er hacker like Nicco? "What're you

n turned amus

agnus said with another feigned grin. "They're de

andmo

s what the r

in the war?" Ricchar asked, scowling

r, the Mihajlovićs found

e at birth shortly before her mot

roned on. "Then she met Ilya's grandfather. Decades late

ter the awkward silence. "

eed." Magnus shrugged coolly. Didn't eve

ded like utter horseshit. If so, his real angle was another mindfuck we should figure out s

were somehow related by blood, which resulted in

siness Ilya and his clan of smugglers way back, just

his a secret from me? Fucking traitor. Or,

s friend?

ing on his empty plate, mumbling his words. "Stefano proposed the port deal

ahead in the game. Probably

ry shipment. So, Ilya broke off the deal. Warned Stefano t

all this?" Ri

rt with the fork that looked too small for his hand. "

s Nicco to do s

co tell you?" Magnus budged

other greedy, manipulative asshole." I star

en blackmail us. Then again, I'd have done the same if Ilya threaten

und out that his long-lost only daughter finally resurfaced, and is living

t's happening is my fault?" I could hurl this wine bottle at him any second now, and m

" Ricchar muttered, grinning be

, and I never said anything was your

hat wanted to shoot him dead right here, right now, in

living with you, Ilya was convinced S

n?" Ricchar sat back and shrugged. "

lems are making him more sentime

Niccolo still existed, it seemed. Not a single attempt to

s. It was Ilya's goal right from the start of this shitty mess-this deadly web of secrets, deceit and betrayal

ggested nonchalantly. "In New York or wherever she prefers. If she agrees to go back to Belgrade

dn't help me calm down one bit. Did he mean if I didn't talk her into it soon, Ilya would resort to

, I don't think she wants to see your father a

ing to do with him." I glared at the man smirking at us

ng time, you should provide plenty of clear audio or video recordings of Stefano talking about his deals with the Tom

d, as though seriously

him." Magnus smiled lopsidedly. "I guarantee Interpol

smug grin on his face definitely testin

uirked into another smirk. "Some have private

•

ent: M

pl

out in the long run so

•

nitely stupider in my head than when I

ped on 'Send'. I looked out the window, the gloomy su

nse from her. A short reply. Or a lengthy, g

. I shouldn't have kept her hoping for more, letting her

, I kept stringing her along. Lying and keeping all kinds of

s of her heart. After everything I put her through, I d

you h

r mode. Not that Alessio would mind or eavesdrop. My bodyguard knew bette

Is she

ions with a vague, h

lf?" Kel's tone remained s

ld me to come over. Pappa's

ssi

texts. Even Nicco ca

ything, probably too

overdrive. Pappa could've said or done something that made my mother panic and think

ffiliated scumbags could ruin our plans. I had to talk to Mamma about ou

to their

Concern loudened

le

Nicco and

o had too much dirt on Ilya and his Russian crime family. Niccolo wouldn't make it to his

d better keep that murderous piece of shit out of her contacts list until his natural death. Or until

muttered. "H

cking k

the number and bought

oo

e, uh, the text

now? "Yeah. About that..." I sighed, my voice probably e

Mykaela sighed. "

about it for

nd

like an incredibly selfish, noncommittal prick? "I don't w

out a sigh, confusion and worry thinning her

her half-brother for the first time. Cutting a deal with the guy from Inte

s with the Tomassinis unscathed. Or with just a slap on the wrist. Ilya's hitmen might just murd

y shit fucking up my life from every angle. Not really her problem. I wasn't that sel

ed through

hy're

ned. "I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, and, I still gotta sort myself ou

I hoped she'd view me in that light. Once or twice, sure. My imagination went th

worthy. More successful. Someone with much less baggage and a non-to

d and fuckin' dramatic, but..." I faked a quick laugh.

ut

the best

wasn'

risk it

not even g

asn't even making an e

it

everything to make this mess of a long-distance relationship work. And without compromi

he right time. O

s that ev

to be more than this." Because we were blood

ird one, at that. Or a case of mistaken ident

ut. We didn't even suspect a thing. If somebody told me abou

n in her louder voice wrung my chest. "Di

er bunch of excuses. More believable excuses. "I just need to figure

enc

. Of course she wouldn't give me the answ

e what

it together soon and fast. Therapy, rehab..." I'd ne

. But we could... I could still see yo

to work out. It's just n

no re

r into, I didn't deserve any more of her time and understanding. "I love you, but I can't promise you anything. 'Cause I know, in the end

fell sile

rry

barely ma

ted my teeth. Now she definitely wanted to hang up and block my numbers, whil

ou rea

aela

rry if you don't