Page 66 of Redemption

“Why?” Sean shifts from amused to wary. “You gonna get me in trouble?”

This time I laugh. “Only if you tell him you told me. He’s not gonna hear it from me.”

There’s a long pause. “You calling because Demid Kunznetsof is dead?”

“Does it matter?” I grit out, already tired of this conversation. The days when I could bark out an order and get a response on the spot with the word ‘sir’ tagged on are over. Should have enjoyed them more.

“I don’t know if I should tell you, man. Things have been weird between you and Hagen for a while.” He takes a deep breath. “Semyon’s got like ten guys with him. You won’t get past his guards.”

“Just tell me where he is,” I pitch my voice low. “I’m out now.” I let the implication fill the phone line for a beat. “You wanna be counted as a friend or an enemy?”

“He’s in Belfast at a hotel. A stopover on the way to Russia. He’s going there to secure Demid’s assets.” The words tumble out of Sean without hesitation. “I’m the middle guy. I’m not worth your time.”

Which is why he couldn’t hold on to the organization once Lorcan and I were gone. Guys at the top have to do whatever it takes to stay there. Someone calls with a threat?Come at me, fucker. ’Course, that only applies when you’re at the top. When you’re scrambling for purchase like me, you have to spend your street cred wisely. Sean is a good investment. Going after Semyon is not. Wish I had a better option.

Sean’s given me enough information to track the Volkov patriarch. I punch the hang-up button with my finger without bothering to say anything else.

“Think he’ll call Semyon?” Lorcan asks with his eyebrows raised.

“The old Sean? The guy loyal to me? Not a chance. But he’s not my man anymore.” I sigh. “At least we got a bit of luck. Semyon is close.”

“A narrow window.” He opens a search engine on his phone. “We’ve got to find his hotel and get to him before he catches his next plane.”

When we arrive at the bar where Carys, Jay, and Kim are waiting for us, Lorcan and I have carved out a plan. A desperate, risky ploy, but we don’t have the time or resources for something more ironclad. If Sean called Semyon, he might already know we’re coming. The request we’re making has to be done in person, or he’ll never listen to a word we have to say. Semyon will be our captive audience.

When I enter the pub, I scan every table and booth for Carys’s blond head. Kim waves to Lorcan near the back, and the two of us walk in tandem to them. Jay glances up from his phone, and there’s a haunted look in his eyes. I expect Carys to have the same expression, but when our gazes meet, she’s full of determination.

“I’m not giving up. Or rolling over. There has to be a way,” she says.

“There is,” I admit. She throws herself into my arms, and I hold her close, breathing her in. She might not appreciate whatever Semyon asks of me in exchange for his protection, but I’ll give him anything—anything—to keep her safe.

Lorcan slips into Carys’s abandoned spot and starts relaying the plan to Kim and Jay in hushed tones. We have to move fast.

“Everyone is already on my private plane, headed in this direction.” Carys glances over her shoulder at Kim. “Her idea, and I didn’t have a better solution.”

“It’s good.” I smooth her hair. “It’s a start.”

“Are you going to tell me?” She peers up at me.

“In the car,” I say. “We gotta go.”

Lorcan kisses Kim’s temple before sliding out of the booth with Jay. They follow us to the vehicle we parked illegally right outside the pub.

We’re no sooner buckled up with Carys wedged between Jay and Kim in the rear when Carys says, “I’m not going to like it, am I?”

“No.” I steer toward the hotel. Lorcan called the high-end establishments close to the airport asking for Semyon Volkov’s room. When a receptionist said, ‘please hold while I connect you’ Lorcan hung up.

“Who does this plan involve?” she asks.

“Semyon,” Lorcan says, ripping off the proverbial Band-Aid. “We’re asking Semyon for help.”

Carys’s gaze meets mine in the mirror, and her amber eyes are clouded with worry. Neither of us will say it, but we understand cornering Semyon is a Hail Mary.

Until the kids are safe, going after Jade like I want to isn’t possible.

The hotel is more American in style than European. The lobby and bar areas are spacious and well lit. None of the elevators groan when a car approaches, which is good because Carys and I are stationed there, making out. Our task is to appear so into each other we can’t keep our hands—and lips—to ourselves. Not hard. Well, something is hard, but it’s not our roles in this deception. Christ, I can’t wait until I can get her alone again.

Behind us at the front desk, Kim is introducing herself to the receptionist. A gift for Semyon Volkov. If there’s one thing Semyon can’t resist, it’s a prostitute. So, we’re sending him one as a ‘welcome’ gift from a rival organization in Russia. It’s plausible, but we’re counting on him to enjoy the ego stroke too much to confirm the present before welcoming Kim into his room.

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