Page 88 of Heritage of Fire

Salvatore lets out a disturbing chuckle that sounds like nails on a chalkboard. “Antonio proved otherwise, Nikolai.” He sighs. “I love my daughter, but she understands this life—despite her young schoolgirl act. She understands. We are fighting several drug cartels in the south and need those weapons. I will not concede my organization to anyone—including my own blood.”

I can’t decide if I’m impressed by his commitment to his organization, or if I want to plunge a knife into his heart—since it’s obvious he doesn’t need one.

“So that’s it? You’ll leave your daughter to be assaulted and eventually murdered? She’s mywife!”

Salvatore looks at me, coldness in his eyes. “I will be more than happy to provide another woman from the Cosa Nostra to uphold my end of the deal. But need I remind you, it wasyouwho breached the contract—failing to keep her safe and guarded at all times.”

I turn to Luka, mouth open and ready to fight, but he discretely shakes his head.

When Salvatore exits the office, I can’t hold it in any longer. “He’s screwed up, right? You’re telling me you wouldn’t do everything in your power to help Kate, even if that meant dissolving the entire brotherhood?”

Luka’s nostrils flare at my mention of Kate. But it’s true—he’d give it all up if only to save her life. He loves her, and I?—

“We are not going to abandon Luna, hence why Kieran is here. I called him last night to explain our situation. The Irish Mob is willing to help since EV has its sights set on opening another chapter in Boston. They’re willing to work with us if we back them—if or when EV becomes a problem in their city.”

“Aye,” Kieran says. “Memen are waiting for instruction, and I come bearing good news.”

“Which would be what?” I ask. “How canyoubring good news?”

“One ofmemen has been asked to sit on the Eight in the Boston chapter. They do not know he’s a Mob man.”

I’m losing patience because I’m not following. In fact, I’m pretty sure my brain is all mush at this point. “What thehelldoes that have to do with Luna?”

Luka chimes in, clearly annoyed at my morose behavior. “Itmeanswe know where Luna is.”

I freeze. “Where?”

“Off the coast of Brooklyn’s port, on a container ship,” Kieran interjects.

“And they just happened to tell your man this, no questions asked?”

“EV operates in groups of eight in every city, but each member of the Eight ties into the organization at a national level. They don’t have one leader like our organizations do. The national EV board is made up of forty men. They decide everything by a majority vote. But their membership grows by hundreds at a time—they’re not a small organization. The Mob has the ability to infiltrate the forty and stay ahead of them. So far, it’s been their policy to stay out of Mafia business and they avoid the drug cartels. They focus on obtaining women for their clients’ desired fetishes. These women aren’t always willing.”

I want to throw up. I don’t doubt they’d use Luna. Anyone in opposition to the Bratva or Cosa Nostra would love to hurt her—to degrade her.

“EV has been on our radar since Senator Hope last year. How are we just now hearing you’re entangled with them as well?” We don’t always talk to Kieran. Sometimes we go years without crossing paths. And even then, Luka mainly deals with him.

“Didn’t gatheryehad any problems until late. It’d be better ifyehad told us sooner.”

I look at Luka. “When can I go?” I’m done talking and ready to attack.

“They’ll expect an answer this afternoon. Salvatore won’t give them his stamp of approval,” Luka says, and I snarl. “So we need to be prepared to extract her as soon as EV is notified that their demands won’t be met. We’ll go in as informed as we can be, but thereisa risk. We don’t know how many men they keep on the ship, or where they’re keeping Luna.”

I nod, and Kieran strides to the door. Looking back, he gives me a wink. “Working together again, lads. It’ll be grand.”

Once the door shuts, I turn to Luka. “Are we seriously going to stay aligned with Salvatore after this show of viciousness toward his own daughter?”

“Nikolai. Salvatore leads his own organization. It’s not for me to decide what he should or should not sacrifice for the Cosa Nostra. And we were the ones who broke the contract.” Luka sighs. “The demands requested seem trivial. EV must have known Salvatore wouldn’t accept. They want the Mafia out of their way in the city.

“I would still go to war for you, Nikolai … youandLuna,” he adds. He stares at me, hands tucked in his pants pockets.

Trust is the cornerstone of our brotherhood, and Luka’s unwavering loyalty to me, and me to him, empowers us.

“I—I feel things for her,” I confide in him. “Things I never thought I’d feel. I didn’t want this, and part of me wants to shove her away from all of it.”

He nods, a hand coming to my shoulder. “I understand. I wish I could protect Kate from it all, but she’s managed to convince me her life would be worse without me in it.” He snorts out a laugh.

“That’s what I’m worried about. I’m pretty sure Lunaknowsher life would be better without me in it.”

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