Page 94 of Filthy Lies

Silence is the only answer.

I straighten my jacket and return to my seat. “Good. Now, as I was saying, Daniil and Anastasia will remain under my protection. This is not negotiable.”

The rest of the meeting proceeds without incident. When it concludes, the men file out silently, giving Boris a wide berth as he stumbles toward the door, still massaging his throat.

Arkady stays behind until we’re alone. “That was effective,” he observes.

I stare at my hands. “Was it?” I ask. “Or did I just prove I’m exactly what they think I am?”

“You proved you’re not to be fucked with.” Arkady shrugs. “Sometimes, that’s enough.”

But it’s not enough. Not anymore.

I dismiss Arkady and make my way to the nursery where I know I’ll find them.

Rowan stands by the crib, humming softly as she watches Sofiya sleep. The sight punches me in the gut every single time. Today is no exception.

She turns when I enter. “How bad was it?” she asks quietly.

“Bad enough.” I move beside her and gaze down at our daughter. “Boris Barsukovic made the mistake of using you and Sofiya to question my commitment.”

Rowan’s eyes bulge. “Is he still breathing?”

“Barely.”

She studies my face. “You’re troubled.”

“I nearly killed a man in front of the entire council because he mentioned my daughter’s name.” I run a hand through my hair. “That’s not exactly the image of controlled leadership.”

“It’s the image of a father protecting his child.” Her hand finds mine, squeezing once. “And it’s the only language some of these men understand.”

I bring her hand to my lips. “The council wants Daniil and Anastasia gone.”

“And what do you want?”

WhatdoI want? The old Vince would have eliminated the problem immediately. But that Vince died a long time ago.

“I want to protect what’s ours,” I say finally. “But I don’t know if harboring them helps or hurts that goal.”

Rowan turns to face me fully. “They came to us for help, Vince. They trusted us when they had nowhere else to go. That means something.”

“It means they’re desperate.”

“It means we represent something to them.” She touches my cheek, forcing me to look at her. “Hope. Possibility. The chance that maybe, just maybe, we can break this cycle of violence and revenge.”

I scoff. “You sound like a Hallmark card.”

“And you sound like your father.” Her eyes flash with challenge. “Is that who you want to be?”

The barb lands exactly where she intended. I step back, stung.

Sighing, I move to the window and peer out at the security lights cutting through the darkness. My world has always been divided into clear categories: allies and enemies, assets and liabilities, those who live and those who die.

Daniil and Anastasia blur those lines.

Just as Rowan did.

“The old ways aren’t working anymore,” Rowan says, coming to stand beside me. “Maybe it’s time for something new.”

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