Page 49 of Sins and Salvation

"How would Maeve know about him?"

"Someone told her." My jaw clenches. "And when I find out who, they're dead."

We pull up two blocks from The Red Star. The neon sign glows red even in daytime, the front windows blacked out. Two burly men guard the entrance.

"How do you want to play this?" Finn asks.

"Front door. No subtlety."

"You sure? You can barely lift your arm."

"I don't need two arms to kill someone."

I approach the guards, not bothering to hide my weapon. They straighten when they see me coming.

"Club's closed," the taller one says, his Russian accent thick.

"I'm here for Maeve Brennan."

Their faces remain blank. "No women here."

"Wrong answer." I press my gun into the first guard's stomach. "Try again."

The second guard reaches for his weapon. Finn steps forward, his own gun already drawn. "Bad idea, friend."

A tense moment passes before the first guard nods. "Inside. Boss is expecting you."

The interior of The Red Star is all red velvet and low lighting, even at midday. The place stinks of stale cigarettes and cheap perfume. A few men sit at the bar, watching us with hard eyes.

Petrov waits at a booth in the back, a drink in hand. No sign of Maeve.

"Donovan." He gestures to the seat across from him. "Join me."

"Where is she?"

"Your woman? She left thirty minutes ago."

I keep my gun trained on him. "If you're lying?—"

"Why would I lie? She came, we talked, she left. Simple business."

"What did she want?"

Petrov smiles, revealing a gold tooth. "To make a deal. For her son's safety." He sips his drink. "A mother's love is touching, no?"

I step closer. "What deal?"

"She offered herself as... what is the word? Mediator. Between me and Cormac." His smile widens. "Smart woman. Knows I need new connections now that Siobhan is, how do you say, out of picture."

"And you agreed?"

"I did not agree to anything. I said I would consider her offer."

Something's wrong. This is too neat, too easy. "Where did she go?"

"She did not say. Home, perhaps?" He shrugs. "Or maybe to collect your boy. Insurance, you understand."

I understand now. "You're using her to get to Conor."

---