Page 75 of Killer Love

“And I have no reason to trust you, Mr. Fitzpatrick.”

“I don’t blame you for doubting me. I would, too, in your shoes, but Snake Eyes stole my life out from under me. I never wanted to be a part of this at all.”

“You say you were recruited?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“I was a sniper in the U.S. Army, stationed in Afghanistan,” he says. “My team stumbled upon an operation of theirs and — long story short — I killed two of their agents.”

“And they didn’t retaliate?”

“Snake Eyes values talent more than vengeance,” he says. “Either I worked for them or no one at all, so… I joined up and I waited for the right opportunity to present itself.”

“Why choose this one?” my father asks.

Fox gives him a look of respect. “Your family’s history with Snake Eyes is well-known within the organization, Mr. Lutrova. I knew you’d benefit from it the most.”

“And if not?” he asks, crossing his arms. “What if my sons had said no?”

Fox tilts his head. “Then, I would have done my job and waited for the next opportunity.”

It’s honest. Almost too honest.

Yuri stiffens in his chair and we both wait on needles, staring straight up into my father’s hard, unblinking eyes.

Finally, he nods. “You’re a brave man, Mr. Fitzpatrick.”

“There is no bravery in what I’ve done.”

“What do you call it?”

“Selfishness.”

“You spared my sons and helped rescue my grandson and his mother,” my father says. “You have an odd definition of selfishness.”

Fox doesn’t reply.

Finally, my father looks at me. I expected it to take far longer than one night before he referred to Lucian as his grandson. Either the man’s grown soft in his old age or my mother’s just that good.

“Sofia,” he says.

“What about her?” I ask.

“Is she okay?”

“She will be.”

“You plan on keeping her, then?”

“I wouldn’t phrase it that way, but yes.”

He takes a deep breath. “Luka…”

“He killed Rosalie in front of her,” I say, barely keeping my calm. “Sofia was covered in her blood. She had bruises on her face. You saw it yourself. I won’t send her back to that.”

“She is his wife.”

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