Page 69 of Mob Princess

I lower my hands. Not progress, but at least not a backslide.

“You went to Baltimore last night.”

“Yes. I knew Ewan was there before I left. I didn’t go there to meet with him, and I didn’t.”

“You went to spy on him.”

I don’t answer. She nods. She knows parts of these conversations will be one-sided. She’ll ask things or say things I’ll neither confirm nor deny.

“I hope it was worth it.” She turns to look out the window.

She walks over to it and leans against the window frame, her forehead pressed to the glass. I inch closer, not wanting to talk to her back, not liking her out of my reach, and not enjoying being unable to comfort her.

“Can you tell me why he was there? Obviously, he used the jet. That’s why he didn’t argue when I said I wanted to fly commercial. I wanted to blend in. He wanted to sneak off.”

“I’m in uncharted waters right now, cailín. You’re working for your brother, so I know you’re informed about a lot he does. But I don’t know what you know. I don’t know what I can say that’s safe for you to hear. I won’t lie to you while we talk. But that means I may not answer, or I may stop talking. I don’t trust Ewan with your wellbeing. Not even a little. I don’t want to endanger you by telling you things he’ll punish you for to get to me.”

“I get it. Just tell me why he was seeing Ellie. I know he’s having an affair with her. Piece of shit that they both are. Her husband’s a nice guy and doesn’t deserve it. But she and Ewan deserve each other in spades.”

“I know. I’ve known Ellie for years. I remember back to when they dated in high school. I saw them at events together in college. I know Ewan better than I want to. That’s why it’s a shock that I never heard about you. You said you spent vacations and holidays at Rowan’s.”

“I never went to anything where people outside the family or organization were. Dad said it was to protect me, and maybe it was. But he likely also didn’t want to explain that I’m the result of him trying to get back at his dad and father-in-law. Me being in their home was enough reminder for my stepmom. Fortunately, she never made me feel unwelcome because of my dad’s shit life choices.”

“I never understood them as a couple.”

“It’s not ours to reason why.”

“Do you know Clyde Schlossberg?”

“I know of him. He’s an investment banker from Munich. He’s got some commercial development projects in Boston. He and Dad bought in on some of the same ones. Why?”

“Do you know what kind of relationship he and Ewan have?”

“None as far as I know.”

“You encrypted your brother’s financials. Do you know where the money came from?”

“Not specifically. But I know what he does. It’s not exactly a state secret what our families are into.”

I hate the observation that Ewan and I are even remotely similar, but we are. Far too similar. At least with work. What we do. Not how we do it.

“There are off the books deals where it’s cash only. Nothing gets deposited, but it might get reported internally.”

“I know. There were, but I didn’t ask where the amounts came from. I just hid the information. Was he in Baltimore last night to meet Schlossberg? Is he becoming a silent investor in something down there and doesn’t want anyone to know?”

I walk over to her, but not so close she feels boxed in. She looks over her shoulder at me and holds out her hand. I wrap my arms around her, and she leans her back against my chest. We look out the window together.

“Other people in his organization know. Colt knows.”

“Fuck him.”

Her reaction is visceral and intense.

“They had a deal, but it had nothing to do with any legit projects.”

“Drugs?”

I remain silent. She nods.

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