Page 103 of Truths

“I need your assistance taking out an enemy,” he says.

“What enemy is that?” Jennings asks, his eyes narrowed and glancing at the others.

“The Irish,” Boris says and slides a picture across the table. “I received this.”

Colt looks over and sees Ivan's head in a box. “That really is a head-sized box, isn't it?”

“See?” Psycho says. “And you all acted like I was crazy.”

Jennings rolls his eyes. “What about this?”

“This was sent to me by the Irish. They must pay for this.”

“There must've been a misunderstanding with the shipping,” Psycho says. “This wasn't sent by the Irish. This came from us.”

The older man narrows his eyes. “You killed Ivan? Chopped off his head and sent it to me?”

“Well, no, I didn't do the killing. Not all of it. I did stab him a few times with Eleanor,” Psycho says and looks at the wall with an adoring smile. “But I let the Irish kill him. I chopped off his head to send to you, though. Didn't think we'd see you so soon. My overnight courier is damn good.”

“Why?”

Dax plays the recordings taken from Dimitri, and all of the Drifter men lean back and watch the man's face change with each recording. There has been speculation about whether or not the RIO was working with Ivan, but Colt sincerely doubts this man is even remotely good at acting.

“Ivan put a target on Dimitri's head and played us to help kill him. He didn't start the war, Ivan did,” VP says.

“Then he told O'Malley to kidnap and torture my wife to get to Dimitri,” Colt says.

“My daughter,” VP adds.

“And then Ivan worked with the motherfucker who kidnapped and faked my wife's death. Hurt her when he came to the States as a way of torture for her,” Dax says.

Shrugging, Jennings says, “He planned to overthrow you while working with O'Malley to take over the Irish Mafia. He played everyone like fucking pianos, and this is why he didn't want to help us. He was part of the plan against us the entire time.”

“I see,” Boris says. “This was necessary.”

“So is walking away from the RIO,” Psycho says.

HIs eyes widen. “We have a deal.”

“Your house is a mess, Boris. We're done. We were used as a pawn in a game your man, who you were responsible for, created. I don't like playing games I don't come up with myself.”

“Who will supply you guns?”

“The enemy of our enemy is our friend,” VP quotes.

Clenching his jaw, he glares at them. “The Irish?”

“Correct,” Jennings says. “They're willing to negotiate with us on pricing.”

“You want to take on the RIO?” one of the henchmen asks. “Are you stupid?”

Standing, Psycho walks over and sizes the large man up. “Without the Drifters, the RIO loses half its business. And whenword gets out that your own man fucked with your largest client, you'll lose more business.”

“You may have the Russian Mob at your disposal, but we have the Irish and their affiliate clubs as well as friends south of the border,” Jennings says.

“Which, incidentally,” Psycho says, “you get your drugs from to sell. Diego and I are pretty tight, and when you lose your guns and your income, you're not exactly going to be seen as profitable to them.”

The man glares at him but straightens. “I see your point.”

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