Page 80 of Gilded Saint

“Would get too suspicious. Plus, the paper trail at this stage is too complicated for the international courts.”

“So, your goal is to have the Russians eliminate Massimo in the hopes he’s replaced by a more capable leader?”

“Tensions are high. Putin’s patience is thin. If the Russian cartel steps in to eliminate Massimo, the world will assume Putin taught a lesson. Any of those ships represents a tidy sum. But you’re the arms expert. Which one is going to piss Putin off the most when it doesn’t come to Papa?”

I flick between the pages. “Any of these ships could blow away a small country.” I glance up. “Chemical warfare? Is this real?”

The door opens, and Lina steps in wearing a silky floor length nightgown. “Is it true?”

“Lina, when the door’s closed, knock.”

“Oh, my god. Like I care if the two of you get blitzed. Freya said we have guests. Plural. Is Willow here?”

“She’s sleeping,” I answer.

Lina claps her hands. “Finally. Guests. I’ve been bored out of my mind.” She drops into the seat across from me.

Nick pushes up and grabs his sister by the arm. “Out you go.”

“Piss off.”

“Lina, you are trying my patience.”

“I am always trying your bloody patience.”

“Precisely my point.” He hovers over her.

“Did you know we lost Internet. Again?”

“We didn’t lose Internet, Lina.”

“Yes, we did. I was in the middle of streaming a movie, and tits up.”

“Fuck, Lina,” he grumbles. “I’m going to go fix her goddamn television. Look over that list, and let’s discuss when I’m back.”

“What list?” Lina asks as Nick shoves her out of the room.

“Contrary to what you believe, Leo and I work. It’s a new concept. One you should contemplate.”

The door clicks closed. I listen to the steps moving farther away and scan the room. Nick’s office is a camera-free zone, unless he’s lied to me over the years. No time like the present to discover the truth.

I whip out my mobile. It’s not a burner, but I’ll switch out the card. I snap photos of each list.

Nick wants to take out one of these ships. But we need to take them all out.

Chapter27

Willow

The morning light peeks around the sides of the drapes, lighting an otherwise dark, damp room. I shift, moving the comforter over my shoulder, and let a leg wander closer to Leo.

He’s asleep on his stomach, with one arm cast in my direction. He woke me a couple of times, tossing and turning.

Last night he came to bed late, and I can only presume it has to do with what happened with Leandro. I asked him if all was okay, and he said yes and for me to go to sleep. I snuggled into him, but he didn’t try anything. Last night marked the first time we slept together and didn’t have sex.

I’m not sure what I’ve brought him into. I thought the marriage would end all risks, but—yet again—it appears I’ve been naive. Ultimately, my father gave my hand to Leo. What Leandro did, arriving at our flat intending to take me, was psychotic. Going after Lina so he could assess where Leo and I were living, absolutely obsessive. But now, where does it end?

Is the syndicate now at war with the Lupi Grigi? He said we’re safest here, at Nick’s estate. Does he worry his flat in London, forty-one floors in the sky, isn’t safe enough when we’re being hunted? Is Massimo after us? Or just me? I could turn myself in. Leandro is dead. If I turn myself in, would Massimo be appeased? Would he leave Leo alone? Is he taking his anger out on my family?

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