Page 129 of Knights Game

“You really have been busy, cousin.” Levi nods from where he stands leaning against the wall. “I have to say I’m impressed, misdirect the Covenant to hit out at the Albanians, break their supplier chain and move in. Clever.”

I ignore him. “So, we carry on as planned”

“What about the Covenant?” Levi asks.

“What about them?”

“They need to be gone, Luca, I understand your plan but keeping them occupied doesn’t get rid of the fuckers.” Levi says, kicking off from the wall.

“Now, I understand Duchess’ reasons, but why do you want them out so bad?” I ask, hands steepled under my chin. He doesn’t say anything but the tension rolling off him is palpable. Definitely something more. “So, deal with it.” I wave my hand at him, let him have his secrets.

Rome will find out. It’s only a matter of time.

“I can’t push the Albanians out, keep the Colombians happy, deal with the Covenant, and stop a war with the Russians, Levi. If you want to change the approach to how we deal with them rather than let them implode naturally then I can’t help you. I can’t fight four fronts.”

“If I deal with it, you can’t piss and moan after,” Levi says. “I will do this my way.”

“You can do whatever you want in the Covenant. Line them all up and fucking shoot them for all I care. Just don’t fuck off the Colombians in the process, we need their product!”

“So be it.” he utters after a moment and walks out.

“What do you think he’ll do?” Rome asks after the door nicks shut.

“I think Duchess is going to kill her father, her uncle and every last breathing member of her family. Levi, well, Levi will pass her the bullets.”

All eyes are on me.

What does he know that I don’t? I glance across at Roman.

“We’re missing something.” He nods. “Dig deeper and will someone please bring me a god damn Russian!”

Fletcher and Jackson leave the office, hell bent on finding me a Russian, and I’ll make them squeal like a pig.

“There’s one thing we haven’t talked about. The care home,” Isla says quietly, and my head whips to her where she at least has the consideration to look apprehensive.

“It could have just been a fall,” Isla says quietly. “He’s old, accidents happen.”

“Then explain Mr White. Explain to me how there is no video evidence of someone even going to visit. Explain to me why all the cameras in the area are out. Explain that to me. I know you all think I’ve lost it when it comes to her, but there is something more going on here,” I snap angrily. “Don’t fucking question me, you all know what you need to be doing, so I suggest you go and fucking do it.”

They all stand, trudging out the office deflated and pissed. But I don’t give two flying fucks.

Everyone that is but Roman.

I reach into my top drawer grabbing a smoke, flipping my zippo and lighting it.

I would rather be with Layla, but knowing she is where I left her this morning fills me with the only peace this life can give me. Roman faces me as I smoke my cigarette.

“Go on then,” I say, stabbing out the remains in my ashtray. “Have at it, give me your assessment.”

“I’m not giving you my assessment, the fact that you’ve just snapped half our heads off tells me that you already know what I’m going to say. So why bother saying it.”

“You think I’m in love with her?”

“I know you’re in love with her, as do you. Which sometimes means we miss things that are in front of us.”

“Which is what? What about today have I missed?”

“Layla’s found something.”

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