Page 136 of Scarlet Angel

“Eh, true enough. If I stand a chance of getting that bounty on my head dropped, it’s Dorian. We have history.”

“All right,” Kairi says. “Use one of the lines Sophia gives you. You can count on Moore tracing the call. We’ll run it to Iceland.”

“Brilliant.”

“Do you have his number?”

“Got it memorized in this head of mine, right along with eighties song lyrics.”

Scarlet rubs my back, comforting me. She’s a mite younger. Does she like old eighties tunes? Are they familiar to her? We have so much to learn about each other.

Sophia passes me a handset. The rectangular device connects to a base with a cord.

“Type the number in using the keyboard. I’ll handle connecting the call.”

I do as she says and wait. It takes a minute or two and a lot of clicks and clacks cross the line. I wink at Scarlet as I wait, letting her know there’s no cause for concern. This is a negotiation.

The Moore men are bright ones. They’ll be expecting my call. Or at least, Dorian will. Halston prefers to be a step removed. I’ve not got a good read on the man, and it never bothered me before, as his son is my mate. A lesson for the future. Know everyone with power well.

“This is Moore.”

“Hello, mate.”

“Nick?”

“How many Brits call you in a day?”

“Thank god. You survived. I was concerned.”

“Were you now?”

Silence falls on the line.

“How disappointed are you to learn they won’t be pulling my body from the rubble?”

“I didn’t want this. I’m not responsible, if that’s why you’re calling.”

“Who is?”

“Someone you pissed off.”

“Who?”

“I honestly don’t know.”

“You threatened me.”

“The rules stand, whether we like them or not. That’s what I said. I didn’t plan to wipe you out.”

“The rules? Are you really going on about that?”

“You became a problem. For many, it seems.”

“Rules of the syndicate,” I say, mocking the man who used to be my mate.

“Death solves all problems. No man, no problem.”

“Quoting Stalin now? That’s an interesting philosophical evolution.”

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