Page 39 of Silenced

Me: One night in Minsk over a decade ago doesn’t mean you’re the ‘Mute whisperer.’

Troy: You can trust me.

Me: I’d be a fool to.

Me: But nyet, your father is unaware of his nephew’s current location.

Me: I doubt you’ll loop him into that intel...

Troy: You’re right. I won’t.

I already knew she liked me, but that’s just confirmation from the horse’s mouth.

Me: Want me to make it hurt if I DO dispose of Marku?

Troy: Please. And… if you do, I’ll owe you.

Me: You owe me nothing.

Troy: NO. I would owe you, Nikolai. It’s a token freely offered. Understood?

I understand that she’s not telling me the whole truth if she’s offering me a token, but I’m not going to turn it down twice.

Me: Fine.

With that, I switch back to the conversation with Boris.

Me: Do the Albanians know we’re involved?

Boris: Nyet. Not at all.

Me: You’re sure?

Boris: 100%. I’m in one of their strip joints listening to Kadare bitch about Marku being ‘incapable’ of doing the simplest of tasks.

Me: So, no love lost?

Boris: No, Pakhan. Definitely not.

Me: Stick to him.

Boris: Da. Of course.

Scratching a hand over my stubbled jaw, I return to my chat with Troy, aware that I missed something in that conversation.

For her to offer me a token…

Scanning the chat, I piecesomethingtogether.

Me: Igor, how powerful is Kadare?

It takes a few minutes for the foot soldier I sent on a reconnaissance mission to Kentucky last year to reply.

Igor: He’s a thorn in Çela’s side. Has the loyalty of his men and earns the Albanians a fortune.

Me: Is he related to Çela?

Igor: No, he’s one of the few Komandants who isn’t.

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