Page 59 of Vegas Daddies

Besides, what would Peter need con-experts for anyway?

All I see standing in front of me is a widower and a father worried about the safety of his daughter.

“Law?”

“They want you dead.”

His eyes widen. “Who?”

“The Bratva. Listen.” I let out a huff of air. “I know you think you’ve got it under control, but these things have consequences.”

I mean, did it not fucking occur to the guy that the Bratva would find out?

“I know this doesn’t solve anything, but you shouldn’t have publicized the campaign.”

Peter’s anxious eyes search mine. “I don’t understand. Why have they taken my daughter? This has nothing to do with her. It’s about me and the campaign.”

“She’s your prized possession. You’ll do anything to protect her, and they know this.” I grit my teeth. “I’m afraid they haven’t left you much choice.”

“I can’t go back on my word. They’ve done too much. They’re too dangerous.”

“I know,” I say. “But they’re about to be evenmoredangerous.” I halt for a moment to think. The situation is time sensitive. “I think you need to make the announcement.”

“Can’t you help me? You and the boys?”

Aha! Step one of Brander’s plan.

Except it’s Alice’s life on the line, not Peter’s.

“Yeah, we can help, but I think you should still make the announcement. We might save Alice, but her safety can’t be promised for the rest of her life.”

“I could lie.”

I narrow my eyes. Rookie fucking mistake. “Lie? What do you mean?”

“Make the announcement but still go ahead with my plan.”

“And how will you do that?”

“My team will still meet to?—”

“Your team? No. Absolutely not.”

“What do you?—?”

“Lies always find their way back to the Russians. You know Brander, my buddy?”

Peter gives a curt nod.

“He used to have friends that wove in and out of their networks. Trust me on this. Double-crossing them never works out. Nobody ever lives to see the day.”

A small “I know” comes out of his mouth.

I deepen my frown. “What do you mean?”

He dips his head.

“Peter?”

---