Page 65 of Body and Soul

My gaze fell on Xavier and Xander. Xavier was focused, despite his bored expression, eyes darting between Warrick and mercenary leader Boone Calhoun. Xander, on the other hand, picked at loose threads on the sling supporting his broken arm, likely unaware of his surroundings. Typical. He had the attention span of a goldfish unless the topic involved material goods, fashion, or sex.

Yet they were my brothers. I’d helped raise them from infancy. I’d changed their diapers, celebrated their first steps, and been there when Xander and Xavier lost their triplet brother, Xion. The night of Xion’s break had been hell for everyone, especially for Xavier. He sobbed, thinking he’d lose both brothers when Xion attacked Xander, leaving him in the hospital. I’d held him, reassured him, and supported Xander through his recovery.

They were my brothers in every sense but one—we shared no blood. That didn’t make it easier to sell out Xion to save Eli and Dani.

It isn’t betrayal, I thought, knowing they'd see it as such. I rationalized what I was about to do, telling myself I had no choice. They’d understand after I explained everything. I hoped.

“Fuck that,” River growled, snapping me from my thoughts. “A hundred fifty thousand dollars to kill one guy? That’s extortion.”

Boone, the redheaded mercenary leader, snorted. “That’s a discount. That one guy has twenty Russian mobsters guarding him—twenty-one guys. At nine thousand a head, I’m technically giving you four heads for free.”

Warrick frowned, his pout more natural than any smile. “Do better,” he demanded.

I didn’t know why they fussed over money. We weren’t broke. I was the only one, besides Annie, who knew the family finances. Despite our frugal lifestyle, we were millionaires—technically. Much of our cash was invested or cycling through various processes to keep it clean enough to avoid IRS scrutiny.

Boone leaned forward with a sneer. “You seem to think the price is negotiable, sweetheart. It ain’t.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. I’d never liked Boone and his flippancy, but we needed him more than Warrick knew.

“Fifty,” Warrick countered.

“Darlin’, don’t insult my talent. I’ll come down to one twenty, but I can’t take a penny less.”

The numbers bounced back and forth while I considered my options. I didn’t like Boone, but he had a role to play. I needed somewhere safe to deposit Xion while I strung Algerone along.

“I’m going to write down an offer,” I said, retrieving a pen and paper. “As long as you don’t read it out loud, and everyone walks away alive, I’ll pay one-third of the base price from my personal funds. The Laskin family will cover another third, and the Volkovs the last third. Half up front, the remainder after.”

I wrote my offer, including a base price of ninety thousand and a bonus of four million. Boone was, after all, a mercenary.

I folded the paper and handed it to Boone before anyone else could see.

His eyes nearly bugged out as he read. “Are you serious?”

“Quite. But the offer is good for thirty seconds, and ten have already passed.”

“Hold on,” my cousin Aleksi cut in. “I have the right to know what I’m agreeing to pay.”

“Thirty,” I said. “Half now, half after the target is dead.”

Warrick frowned and mouthed, “What the hell?”

I mouthed back, “Trust me,” hoping he’d leave it at that.

I knew I had Boone when he tore the paper in half. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Professor.”

As the meeting wrapped up, Boone caught my eye, wanting to question me. Warrick stepped in front of me, demanding, “What the fuck was that? What did you offer him? Why didn’t you run it by me first?”

I don’t know if it was his confrontation or his crowding, but Keres fought his way to the surface. I had to watch as he flashed his teeth at Warrick. “Careful. My claws come out when my back is to the wall.”

War stepped back, eyes wide. “Keres?”

Keres peered at his bare hands, disapproving, but didn’t reach for his gloves. “In the flesh,” he replied.

Warrick swallowed and found his courage. “You can’t make offers without talking to me first. I’m responsible for this family, Keres. I need Shepherd to have my back.”

Keres eyed him, surprised my brother stood up to him. Perhaps Paxton had been good for him. He wouldn’t have shown such a spine before.

What should I tell him?Keres asked.

---