Page 105 of Filthy Lies

“And you’re too willing to believe the worst.” She turns back to Sofiya, dipping the cloth in cool water again. “You see threats everywhere, Vince. Even where they don’t exist.”

Before I can respond, my phone vibrates in my pocket.

“I have to take this.” I step into the hallway, closing the door behind me. “Report,” I snap into the phone.

“We’ve got a situation at the Costa Rica site,” Dimitri’s voice is tight with controlled urgency. “Solovyov’s men hit the latest shipment. Three of our guys are dead and there’s about one point two mil of cargo missing.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose as a headache swarms in. “Lock it down. No one in or out. I want identification on every Solovyov operative involved.”

“Already working on it. But Vin—” He hesitates. “This was coordinated with local authorities. Someone’s been feeding them intel.”

“Deal with it to the best of your ability. I’ll check in when I can.”

I end the call and stand motionless in the hall. I want to believe in a world where bad things happen only by accident and then go away just as quickly.

But I don’t.

I don’t believe in that shit at all.

I return to Sofiya’s room, where Rowan is still perched beside the bed. “We need to talk. Now.”

She must hear something in my voice, because she follows me to the corner of the room without argument.

“Solovyovs hit the Costa Rica shipment,” I tell her quietly. “Three of our men are dead.”

Her jaw drops. “When?”

“Two hours ago, according to Dimitri. They had inside information. Local police cooperation.”

Understanding dawns on her face. “You think this is connected to Sofiya’s fever.”

“I think it’s a distraction. Get us focused here, vulnerable to attack there.” I run a hand through my hair. “I need to go to the office. I need to contain this.”

“Go.” Her face hardens with resolve. “I’ll stay with her.”

“I’m leaving six men. Full security protocols remain in place.”

“Fine. But handle the real threat. I can manage the imagined one.”

The barb stings, but I let it go. There’s no time for arguments when real blood has already been spilled.

I kiss Sofiya’s forehead, still too warm beneath my lips. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“We’ll be here.” Rowan’s voice softens slightly. “Do what you need to do.”

I go to inform my head of security on-site about the situation. It’s a quick conversation, but I detour on the way back to stop by Sofiya’s room once more.

I’m at the doorway when I hear a voice. Rowan’s voice, specifically.

She’s talking to Sofi, whispering. “… just that, sometimes, I wonder if your father’s protection is worth the cost.”

I freeze, my hand hovering over the keyboard. She keeps talking, but I can’t hear her voice over the roar of angry, anguished blood in my ears.

Because deep down, behind the walls I’ve built around my heart, I’ve started to wonder the same thing.

39

ROWAN

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