Page 34 of For the Win
“You’re not the first person to mention that.” Winston. Is that his name? “I need some answers, Ken. Did you know?”
“Did I know what?”
“We’ve had business dealings and I’m aware of your talents,” I start carefully. “I’ve also heard from Seamus about what you’ve been up to for the last decade, specifically with your fiancé’s family. So I’m asking.”
“What wrong do you think I’ve done to you, Michael?” Tanaka’s voice has all the warmth of a frozen lake. “Please, enlighten me. No one else has been holding back lately.”
“Not a wrong.” In fact, if he confirmed it, I’d probably thank him. “And I’m only asking because a few weeks ago, I told you I met someone that night at the pub, someone I couldn’t forget, and I was thinking about finding him before I left town.”
“I remember that conversation, yes.”
Still ice cold. I stretch my neck, trying to work the tension out of my shoulders. “That was all I said, but knowing you, it could have been enough. Win says you’ve known each other for years.He thought he might have been invited here to sing because of the woman who was hurt that night.”
Even though he said it was silly and not really a secret, I still feel a twinge at sharing the confidence. But this is too important.
“I know who Bex is, Michael. She’s one of the most important people in my life and a valued employee. Be specific. What exactly are you asking me?”
A door slams on his end, but I push ahead. “Did you know he was the one I told you about? That Win was the man I’d met?”
“Jesus.” For some reason I imagine him pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “Believe it or not, I’ve had my hands a little too full for the last few months to worry about another needy Demir. Two innocent women were endangered and one badly hurt because I was ruffling the wrong feathers. I ruffled them so much that they decided to go on a fishing expedition.”
“The Russians?” The last time I talked to him he was still waiting for confirmation from some deeper sources.
“They do have their hands in everything lately,” he says without giving me a straight answer. Not that I expect one from him. “I’m not an easy man to fool, but I’ve been distracted. Off my game. And Brady is… It doesn’t matter. I need to take steps to make sure nothing like this happens again. They came after my family.”
“I told you nothing was wrong. You had a feeling, so I stopped in to say hello to Seamus and I didn’t notice anything.” Except for Win.
“And I distracted you with news about your cousin’s recent activities.” He sighs. “There was no way for you to know, Michael. We were looking at a female fan, a local. The evidence was right there… But she was just a plant. I wouldn’t have let Bex anywhere near this if I’d known.”
The Bex Win described today probably wouldn’t appreciate his overprotectiveness. “Why did you? Because of Brady’s cousin? Were you trying to matchmake?”
I saw the two women together and even I noticed the spark there.
“If I was, I failed on that end too.”
Ken didn’t know. He might have brought Win here for his own reasons, but they weren’t to manipulate me for some unknown purpose. “Win says she wanted him to come and spy on you for a change.”
Surprisingly, that made him laugh. “She wantedWinnieto spy on me? He’s not remotely good at subtlety, he talks too much and he’s a horrible liar. She knows that.”
“I’m sure she does,” I say meaningfully. “But she sent him anyway. He says you haven’t been talking. It might mean she’s ready to.”
“I hope so. I miss her, and so does Mr. Gordon.” Ken waits a beat. “And what about you?”
My grip on the phone tightens. “What about me?”
“Are you ready to talk to your brother instead of using Seamus and young Jake as mediators? And if Win is the one you were telling me about, have you told him about your current predicament? Why you left your family’s company?”
He just can’t help himself. “I thought you were too busy to involve yourself in my ‘needy Demir’ business.”
“Yes, well, I’m here and the man I’m in love with is working himself up to breaking things off with me, so…I have some time.”
I hesitate for a moment longer than I mean to. “Do you want to talk about it?”
His chuckle is mirthless. “Sure. It would be good for you to practice your communication skills. You’ve lived like a monk for years. Honestly, I’m not sure you can handle the bundle ofenergy that’s under your roof right now. I could tell you some stories.”
I grit my teeth. “We’re talking about why you think your fiancé is leaving you, not my relationship with Win.”
“It’s a relationship already? Does he know?” When I don’t respond, he swears. “Fine. I’m a meddler and I’ve taken him for granted. Discuss.”
