Page 58 of Bleed the Shadows
We said our hellos and Rock and Neo joined us around the table.
“How do you like the scallops?” Rock asked.
“They’re incredible,” I said, reaching for another one.
Bram gave me a dirty look.
“What?” I said with my mouth full. “They’re delicious.” I held the plate out for Maeve. “Try one of these.”
She did and nodded her approval. “Really good.”
“See? Maeve went to culinary school,” I explained. I’d never had a chance to brag about Maeve and I was proud to do it now.
Plus, Poe had told me about how Maeve kneed Bram in the balls, and I wasn’t looking to take my cues from someone whose dick was in witness protection.
Rock lifted his eyebrows. “Really? That’s super cool. You should come by sometime and give me some tips for the menu.”
“Judging by those scallops, I don’t think you need any tips,” she said.
“So what’s up?” Neo asked. “Never thought I’d see the day where you need anything from us.”
“We’re looking for information on one of your alumni,” Poe said.
“One of our alumni?” Drago looked confused.
“At Aventine,” Poe said.
“We’re out,” Drago said. “Over a year now.”
“But your parents went there right?” I asked, eyeing something that looked like a mini crab cake.
I loved crab cakes but they were probably fried.
Neo’s face turned stony and I remembered that his dad had been connected to some of the missing girls around Blackwell.
Ouch.
“Yeah,” Rock said. “Aventine has a strong legacy program.”
Bram snorted. He didn’t have to say anything. We all knew the “legacy program” at Aventine was a joke. It was only a “legacy program” for the kids and grandkids of infamous criminals.
The cartels, the Russians, the Irish, the Italians… they were all at Aventine.
Rumor was their hazing was brutal, a series of fucked-up games designed to prove you could handle the real deal.
“Who is it?” Neo asked.
Bram pulled out his phone and turned it around to show Neo the picture of Ethan Todd that Aloha had found online. “It’s not a great picture, but this was what he looked like when he went to Aventine. Went by the name Ethan Petrov.”
Neo shook his head. “Doesn’t ring a bell. Is he Russian?”
Bram shook his head. “Birth name was Borkowski. Changed it when he went to Aventine.”
Neo scowled. “Sounds like he was trying to get in with the Russians.”
Poe held up his phone where a press photo from Ethan Todd filled his screen. “What about this guy?”
“Wait…” Rock peered at the photo. “Isn’t that the manosphere guy?”
