Page 79 of Thorns of Deceit
“Apparently, one of the Konstantins—Isla’s brothers—erased all traces of it, but they somehow forgot about the apartment surveillance,” Kingston deadpanned. “You’re the only one who has this footage now. I’ve wiped it from every database, including my own.”
Tyran cleared his throat. “I’m assuming it was Maxim, the dead Konstantin brother, who had their place surveilled? Illias wouldn’t make such a rookie mistake.”
Kingston nodded. “Nobody knew about that surveillance in their apartment, and it continued running after Maxim’s death.”
It was truly a miracle that Illias Konstantin—or any other criminal in the underworld—hadn’t learned about it. Hiring Kingston was definitely the right call, and I owed him big-time.
“How much do I owe you?”
The details didn’t really matter at this point. We just had to make sure nobody ever saw this, and then I could use it to get Raven to come back to me.
Silence stretched and Kingston finally replied, “It’s on the house.”
My brows dipped. “Why?”
He shrugged. “I’d rather not be connected to it, and knowing the sick bastard, I’m sure he deserved it.”
He wasn’t wrong; the head of the Leone family had been a cruel man and everyone in the Omertà breathed easier when his sons took over for him. He should have paid for his sins decades ago. It almost felt wrong to use this information to blackmail Raven. Almost.
I didn’t need my conscience shitting on my parade right now.
“If anyone else tries to dig for information on your wife, they’ll probably connect the dots, Aiden. You might want to get your house in order. Or let the world continue thinking she’s dead. Hell, it’s unbelievable that she managed to stay invisible with such friends and their ties.”
He was right.
I’d heard about those girls in one way or another over the years, but Raven’s name had never come up. Phoenix and Reina Romero were Tomaso Romero’s daughters—practically raised as daughters of the Omertà. Athena Kosta had indirect ties to the Greek mobster Lykos Costello. And then there was Isla, sister to Illias Konstantin, the Bratva Pakhan.
And then there was my wife.
“I’ll protect her,” I rasped, a promise made to myself as much as to anyone else. She was mine to ruin and put back together. Mine to protect.
I sent off a message to Kyran, who took to watching over her today.
Me: Don’t let her out of your sight. I’ll be coming to collect her soon.
Kyran: About time. Babysitting her and her girlfriends makes me want to gouge my eyes out.
Tyran chuckled beside me, his fingers flying across the screen.
Tyran: Stop whining.
Kyran: They got dressed up like fucking clowns and are headed over for Reina Romero’s engagement party.
“Shit, we should be there too,” I grumbled, although it was the last place I wanted to be. But Raven would be there and it might present a perfect opportunity to snatch her.
“What are you going to do?” Tyran questioned. I could feel his inquisitive eyes on me.
“I have a plan,” I announced.
Kingston shook his head. “I’m going to let myself out before you share it.”
Tyran let out a wistful breath. “I wish I had that option, but considering he’s my brother and the head of our family…”
My brother spoke with complete nonchalance, appearing almost bored. Or maybe tense. Sometimes it was hard to tell.
“Good luck, Aiden.” I nodded as Kingston headed out the door.
“I have a feeling I’ll need another drink to stomach this plan,” Tyran muttered as he reached for the drink Kingston poured me, throwing it back before folding himself into a chair.
