Page 2 of Vengeance

“Everything I’ve got on the Russians.”

“The Russians? But aren’t they neutral? Chalked it up to family infighting and decided to let us tear each other apart?”

“That’s what they say.”

“You know otherwise.”

“Just a hunch.”

Pray’s been keeping it quiet, and I don’t know how the fucking hell Dele knew about it when she mentioned it the last time I saw her, but I’m sure the Russians are going to be very concerned about Pray possibly putting in a bid for president. The fact that he’s a fucking US governor was bad enough. It gave him access to certain things and places that most mob bosses could only dream of having access to. Allowed him to sidestep and get around the law in ways that other criminal families and organization never could unless they have a deal with a politician themselves. But for Pray to gain the fucking presidency… that would be a problem.

Not to mention that it’s not a pipe dream. He’s got the clout, the money, the popularity. Is just conservative enough to appeal to a conservative voting base but progressive enough that those more left leaning will settle for him. He could probably win by a fucking landslide, and it would be a disaster for all the families.

It’s one thing having your own men and militia behind you to deal with your rivals and enemies but a fucking whole other thing to have the god damn Department of Justice potentially in your pocket where all it would take is the stroke of a pen to get the ball rolling on an investigation or to just make people’s lives harder.

It’s clever. But it’s also daring and goes against what limited codes organizations like ours have. Because while we generally bribe politicians and government officials often, it’s a complete conflict of interest to be one of those officials. They let Pray get away with the governorship. There’s no way he can be allowed to get away with a presidency.

I suspect the Russians will be very interested in learning about it.

“Hope your hunch was worth coming out here.”

Eileen walks back toward her car. I almost let her drive away. I almost let her leave without asking anything. But what can I say. Every man has a weakness. Even men like me.

“How’s she doing?”

Without turning around, Eileen says, “I was wondering if you were going to let me get away without asking.”

“So?” I ask, ignoring her teasing. She’s one of the few people I’d ever let get away with it.

“She’s managing as best she can when she’s running a criminal empire and a war.”

Which is to say she’s just fine and right in her element. This is the kind of stuff Dele has been doing since she was a teenager regardless of whose side she was fighting for.

Eileen adds, “I think she misses you. She’s… been under a lot of stress.”

That’s not what Eileen was going to say.

“What’s wrong? Is she okay? Are the twins okay.”

“They’re fine,” Eileen assures calmly. “Her and the children are fine. All of them. Anything you want me to pass on to her?”

I allow Eileen to change the subject for now. I’m not going to get anything out of her right now. I don’t have the time, and Eileen has proven over and over again that I can trust her, even when she has ulterior motives.

“Tell her not to show any weakness. I don’t care how stressed she is or how much she misses me. Sentiment like that gets people killed in times like these because they don’t think clearly.”

“I’ll tell her you said you love her. She said she loves you, by the way.”

“I doubt it.”

“Not in as many words. But that’s what she meant when she said don’t get yourself killed picking off all these damn lieutenants.”

“I don’t need her worrying about me.”

“She loves you, and she’s in a vulnerable state right now. She’s going to regardless.”

I don’t say anything and get in my car to leave. It’s almost dawn and someone is going to be along soon to find this wreck and call the authorities. It’s not until I’m driving away and long gone that it dawns on me what Eileen said.

A vulnerable state?

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