Page 4 of Savage Assassin

“That sounds like a personal issue.”

“I don’t agree that it’s not our problem at all,” Luca speaks up, his smooth, cultured voice rising above the others. “But I’d agree that we do have to think about our own families in this–the consequences of war with the cartels. I have my children; Viktor has his. Isabella is pregnant again, as is Saoirse. Ana and Liam have their child. There’s hardly a man among us not married or with children of his own to think of, except Jacob, Levin, and a few others.”

Jacob snorts. “I’ll do what the McGregor tells me to, as I’m used to doing,” he says roughly, his accent thickening. “But I’m hardly of a mind to think that I should be riskin’ my neck for the girl just because I have no children of my own to come back to.”

“If we abandon the Santiago cartel,” Viktor says calmly, “we will have broken our word. That matters, gentlemen. Our word will be useless with the cartels going forward–and perhaps for others, too, if they hear about it. Furthermore, if we do send the kind of force that was promised to back up the Santiago cartel, it’s entirely possible that they may be able to beat back Diego Gonzalez. We will benefit, in that case.”

“And what if the Gonzalez cartel is a more likely bet?” one of the Kings calls out from further down the table.

“Diego Gonzalez is not the sort of man that I think most of us wish to ally with,” Luca says calmly. “Now, I understand the reservations. But as several of us have said, we gave our word. I will provide men to go, from my mafia, along with those that the rest of you are willing to offer up.”

“Elena needs to be removed from the situation,” Niall says sharply. “She can’t stay in the middle of what is effectively a war zone, when she’s the prize to be won. We need to get her out of there and to safety. Here, to Boston.”

“Is that you or your lass speaking?”

Niall glares at the King across the table from him. “It’s me that’s fuckin speaking,” he snaps. “I’m not willing to leave the lass there. So we get her out when we send the men. That’s my opinion.”

“I’m inclined to agree.” Liam glances at Connor. “I expect that you’ll have something different to say, brother.”

Connor frowns. “Surprisingly, no. I agree with Niall, as much as it pains me to say it. If Elena is left there, she’s a card that Diego can play. All he has to do is get ahold of her, and he can use that to his advantage. We all know Ricardo Santiago will fold if his daughter is threatened–from experience.” He looks at Niall, who shrugs.

“Aye, and it’s not a negative character trait, in my opinion,” Niall says dryly.

“Well then, who should go?”

The other Kings start to speak up at once, the voices rising in a din of conversation. “Niall!” is called out more than once, and there’s a murmur of assent. “Aye, send him back. If he’s so worried about his wife’s sister, let him rescue the lass.”

“Isabella is pregnant. Luca just said that.”

All of the heads at the table turn towards me as I speak–the first time I’ve spoken up throughout this meeting–purely because it didn’t seem to me that there was much for me to add.

“It’s my opinion,” I say coolly, glancing around the table, “that we do not send a man with a pregnant wife into what the rest of you have termed a ‘war zone.’”

There’s a moment’s silence, and then one of the Kings gestures at me.

“Aye, and are you volunteering to go yourself?”

“I am.”

The words come out before I’m entirely certain that I want to say them, but it’s hardly a surprise–to me or to anyone else. I’m not inclined to take them back.

“Well, that’s not unexpected,” Connor says dryly. “If there were ever a man with a soft spot for damsels in distress, it’s you, Volkov. You’ve already helped save Anastasia and Sasha. Are you going for the trifecta now?”

I refuse to take the bait, though I know he’s doing his damnedest. Connor and I aren’t enemies, but we’re also not the best of friends.

“I’d agree with Jacob that no man should be volunteered for a job like this simply because he doesn’t have a wife and children at home to come back to. An empty bed is still a bed most men would like to live to pass another night in. But I’m saying that, as a man without those things, I’ll go, so another doesn’t have to.”

“Just to be clear, you’re saying that–”

“I’ll go to Mexico, extract Elena, and bring her back here to Boston, where she can be safe and with her sister. Is that clear enough?”

“Viktor, what do you think? It’s your right-hand man who is volunteering himself.” Connor glances at Viktor. “Is this something you find acceptable?”

“I think I can speak for myself.” My tone is icy. “But by all means, run it past Viktor.”

Viktor smirks. “I’m hard-pressed to send a man like you into danger, it’s true,” he says grimly. “But you’re your own man, Levin. I’m not Vladimir, to tell you where to go and what to do, and where your loyalties should lie. If this is something you think you should do–” he gestures, shrugging. “Then I have no doubt you’re the best man for the job.”

“Niall?” Connor glances at him. “You’ll trust Volkov with this task?”

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