The sooner we can get to Corfu and build a damn fortress, the better.
Chapter Twenty-two
Cassie
When there’s a knock at the door accompanied by Konstantin’s voice, I almost faint in relief. The noise from upstairs was indescribable. Who knew how loud this sort of thing was in real life.
Ethan unlocks the door, and I launch myself at Konstantin.
“What took you so long?” I ask. It sounded as if the fighting stopped ages ago.
“Had to clean up,” he says with a look toward Ethan. “Thank you so much,” he tells him.
“No trouble; after all, we’re going to be colleagues soon enough.”
“Is everyone okay?” I ask.
“Marcus, the mercenary working with Brit Intelligence, isn’t. He’s going to need urgent surgery. I want to get to the hospital later. I don’t think he has anyone, and I feel responsible in some ways.”
He hugs me tightly and breathes in my hair. “We’re getting to Corfu as soon as possible,” he says.
“We are? I thought the place wasn’t purchased yet?”
“It’s not. We’re going to stay with Andrius and Violet for a while.”
“Okay. I mean, that sounds nice, but why?”
“There might be another threat.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Ethan grumbles. “It’s never ending.”
“Meeting, kitchen in five minutes.” Konstantin picks me up.
“What are you doing? I can walk.” I push at him with my hands.
“I know, but I like having you in my arms.”
He carries me up the stairs, and I let him, despite thinking it’s a bit over the top. We hit the kitchen and he gently sets me down on one of the stools by the breakfast bar.
He pours an epic number of drinks as the room slowly fills.
When everyone is gathered, Konstantin kisses me on the forehead, sips his drink, and walks to the center of the room.
“It seems there might be another threat. We’re not sure how serious, but Aram mentioned something to me. At the time I thought he might have been playing for time, or trying to find some reason to convince me not to kill him. However, after a conversation with Damen, it seems the Albanians were funding some of Aram’s activity.”
“Fucking Albanians,” Andrius says. “Utterly insane bastards.”
I don’t know what he means, and I must look confused because Bohdan, who is sitting by me, helpfully adds, “The Albanians are the mobsters other mobsters fear. Not because they’re so good, but because they’re so fucking crazy.”
Oh, okay.
“Here’s the thing. I’m getting out still, and faster than initially planned.” Konstantin looks around the room and sighs. “I won’t risk Cassie and Michael’s lives over a turf war I have no interest in. As of Monday, I’m moving to Corfu and staying with Andrius. We’ll start work immediately on the project we have planned. I’m going to make it widely known amongst our kind that I’m out. It will also be made known that I’m building a veritable fucking army with Andrius.”
Andrius grins.
“Vasily, Alexei. You two men have a big decision to make. Andrius has spoken with Allyov, and he’s agreed, grudgingly, to permit you to work with Vasily, Alexei. In return for a big chunk of what little territory I was operating in the UK. Most of my business here has been legitimate for many years, so it’s not a lot, but it will fit nicely into his portfolio, along with what Popov ran. Which, frankly, we’ve handed to Allyov on a silver platter by taking Popov out.”
I’m nervous and excited in equal measure. There’s another threat, which isn’t good. On the upside, Konstantin is getting out of this game, and we’re moving to Corfu. I’d worried that he’d back out at the last moment.
“Vasily, you take on my territory, but there’s a new risk, if the intel on the Albanians is true. However, you’ve got Stamatis covering your back on the West Coast, and you’ve got Ilya willing to discuss a working relationship with you in Russia. You’re not alone, but you can decide to walk away. Leave the scraps to be fought over.”
“No fucking way,” Vasily says.
“Well then, I can tell you where to go for help, where to get men, and spend a week or so giving you the best advice, on Corfu. After that, though, you’re on your own.”
“I understand.” Vasily nods, and he looks almost as if he’s excited about the idea rather than pissed off the way he was at first.
“So, tonight, we go to bed and sleep easy, but always with one eye open.” Andrius raises his glass. “You knock them down,