one.”
I laugh. “What? Ryan no longer leads?”
She frowns. “Ryan stopped leading six years ago. Since you.”
“What?”
“He disappeared the day you broke your leg, Lia. No one knows where he is.”
“Really?”
“We searched everywhere for him and his family even filed a missing person report, but the police couldn’t find a trace of the man.”
Oh.
“So he disappeared after my accident?”
“Yes. At first, we thought he felt guilty, but when we couldn’t reach him, something seemed off. It’s Ryan, after all. He wouldn’t blow a performance, no matter how guilty he felt.”
The arrogant Ryan. The selfish Ryan.
The…Ryan who had a strike with Adrian.
Oh. My. God.
He couldn’t have.
“We have Joel lead now and he’s a darling. He made Hannah shrink her bitch behavior a little. She’s been trying and failing to get to your level. Not to be biased or anything, but you’ll always be my and Phil’s favorite. I know life goes on and all, but it’s simply not the same without you.”
I smile at her, and she goes on and on about how Philippe is making her life hell and how he’s become a grumpy old man.
However, all I can think about is the information she just gave me.
The fact that Ryan disappeared six years ago.
And that my husband is most likely behind it.
14
Adrian
“Stay there, Papa.”
“I will.”
“You don’t have to come inside. I’m a grown-up.”
“You are, Malysh.”
My son grins as his feet dangle from the toilet. I’m in his direct view while remaining outside the stall as he instructed.
“I don’t call Mommy anymore,” he says. “I can do it on my own.”
“That’s a good boy.”
“That’s right. I am. I’m gonna be big as you and protect Mommy when I grow up.”
“And what am I going to do then?”
“It’s okay. You can protect her too.”
Too. As in he’s being benevolent by allowing me into her life. The little rascal is taking after Yan, I swear.
My phone vibrates and I think it’s Kolya, but the very familiar number gives me pause. I do a long sweep of the empty bathroom, then march to the entrance and lock it.
“Where are you, Papa?”
“Right here.” I go back in front of Jeremy’s stall, but keep enough distance so that he doesn’t focus on my phone call.
“Volkov.”
There’s a pause on the other end, the sound of a long stream of water before his signature smooth voice comes through, “Morozov.”
“Did you get the information?”
“No.”
“Then why are you wasting my time?”
I hear a gurgling before Kirill’s strained tone filters through, “This is also important. Hold on…” He switches to English, speaking to someone else. “Hi, I think we understand each other better now. So why don’t you tell me the name?”
Intelligible noises fill his end of the phone before there’s a distinctive plop into water. “Wrong answer, motherfucker.” He goes back to Russian. “So… Where was I?”
“Are you torturing someone, Morozov?”
“Waterboarding, to be more specific. This cunt has something of mine. But that’s not what’s important, Vladimir is.”
“Vladimir?”
“My intel tells me he’s getting close to solving Richard’s murder.”
I tap my finger against my thigh and smile at Jeremy when he grins.
I’ve been keeping Vladimir in the background, considering everything that’s happened. But if he’s been getting close, then I need to deal with this accordingly.
Having Sergei suspect me is the worst thing that could occur at a time like this, especially since I know he’ll demand retribution.
“How about you tell the Pakhan what happened?” Kirill asks ever so casually as more gurgles come from his end. “He’s always been benevolent with you.”
“Is this the only reason you called?”
“The only reason? What’s more important than…I don’t know, your fucking life?”
I’m starting to learn there’s a lot. And in order to protect that, I need to remain safe and sound.
“Get me the information we agreed on.” And with that, I hang up.
Ever since I heard the information Lia gave me about Luca, the fact that he was her childhood neighbor and friend, my men and I have been extensively checking him out. This doesn’t only confirm Kirill’s suspicions, but it also raises mine.
It was never a coincidence. The fact that he’s on her trail and has stayed there for all these years. The fact that he takes risks to meet her. He knows who she is and her relation to Lazlo Luciano.
He can’t be a part of the Lucianos unless he’s plotting a coup against their Don. Everyone knows Lazlo thirsts for his own offspring, but he never left his wife, even when she didn’t give him any children. His clan tries