to stay quiet,” Konstantin answered, not shielding any information.
Danika tucked her legs under her. “Strange,” she muttered. “Though Lefebvre has never been one to react quickly.”
How did she know that? From overhearing snippets of conversations throughout the years, I knew that Lefebvre was the leader of a Corsican Union located around North Dakota and Minnesota. I didn’t know any of his character traits. I had never been privy to those.
Why was Danika?
“Indeed,” Konstantin agreed. His light brown eyes focused on me. “Did your husband mention anything?”
“No. I only knew Eithne McDermott was dead because of the newspaper.” I picked at Tatiana’s medical files in my lap. “Thaddeo never shared much about his work with me.”
Roman huffed. “I told you that.”
I wasn’t sure who he was addressing until Konstantin nodded, “You did.”
Obviously, they had been discussing me behind closed doors. I was, technically, a security threat. But still knowing they had been deciphering how much knowledge I had on the Falcone organization annoyed me. I felt like telling them I knew a lot more than they thought but kept my mouth shut.
“Is that all?” I asked. “I have things to do.”
Roman stepped forward, ready to say something, but Konstantin held up a hand. Immediately, his pit bull returned to his post.
I gave him a poisonous smile.
Roman bared his teeth in response.
“You’re all excused. Danika, if I might have a word…”
As I left, I looked down at the medical files and thought, what the fuck am I meant to do now?
7
Konstantin Tarkhanov
Deep cavernous holes disrupted the once picture-perfect garden of the Falcone property. My men spread the land, shovels in hand dripping with sweat as time wore on.
“We’re running out of places to search,” I said.
Beside me, Feodor Rodzyanko nodded. “Falcone might have been smarter than we think.” He laughed as soon as the words left his mouth. “Ha! I doubt it. We haven’t checked the land beneath the greenhouse yet.”
“That greenhouse has stood for many decades. We would be able to tell if Thaddeo had disrupted it.” I scanned the holes, as though amongst the dirt and roots I might be able to spot the treasure I sought.
“Have you asked his pretty widow yet?” Feodor asked. “Women like to listen in on conversations. I’m sure she knows something.”
Thaddeo’s pretty widow did know something. In fact, Elena’s reaction when I had mentioned it to her had shown me not only that she knew of the key but had seen it. Her lie had been subtle, barely noticeable if you hadn’t been searching for it, but behind her dark green eyes there had been a flicker of familiarity... A flicker of fear.
“She does,” I said.
He snapped his head to me. “Well?” he prompted. “Does she know where it is?”
“Elena denied knowing anything about it.” I looked to the Falcone manor, where Elena had lived for nearly a year. Was there proof she had made a home there? Or was it just as cold and perfect as the garden?
“Did you get your little interrogator to ask her?”
I smiled at his description of Danika. Little Interrogator was one of the more patronizing names the older men had given her over the years. It bothered Roman a lot more than it bothered Dani; she always laughed at the title.
To Feodor’s credit, it was quite accurate. Danika wasn’t very tall, and she was one of the best interrogators in the world.
The only person who had ever been immune to her charms and intelligence had been Roman. Perhaps it had been growing up on the streets that had made him harder to break than the average soul, or maybe his attitude meant Danika never wanted to get close enough to actually try and dissect information from him.
Whatever the reason, the two often found themselves on opposing sides. Fighting like little children on the playground.
“Danika,” I said, “has barely started interrogating Elena. So far, she has deciphered the marriage and Elena’s relationship with the Falcones. Anything else will take time. Elena’s not very forthcoming.”
Disregarding his stereotypical views on women, Feodor did have a point. Danika had never failed once, and with time, it was guaranteed Elena would end up sharing a piece of information that would be vital.
“We shall see,” I replied.
A strange part of me hoped she didn’t succumb to Danika, that she kept her secrets locked up tight. Despite that not benefitting me or my Bratva at all.