every month; funds that supposedly came from the estate of a distant uncle of hers. It wouldn’t have been hard to connect the dots from there.
“It piqued my interest when you spoke to me about needing Gabriel,” Lucian said, showing respect by explaining when he had no obligation to otherwise. “When you bypassed your own men, my curiosity got the better of me. My condolences, Vasily.”
As he glared steadily at Viktor laughing into his cell while standing, alive and well, in the mild summer night, Vasily could barely speak through his stiff jaw. “Thank you. I spoke to Gabriel a few minutes ago, so I’m aware Stefano is causing trouble. Did you have something to add to that?”
“He sent two of his men to Seattle. Gabriel has already dealt with one. Furio Abella could be more difficult to contain.”
Fuck. Impatience was a buzz in his ears. He should have been in Seattle by now. “Furio. Why is that piece of shit doing grunt work?”
“I am wondering that myself. His personal involvement is something I am looking into.” A car horn beeped in the background. “I suggest you return home soon. It is my guess that Gabriel is dragging his feet on doing what he knows must be done where his brother is concerned. Although,” Lucian added, his tone thoughtful, “from what I am learning, he may be spared such a tragic task.”
Gabriel would be spared the task. Vasily would make sure of it. Stefano was targeting his daughter, so it was fully within his rights to deal with the threat. And he would, he vowed with some regret. “It wouldn’t be fair of me to put Gabriel in the position of having to put down his only remaining family.”
“Which would force him into another position he does not want.”
“Boss.”
“Exactly,” Lucian agreed. “But if Gabriel is as smart as I know he is, it is becoming clear to him he is struggling for nothing. That family will not be led by anyone but him. And the sooner he realizes that, the better off we will all be. Oh, and one other thing, Vasily.” His tone dropped to a mildly threatening hum. “Do not dismiss me when I take time out of my schedule to offer you aid. The connection my brother and your nephew have formed between us can be severed with a word. As can many others.” Click.
Vasily slid his phone into his pocket. No matter how powerful a man was in this business—and without conceit, Vasily had to admit he was up there with the best of them—there was always one more powerful. In this case, that would be the elusive Romanian who had just verbally spanked his ass. Even though he was only a few years younger than Vasily, Lucian’s rise to the top had been swift and absolute, and there was no indication that would be changing anytime soon.
“Everything okay?”
Nodding once at Dmitri’s whispered query, Vasily itched to call Gabriel. He wanted a rundown on what was happening from the source. The stilted answers he’d gotten earlier had been nothing but frustrating even while they’d reassured Vasily that Gabriel’s missing report hadn’t been him trying to deceive. He’d admitted to having brought Eva into the fold, and that had saved his ass from…well, Vasily wasn’t sure how he would punish a loved one, but he was just glad he wouldn’t have to.
When Gabriel’s email hadn’t come, Vasily had called his nephew, placing Alekzander in the very uncomfortable position of having to rat out one of his closest friends. After a whole lot of what-the-fuck-do-you-think-I-ams, Alek had given up that their boy was now in full contact with Eva. And he’d stressed, rather uncomfortably, that full contact now meant full contact.
Vasily’s eyes narrowed at the memory. Eva was too young…
His heart squeezed, choking off his breath as her mother’s image slid into his mind. Young was what Kathryn had been when he’d gotten her pregnant. Eighteen years old. And his kitten had given him a daughter. His throat ached as he remembered. God, he’d have given anything to spend his life with them. But his father had had other plans.
Ivan Tarasov had arranged for Vasily to marry a politician’s daughter. The union would have created an alliance damn near impossible to take down. When Vasily had refused, eventually admitting he’d fallen in love with someone, though he’d omitted Eva’s existence until he knew what he was dealing with, Ivan Tarasov had responded with violence, vowing that the reason