10. Kerry
Kerry
Itake a deep breath before I open the door to my office.
A sacred space for me, one of the two places in this house where I actually spend time.
The rest of the house is all just for show.
Amy’s reaction to it still makes me chuckle.
She obviously noticed how cold and lifeless the place is, it’s not like I really try to hide it.
But she tried to be polite anyway, and I can’t help but adore her for it.
I tamper down my humor and switch my mindset to business as I enter my office.
Sitting in one of the leather seats for guests is what I can only call a refined gentleman.
Pressed blue suit, black hair perfectly trimmed and arranged, a glimmering silver watch on his wrist, shiny leather oxfords on his feet. I know, without a doubt, who this is.
A feckin’ Englishman. But, he’s part of the Nameless, so I can’t just shoot him on principle, sadly.
“Kensington, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure.”
The man stands and turns with a calmness that tells me he knew I was there. Considering he’s a hitman for the Nameless, I’m not surprised in the slightest.
There’s streaks of silver on the sides of his black hair, giving him an old money appearance.
“Ah. Alasdair. Yes, we’ve communicated before but never actually met in person.
” He holds his hand out for me to shake, which I accept.
“I heard you’ve been having some issues as of late. I’m sorry to hear that.”
The back of my neck prickles with the need to tell him to feck off and mind his own business, but I know he’s here to help, so I resist the urge. “You’ve helped everyone in the Nameless countless times, one way or another. I’m happy to return the favor however I can.”
The man knows how to disarm and charm, I have to give the fecking Englishman that. He makes it sound like I’m simply receiving what’s owed to me, not that he’s doing me any favors or being charitable. He’s soothing my defensiveness. I don’t like it.
“I appreciate your help,” I force myself to say and gesture to the chair he was sitting in earlier.
“Please, have a seat. Let’s talk.” I round my desk and sit behind it, facing Kensington.
Air rushes into my lungs as I take a deep breath, reminding myself that this is my office, my home, my issues.
I’m the one in control here. I steeple my fingers together and lean back.
“You arrived faster than I could’ve thought.
I just contacted De Matteis before my flight here. There’s a few…situations at hand.”
Kensington crosses his legs, looking like he’s having drinks after work more than mulling over any sort of life or death matters.
Yet, I know he’ll uphold his side of the deal and get shit done.
“Yes, well, you know how serious we take these matters. I was in England, so it was a much shorter flight for me. I believe the matters we have to discuss are Lily Morin and then Lorenzo De Matteis, yes?”
I let my hands drop to my lap and lean forward, eyes narrowed. “That’s correct. Does it look like they’re connected?”
Kensington stares up at the paneled ceiling of my office, contemplating my question. I know he’s taking a moment to formulate his words to present them to me carefully. “Possibly. It seems…complicated.”
I arch a brow, waiting for him to continue.
He inhales for a moment. “You know, we English usually have a drink in hand for discussions like this.”
“Well, I’m not feckin’ English, am I?” I say gruffly. Not that the Irish don’t love any excuse to drink, but I wasn’t inclined to give him one just because of his English sensibilities.
Kensington laughs, the bastard. “No, you certainly are not. Very well. No drink, then. As I said, it’s complicated.
I will start with this: you were correct to believe Lily Morin has mafia connections that come from her paternal family line.
Her father is a low-level grunt in Russia, coming from a long line of crime lords there.
In fact, he worked as his father’s enforcer and helped him rule Moscow with an iron grip.
However, the leadership skill did not get passed down.
Instead, he’s an addict. Alcohol, gambling, whatever he can get his hands on.
He left the honor code that we usually live by. ”
Not an uncommon thing to happen in our world, but that doesn’t mean it’s tolerated. Hell, even Lorenzo De Matteis keeps to a strict honor code, one that more or less overlaps ours. He’s a conniving bastard, but he’s not a complete dope. “I can’t imagine his father would be happy about that.”
Kensington laughs. “No, from what I’ve researched, he definitely was not pleased.
He cut him off, causing quite the stir in their community.
He lets him run a group of thugs, but it’s all minor stuff.
His father is training up a different man to be his heir and take his place.
And…lucky for us, that man is in the Nameless. ”
I lean forward. Now this is interesting. “Really?”
“Yes. The old man has been in talks to receive an invitation himself. The man who’s training to take over got his start working under Alessandro.”
I let out a low whistle. “Well then, this is fortunate. But that does make Lily Morin a prime target for Lorenzo.”
Kensington nods. “It does. But I don’t think Lorenzo is the one behind this. He’s been too consumed with you.”
I get up, tucking my chair under my desk so I have room to pace. “Really? Who, then?”
“Lily Morin’s father.”
I turn and arch a brow. “The thug?”
Kensington nods, his icy blue eyes following my every move.
“Yes. From my research, he seemed to be quite…possessive over her mother. Felt she was property that was owed to him. She was on holiday in Europe at the beginning of a modeling career when they met. It seems he just…plucked her off of the street and wouldn’t let her go.
She barely escaped. I suspect the only reason she was able to was that his father took it upon himself to get her out of there.
I have a feeling that history is repeating itself now, with this addict taking his daughter and treating her like a possession that belongs to him. ”
I cross my arms as I look at the Englishman. “So, she’s for sure missing then? We’ve only suspected she was missing.”
Kensington nods. “Yes. Your fellows Jack and Liam contacted me to take a peek into her a while back in relation to your Amy Astero. I had a colleague outside of the Nameless look into her as my proxy. She disappeared during the first week he was tracking her. We thought at first she caught wind of him and ran, which baffled us since she has no known training in our line of work. It became clear it wasn’t that.
” Kensington sighs and crosses his arms, his beady little English eyes watching me pace.
“Her father vanished from Russia and then wasn’t seen until yesterday.
I believe he was orchestrating her extraction.
Our Russian colleague in the Nameless has confirmed this through his sources, as a young lady matching Ms. Morin’s description has been seen on his compound and does not seem pleased to be there. ”
I swear and run a hand through my hair. “That doesn’t bode well for her. He probably won’t kill her, but I have no doubt a man like him will take his anger from his wife’s escape out onto his daughter, despite never knowing her.”
“I would agree,” Kensington says quietly but with an intense, dark tone, as if the thought repulses him.
As it should. I’m reminded that Alessandro De Matteis invites bad men to his group, myself included, but all of us have a code we simply never cross.
This is one such matter. Abusing women is not something we tolerate, no exceptions.
If Kensington is part of the Nameless, then that means he lives by that code, too. “We already have a solution.”
His words immediately bring my attention back to him. “Oh?”
Kensington stands, buttoning his suit jacket.
“This is a courtesy meeting, Alasdair. Lorenzo may not be involved yet, but Morin’s father is begging to join his ranks.
He wants to usurp his father and he’s willing to use his daughter to get what he wants.
He’s holding her for ransom against his old man, as he knows he’ll hand over everything for his granddaughter.
He knows the old man is soft when it comes to women, especially familial ones, and will do what it takes to protect her.
It demands the Nameless’s immediate attention.
Alessandro has already put a plan in motion.
You’re being kept in the loop because the girl matters to your… Amy.”
I don’t miss how he avoided a title when referring to Amy. I can’t say I blame him. But it does make me itch to give her a proper one.
My mind reels at everything he just told me.
But I can tell Kensington is moving to leave, so I know I need to set that aside and process things later.
“Very well. I appreciate the information, courtesy or not. But that’s only one problem addressed.
Aren’t you forgetting something rather important? ”
Kensington takes a deep breath. “Alessandro De Matteis is on his way here as we speak to discuss a solution regarding his brother with you. He wants to handle it personally since it’s…sensitive for the both of you.”
I’m not quite sure what to make of that. But, either way, I know Kensington is just a messenger. I nod. “Very well. I’ll be expecting him, then.”
The Englishman nods and looks at his watch. “I have another meeting to attend to, but I’ll be returning. De Matteis has requested that I stick around, observe anyone who might be lingering around your home to ensure you and Amy are safe. I’m to assist your men however I can.”
I pause at that. I know the members of the Nameless are all as busy as I am. To give up his life in England to help feels like a considerable sacrifice. I raise my eyebrows. “That’s…quite the favor you’re giving me.”
Kensington shakes his head. “You misunderstand. This is for the Nameless. If Lorenzo goes after one of us as he has with you, then he goes after all of us. We have to handle this threat together, as an organization.”
“You’re okay with leaving your life behind?” I walk around my desk again, opening the door for him.
He chuckles. “It’s not quite the same for me as it is for you.
My responsibilities look different. I’m simply not taking any new contracts.
I don’t run any day-to-day operations like you do.
It’s not a significant sacrifice for me.
” Kensington exits my office, and we head down the hall towards the front door.
“All right, then. Well, I’m grateful regardless.” The words taste a tad bitter on my tongue. What would my ancestors say, expressing gratitude to an Englishman? Still, it’s necessary to ensure my relationship with my allies remains strong.
Kensington nods, his lips twitching with a hint of a smirk like the bastard knows how hard that was for me to muster. “Happy to hear it.”
I nearly roll my eyes and take back my words. That’s almost too much for me to handle. Damn posh English smugness.
Once we’re outside, Kensington turns and holds out his hand. I shake it, glaring at him, but that only seems to make him more amused. “Good luck to you and the lady. I wish the best to you both, and I’ll do my best to contribute to that good fortune.”
I take a deep breath, soothed slightly by his charm, the bastard. “I’ll do the same for you in the future, just say the word. I won’t forget this.” And I won’t. He’s a member of the Nameless first and foremost, and his assistance with this is not something I take lightly.
Kensington nods. “I’ll hold you to that, Irish Demon.”