16. Konstantin
KONSTANTIN
A scorching sun rests in a cloudless sky, warming the papers that scatter across the table around me.
Countless names inked on the booklet in front of me merge together and blur, so I close my eyes and press my fingers against the bridge of my nose.
It's hot. I have too much to do, and this war with the Italians is growing more troublesome by the day.
My fingertips tighten against my nose and I take a few deep breaths, then I open my eyes and gaze back down at the lists before me. One column is a list of names.
The second lists their families and loved ones, and the third lists the compensation amount I'm giving to them.
Every man and woman I've lost in this battle pains me. All of these families trust me to keep their loved ones safe, and while they know the dangers of working for me, it doesn't make the loss any easier.
How do I put a price on their lives?
There's a fine line between decent compensation and money that looks like a payoff.
Every single person left behind when one of my men dies is a family member who could give in to their anger and turn to revenge in a few years if I don't soothe them properly now.
Money isn't enough to compensate for the loss of an important life, but it's all I can do.
Words mean nothing when standing over a coffin.
I pull the next check toward me and scribble down the amount.
Beyond the table, the patio doors slide over and Calvin steps out with a hand at his brow to protect from the sun.
He walks the length of the pool toward me and stops a foot away, hesitating so as not to interrupt me.
"What is it?" I don't look up.
"Boss. You need anything?"
"More ice." I tap my empty glass with the end of my pen. "And envelopes."
"On it."
With that, he turns and heads back into the house. Calvin returns less than two minutes later with a fresh pitcher of orange juice and a stack of envelopes. He sets both down on the table and pours me a glass. Ice clatters and clinks, then settles as he places it on the coaster next to me.
I sign the check and finally glance up at him. I may have only known him a little over a year, but Calvin is one of the best additions to my team. Without him, I'd be dead, and that's a debt I can't ever repay.
"What is wrong?"
Calvin meets my eyes. "What makes you think something is wrong?"
I lean back in my seat and stretch my arms to the side and past the shade of the umbrella protecting me.
Sunlight warms my bare arms up to where my shirt rests at my elbows, and I clear my throat softly.
"I know you, Calvin. There's something on your mind. Tell me what it is and I can help."
Calvin's lips part ever so slightly, then he glances back at the house as if expecting someone to be watching from one of the windows.
At this time of day, Rose is likely in the gym and Ethan is out delivering the first bulk of these checks. No one else should give Calvin pause like this.
"It's about Rose."
Ah. Now his hesitation becomes clear. A slight knot forms in my stomach and I offer Calvin the seat opposite me.
"Is something wrong with her?"
"No. Or actually, I'm not sure. Something seems… off a little bit."
"Off how?" I haven't had time to connect with Rose these past couple of days after the Italians took out two of my warehouses and left me with thirty-six dead and millions in ruined product. Have I missed something?
"A couple of days ago at the spa, her brother turned up.
Mathew? He insisted on talking to her alone and locked me out.
" Calvin's brows knit together. "I tried to get in, but it was locked and he'd also kicked out the masseuse.
She had to get the master keycard from reception but when she came back, Mathew had left.
And Rose was…" His lips purse as if he's trying to work out how to delicately word his thoughts.
"Tell me," I order him, not even attempting to keep the tension out of my voice.
"She was upset. Visibly. She also had marks around her throat.
" Calvin lifts his hand and brushes his own neck with his fingertips.
"I asked her about it and she told me I was being ridiculous and the marks were from the face rest on the massage table, so I asked her why she was upset and she said she was simply overwhelmed, that being relaxed had her feeling emotional and that's all it was. "
The knot in my gut tightens.
"I don't like him. Mathew. There's something about him that I can't put my finger on but how she was after he visited reminded me of how sad she was before the wedding.
Back then, I thought it was just nerves over the whole thing, but now I'm not so sure.
I wasn't going to say anything at first because it wasn't my place, but I don't think I can sit on it anymore. "
Calvin's voice trembles ever so slightly and he catches himself while sitting up a little straighter. It's almost as if he expects me to berate him for taking so long to bring this to my attention, and part of me wants to.
But I didn’t notice it myself and in that absence, I’m grateful Calvin has been keeping an eye on her. Besides, demanding that he bring things like this to me sooner will derail the net of trust I'm trying to give Rose.
If she feels like she's being spied on, I will definitely lose her.
"Mathew. He was present with her father at the majority of the negotiations for this deal. He seemed like a shrewd man. But cold." My eyes narrow. "How do you think she feels about him?"
Calvin shrugs and puffs out his cheeks. "Honestly?
No clue. Sometimes I think she's scared of him, other times it's like she's incredibly pissed off.
Family stuff, y'know? I had an older brother so I know how infuriating they can be.
But she was so quiet on the ride home that it worried me, but she refused to talk to me about it. "
"Thank you for telling me this." I glance down at the written check before me.
I have far too many plates spinning, but Rose has to be a priority.
"I do not want her alone with him. Whenever he visits, I want you to keep a close eye on their interactions.
Even if it is just regular sibling drama, I want her to know someone has her back. "
"I will. Absolutely."
I half expect the conversation to be over but Calvin leans forward. "There's one more… delicate thing."
I run my tongue along my teeth. "Which is?"
"General Zangier."
My eyes narrow. "What about him?"
"He made a drunken pass at Rose when the party was over. She made me swear not to tell anyone because she didn't want to make a big deal of it but in the interest of giving you the full picture…" He ducks his head slightly. "I feel like you should know."
General Zangier. That man has a death wish.
"Where is he?"
"Last I saw, he was heading out of state, but will be back at the end of the week."
"Send word to him that I wish to see him." And the first words out of his mouth better be an apology or I'll rip his spleen out through his throat.
"I will. Thanks, boss." With a nod, Calvin excuses himself and hurries back into the manor, leaving me with my thoughts.
Mathew.
I know little about Rose's family, and her brother is the one I've dealt with the most.
Given my urgency to secure a wife with a family who wouldn't cause trouble, I didn't look as deeply as I perhaps should have.
Is this my mistake?
I reach for my phone and dial Ethan's number. He answers on the third ring.
"Boss?"
"How is your travel?"
"Last letter delivered," he replies with a heavy sigh. "This shit never gets easier."
"Any trouble?"
"No. A lot of tears. Most were happy to get the money."
"Any budding issues?"
"You mean do any of the kids look angry enough to come and get revenge on you in a few years?"
"Exactly."
Ethan snorts. "No. Most are too young to understand. A cruel blessing."
"Understood."
"What do you need?"
"I want you to track down Rose's mother and sister, Beatie. They did not come to the wedding and I allowed it because we were in a hurry. Neither came to the party and I understood illness. But I am concerned."
"About?"
"Mathew. Rose. Trouble with her family. If there is an illness or a situation that I can help with, I want to help. But I suspect she will not tell me the truth, so I want you to track them down for me."
"Understood. Do you want me to make contact?"
"Locate and observe for now," I reply, casting my gaze out to the shimmering pool. "It may be nothing, but I want to be sure."
"Of course. I'll call you as soon as I have something."
"Thank you."
Silence falls after the call and I tap my pen lightly against the desk while absently tracking the sparkles over the surface of the pool.
Whatever Rose is hiding, or whoever she is protecting, won't remain secret for long.