5. Xander
Xander
“You asshole,” Vik said, yawning as he poured us coffee strong enough to strip paint.
“We told you not to spook her. And you didn’t make it two hours before you got her into bed.
” He cringed. “And that’s the only thing we’ll ever say about that matter.
Jesus, she’s like my little sister, man.
Not just as a cover, but truly my sister.
Please be careful. I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. You’re both the only family I got.”
“The only ones we’ve ever had that mattered,” I agreed, toasting him with my coffee cup. “And I’m glad you had each other. I can never thank you enough for everything you did. For her … for me. Hell, you gave up your entire life, became an entirely new person.”
Vik settled into a chair across from me at the table.
“It’s not like we weren’t already looking for a way out, D—Xander.
Hell, I was able to actually live once I got here.
I have friends—such as they are,” he said affectionately—or as affectionately as he ever got.
“A roof over my head, a bar that pays not only my bills but allows for me to splurge every once in a while. The MC men are involved in enough illegal shit to keep me satisfied, and every once in a while, we get to rescue people who have no hope of being saved by others.”
“That reminds me,” I said, my mood turning dark. “How was she? When you found her, I mean?”
He frowned. “No one ever told you?”
I grunted, looking down at my coffee. The last thing I wanted him to see was the anguish in my eyes.
All these years of imagining what could have happened, what she might have endured.
“You’d been dark for about a month—gone for two.
I was just about ready to say to hell with it all and leave despite the consequences when Lessia showed up at a charity event my father insisted I attend. ”
Standing, I refilled my coffee, needing the momentary reprieve as I thought back to that time.
Alex had been taken, and I’d known who’d done it and why, but I was unable to do anything about it.
I’d sent my only friend—the only person in the world I trusted—to try track her down, only to end up fearing the worst had happened to him as well.
Everyone I’d ever loved might have been killed, and all because of me.
“She managed to manipulate me into dancing with her. When she whispered our code word into my ear, I almost went into shock.” I shook my head, remembering meeting an eighteen-year-old Alessia Accardi.
She was young, cocky, but so certain in the path she’d set out for us, I couldn’t help but believe her, believe in her.
Vik raised the coffee cup to his lips. “I bet that wasn’t in the top ten things you would have thought she’d be whispering.”
Shaking my head, I continued, “All she told me was that you two were safe. And that she was there on behalf of her family to make a deal to ensure you two stayed that way.” I shrugged.
“Passing information about my mother’s operation and my grandfather’s dealings at least allowed me to get small digs in at her, save those we couldn’t on our side of things.
I was more worried I’d get Lessia into trouble.
As my contact, I was afraid I’d get her killed if my mother thought I’d started getting … distracted … again.”
Vik stared at me as if I were an idiot. “What?” I asked.
“Dude, Lessia is the absolute last person I’d worry about when it comes to safety. Hell, she’s lobbying for that assignment herself—your mother, I mean. Orders are we have to wait until the heat around your family dies down, but you can be sure that bitch’s days are numbered.”
Now, it was my turn to stare. The fact my mother’s death was being fought over didn’t surprise me in the slightest, but Lessia …
“You didn’t know she’s an operative?” he asked, his voice low despite the fact I knew there were safety measures in place to prevent us from being overheard.
“I thought she was a go-between for her brothers …” I trailed off.
He snorted. “Her brother’s aren’t part of the operation at all.
Hell, they had no idea she was anything more than a model until right before she ‘retired’ and moved back to Texas.
She was there when I found Alex. And, to be honest, without her and some of the men you’ve already met, I’m not sure if I could’ve gotten her and the others out without it turning into a bloodbath. ”
“You mean, she was an operative at eighteen? I know she grew up with all the resources Accardi Tactical had to offer, but still.” God, that was young. Though, had I been so different? By that age, I’d seen more, done more, than most hardcore criminals ever dreamed about.
Vik shook his head. “I’m not sure about all the details, but I know she was sent to Europe with that job description in mind.”
“I can’t believe it. All these years, I thought she was just a middleman,” I said in wonder.
“No, brother. She’s likely the deadliest operative currently active. She’s not just trained; her mind is like a steel trap. And whatever you do, don’t piss her off. Her ways of getting back at you are inventive and vicious.”
“I have no intention of getting on her bad side. Hell, she’s the one who got you both here and kept me sane all these years.”
“She’s also the one who came up with the plan to get your sorry ass out. Though, I can bet she’s a little peeved at you right now. She’s got a soft spot for your girl.”
Wincing, I took another sip from my mug. “She’ll get over it. I know Al—Andrie better than anyone.”
“No, you used to know Andrie better than anyone. She’s not the same girl from all those years ago.“ Vik’s eyes were sober.
“I noticed,” I said grimly, remembering the shadows in her expression. Even last night, I couldn’t tease her out of her seriousness. She’d come after me like she was desperate, but not in a fun way. It was almost like she was using me to exorcize demons. “What happened?”
“She never said. Not to me. But …” He hesitated, and I steeled myself before he continued, “When we rescued her, she was shackled to a wall in the basement, naked. The other ones we got out had been held in dog cages.”
I set my mug on the table hard, causing some of the liquid to splash over the rim, and pushed back from my chair, cursing in my native Russian. The thought of what she might have suffered, all because of me.
“I can read your face. This isn’t your fault.
None of it. And even knowing what would come, you can bet Andrie and I would do it again.
We’ve talked about it more than a few times, even if she won’t give me the particulars.
She’s told me more than once whatever she went through was more than worth the price of getting to fall in love with you. ”
Blowing out a breath, I sat back down, knowing I’d never believe her ending up on a boat to be sold as a sex slave wasn’t my fault. “So, since getting to know my girl isn’t on the agenda today, did you have plans?”
“Well, knowing you—and the fact you were likely cooped up like a lab rat most of your trip, I figured a ride might be a nice way to show you around.”
The rumble of several motorcycles coming up the street made me smile. It was time to see what all the fuss was about when it came to two wheels and the open road.