Chapter 1 #2
I scoffed, recalling how the trio of friends I just left outside said a similar thing. “You could have seen my pretty face via Zoom.”
“We wanted you to experience DC in February,” Byron joked. “It’s such a pleasure. All the snow and bone-chilling cold.”
“You guys are pussies,” Alessio grumbled. “After a winter in Canada, you’ll come to realize that this is basically spring.”
“Tempting, but I’ll pass,” I retorted dryly.
“I called this meeting,” Kristoff cut in, clearing his throat after taking another drink, the tension in his shoulders hard to miss. “Let me start with a hypothetical question.”
I turned my head, homing in on him. “Those are never hypothetical.”
“Are you able to have discreet, practically invisible security lined up for a long period of time anywhere in the world?”
“Possibly. For whom?”
“My cousin,” he said quickly. Good lord, not his cousin again. Did she get herself into another messy romantic entanglement? “I know of your and Blackhawk Security’s reputation. I need someone tailing her without her knowledge.”
I raised my eyebrows. “I no longer run Blackhawk.”
“But you have connections there,” he pushed. I dipped my chin and he continued. “Sophie needs… I don’t know if it’s exactly protection, but I need her safe. She’s done a lot for me. Plus, she’s family.”
I set my glass down, internally scolding myself for getting wrapped up in domestic shit again.
“I’m assuming she lives around here?” I asked, although I knew. I had a file on Sophie, her late boyfriend, and Jacqueline Madoc-Caldwell, Kristoff’s ex.
His fingers tightened around the beer bottle and then he lifted it, tilting his head back and emptying it.
“Yes, but not for long.”
“What do you mean?” Byron questioned.
Kristoff shrugged. “She’s leaving the States.”
“What about her job?” Byron questioned. “She has security over at General.”
Kristoff shrugged.
“She’s staying long enough to find a replacement, then taking a sabbatical.” At Byron’s dubious look, he continued. “I own the hospital. Whenever she’s ready, her job will be waiting for her.”
“Where is she going exactly?” I asked.
“Don’t know yet.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “She’s throwing a dart party. Where the dart lands… that’s her destination.”
“Fuck, aren’t you worried where she’ll land?” Alessio asked. “You should buy all the darts within a hundred-mile radius.”
“I considered that, but she already has them,” Kristoff grumbled, pushing his hand through his hair.
“It’s all very unlike her. Ever since Jonathan died, she hasn’t been the same.
Admittedly, I had my hands busy when everything happened with Sienna, but she seemed fine.
Well, as fine as she could be after her boyfriend died, I guess. ”
“Understandable,” I remarked, familiar with the story about Sienna.
She was Kristoff’s stepdaughter, who got caught in my half brother’s flesh auction web around the same time as Reina Romero. Apparently, on a dare, she hacked into my half brother’s account and wiped it clean.
Fuck, I would have paid good money to see my brother’s expression when he realized that. Damn cruel bastard deserved what was coming to him.
“You had a lot going on. Besides, it was a traumatic experience,” Byron retorted. “The crash and then Jonathan’s body disappearing without any evidence, only to reappear unrecognizable from the river?” He gave an audible shiver. “Did they identify him by his dental work?”
Kristoff shook his head. “No, his ex had to go identify the body.” Everyone winced. “You should have seen the theatrics. The woman could have been awarded an Oscar for that performance.”
“What if her dart lands in a war zone?” I questioned, circling back to the topic at hand. “It could be pricey.”
“Money is no object, but don’t worry, I’ve already told her if it does, she’s throwing again,” Kristoff retorted wryly. “Even if I have to lock her in her damn condo, she’s not going to a war zone.”
“Women are stubborn,” Alessio deadpanned, probably recalling his own wife.
“Don’t let your wife, or mine, hear you say that,” Byron said. “Or there’ll be hell to pay.”
I leaned back in my chair and considered what I just learned. It was obvious Kristoff was worried enough about his cousin, and Blackhawk needed something to keep them busy—aside from the client with the Black Oil Syndicate problems.
“Blackhawk can handle that,” I said. “She’ll never notice anyone tailing her.”
Kristoff exhaled, relief flickering before he smothered it. “I want it to be as discreet as possible. No interference unless something’s wrong.”
“Hopefully her dart doesn’t land in Albania,” Byron joked. “Kian doesn’t allow anyone there.”
I shook my head when a worry line appeared between Kristoff’s eyebrows. “If her dart lands in Albania, she’ll be safe. Once you have the details on where she’s going and when, send them over and she’ll be taken care of.”
Kristoff released a breath. “Thank you, Kian.”
I took a drink of my bourbon and tilted my head in acknowledgement. Selfishly, I hoped his cousin steered clear of Albania. I didn’t need yet another liability on my plate.
I scanned the bar, diverting from the topic. “You know what this place needs?”
“Better lighting?” Byron offered.
“Less ambition,” I said. “Everyone in here looks like they’re networking through eye contact.”
Alessio gestured toward a table of interns aggressively pretending not to recognize a cabinet member. “Those kids are drafting policy in their heads.”
Byron smirked. “That’s adorable. I remember hope.”
Kristoff didn’t laugh. “They’re Sienna’s age. I sure hope they hold on to that hope.”
“How is she doing?” Alessio questioned.
“She’s back at university.” He sighed. “Although, I wish she’d just stay home and take online courses.”
“She’s a brave kid,” Byron noted. “Did she ever say what possessed her to hack into a mobster’s bank account?”
Kristoff shook his head and the table went silent.
“Please send me the bill.” Kristoff finally broke the silence. “You have all my contact info.”
“Considering what your stepdaughter went through, this one can be on the house.” I clicked my tongue. “I hear you got to her just in time.”
Kristoff nodded. “Yeah, before she could be sold off to some sick asshole. But she saw some shit, and it left a mark.”
Byron lowered his glass slowly. “Maybe she should see a therapist?”
“She saw Dr. Violet Freud a few times,” Kristoff said.
“And?” I asked.
Kristoff exhaled deeply. “Sienna told her to cut the crap with the woo-woo stuff because it’s not working for her.”
Alessio whistled under his breath. “The kid’s got teeth and a backbone.”
Kristoff rubbed his temples. “Sometimes a bit too much backbone. She tends to keep her thoughts and feelings close to her chest, much to my wife’s dismay.”
“Sometimes time and space are the best cures,” Alessio offered.
“But Sienna and Sophie are close, right? Maybe they’re helping each other,” Byron suggested, just as the waiter appeared with another round of drinks.
Kristoff waited for the waiter to leave before he answered. “Thanks. Now I’m even more worried.”
I slid another beer across the table toward him. “They’ll both come to terms when they’re ready. First thing, don’t interrogate her like it’s a goddamn Senate hearing.”
Alessio nodded. “Second thing, always offer gift cards and food. The opposite sex loves carbs when they’re upset.”
Kristoff blinked. “They do love bread.”
Byron smiled faintly. “Look at that. Progress.”
Kristoff took the drink. “Thank you. For everything. Especially for agreeing to keep an eye on Sophie.”
I lifted my bourbon-filled glass. “Sure thing.”
Alessio smirked. “Rescue, emotional or physical, is Kian’s specialty.”
Outside, another layer of white flurries danced in the air as we clinked our glasses, and I wondered just what I’d gotten myself into.