Chapter 10 #2
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Our intention is to disrupt Ilya’s operations in Poulton Springs and prevent his uncle’s expansion into Illinois.
We’d take down Vasili Barkov’s entire network if we could, but Ilya is only one general in a very big army.
And…” He taps his finger on the table as he considers how much to reveal.
“The resources at our disposal might have been exaggerated.”
“But you have your mafia backers,” she counters.
Ash doesn’t reply immediately.
John McConkey remains reluctant to involve himself in the battle we’re facing. The infamous Irish mafia boss no longer lives up to the reputation that preceded him. He’s lost his thirst for blood, which I’d seen as a good thing – until I met Quinn and found out about the one-woman war she’s waging.
“We have a fight on our hands,” Ash says at last. “And if you can keep us updated on what’s happening on the ground, we can stop Ilya from using Barrett’s land for his trade in innocent lives. Do you think you could help us?”
“I do want to stop him hurting other women,” Quinn replies carefully. There’s a pause as she takes a moment to think through the offer. “But that’s not my primary objective. I’ll only help if you can promise not to kill Ilya until I know what he’s done with my sister.”
Ash glances at me. Such a promise could stay our hand indefinitely.
“That’s a tough ask, Quinn. But in truth, Ilya isn’t going to be that easy to kill.
He’s heavily protected, and you’d have more chance of slitting his throat than any of us,” he says.
“Not that I’d advise it. You’d be captured before you had a chance to drop the knife, and his uncle would personally torture you beyond your worst nightmares. ”
I glare at Ash. So much for keeping Quinn calm and collected. Ash simply shrugs. He’s got the measure of Quinn now, and he’s throwing warnings at her at every opportunity.
“Vasili Barkov is back in Russia.”
“Correct,” says Ash. “And you’d be delivered to him on a platter.
Believe me, you don’t ever want to be caught doing something you shouldn’t.
Which is why I strongly advise against using any kind of tracker.
At the moment, there’s no reason for Ilya to suspect your involvement given your open hostility towards Reid. ”
“In public,” Mace clarifies with a smug grin.
“But,” Ash continues, “if he finds out someone’s planted a tracker while he’s staying at the estate, there’d only be two suspects. You, or the other member of staff there.”
“Jason,” Quinn says.
“He’d kill you both,” Ash says simply.
“Fine, I have other tricks up my sleeve.” Surprisingly, Quinn doesn’t sound too discouraged.
Ash swipes a hand across pained features at the same time Mace sighs. Whatever Quinn’s suggesting, I’m the only one who doesn’t follow. “What other tricks, Quinn?”
Mace fills the pause she leaves. “Let me guess. You think you can seduce your way into his life.”
“It’s one way of finding out where he goes,” she answers quickly.
The legs of my chair scrape against wooden floorboards.
“Not a fucking chance!” I bark out, glaring at my phone as I stand.
Heat burns my cheeks as my fury rises. “No, Quinn. There’s no way in hell I’m letting him touch you!
So, if that’s your plan, I’m coming over there and I’ll make you leave. Right. Fucking. Now.”
“What my brother is trying to say,” Ash says over me, while Mace grabs my arm and shoves me back into my seat.
“Is that your plan is foolhardy, and that’s me being polite.
Ilya’s track record with women isn’t pretty, especially those women he’s intimate with.
I’m sorry. I know this is painful to hear, but your sister was most likely drugged from a very early stage in their relationship, and Ilya would have used her growing addiction to control her.
He’ll do the same to you before you can ever act to save yourself, or Blake. ”
“I don’t take drugs.”
I slam my fist onto the table. “You won’t have a fucking choice.
He’s not going to invite you to become a drug addict.
And even if you could control everything you ate and drank, he’d inject you while you slept.
” Tremors course through my body. “Christ! The thought of you sleeping next to him is… No, Quinn. Just no!”
“Have you finished?” Quinn asks, unable to disguise the shake in her voice.
“Quinn, will you just think straight for one–”
“We’re done.”
“Quinn, don’t you dare cut me off!”
I don’t know why I’m still talking because I can see the call’s been disconnected. I turn my anger on my brothers. Mace is the easier target.
“You fucking knew this was going to be part of her plan last night, didn’t you? And you let me leave her there!”
“And you didn’t work it out for yourself?”
“Of course I fucking didn’t!”
When I jump up, I’m not going to let anyone pull me back this time. Or push me around. I’m done being the brother who trails behind, never given a complete view of the path ahead, let alone the chance to contribute to the direction we take.
“I’m going after her.”
“The only kidnapping that’s going to happen is us taking you back to Chicago,” Mace warns.
I fold my arms over my puffed out chest. “Would you leave Lily?”
“That’s different. She’s my wife,” Mace says. “And I knew she was my wife from the moment I laid eyes on her.”
“Same,” I answer back. “So you know what I have to do.”
Mace shifts his gaze to Ash, and silent words are exchanged. This time there’s no mystery. I’ve just revealed the depth of my feelings for Quinn, and it’s as much of a shock to me as it is to them.
Ash leans his elbows on the table and drops his head into his hands. “Fuck. Not another one.”