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“I see. I thought we were going to have another woman in our ranks.” He holds his hands up in surrender when he sees Mila’s murderous expression. “Not that I object.”

None of us at this table has any problem having women in our group, provided they bring an appropriate skillset. It’s one of our great advantages. The sexism that permeates some of our enemies’ organizations prevents them from making progress. I may be a little sexist in my personal life, but as far as business is concerned, I’m willing to embrace anyone who can help things run smoothly.

“You believe Alexander is ready for the responsibility?” Damiano asks, getting the conversation back on track.

None of us knows Alexander Cameron well. It was his brother, James, who initially joined our group. He was murdered along with his parents and younger sisters four years ago in an event that shocked us all. The Camerons had gone to the home of their rival, Stewart Drummond, to celebrate the signing of a marriage pact. Alexander was to marry Stewart’s daughter, Cara, and put an end to a feud that had rumbled on for decades. When they sat down to dinner, Stewart Drummond had Alexander’s entire family murdered. Not even the girls, two of them still teenagers, were spared.

Alexander escaped the initial slaughter, but was chased down and shot in the stomach. He tumbled sixty feet off the edge of a cliff and landed in a freezing river. Somehow he survived. Niamh Donnelly’s men found him and took him for medical treatment. She’s helped him to hide all this time while he recovered his strength and planned his return.

“Is he fit enough?” Daniil asks before I can voice the question.

Alexander suffered amnesia and has only recently regained his memories.

“He is.” It’s Niamh, rather than Joe, who replies. “I’ve spoken to him several times and apart from the occasional headache, he’s back to his old self.”

“And all our current arrangements will remain in place?” Damiano checks.

Our trading routes through Glasgow to Ireland and then onto North America are working well. Nobody wants to upset the balance.

“Aye, the transition will be a smooth one. Alexander’s eager to let the world know he’s alive and get back to business as usual.”

“Okay.” Sev slaps a hand down on the table. “Let’s vote on it.”

“There is one issue that needs to be resolved before Alexander comes out of hiding,” Niamh says.

“What?” Lorenzo asks. He looks bored of this conversation now. It’s typical of him. Unless we’re focusing on one of his pet projects, he doesn’t show much interest in anything.

“His youngest sister, Eilidh, is still alive,” Joe says.

“What?” Mila glares at Niamh, so I’m guessing she didn’t share this information with her closest friend.

“You’re sure about this?” I ask.

“Yes.” Niamh takes out her cellphone and hands it to me. There’s a photograph on it of a young brunette standing next to an older man. Her head is bowed, but her face is tilted toward the camera.Her expression is one of defiance, but there’s also fear in her eyes. “That’s Eilidh Cameron standing next to Jason Henry.”

“How is this possible?” Sev reaches across the table to take the phone from me. “I thought all their throats were slit.”

Joe shrugs. “That’s what we thought, but Henry obviously spared her. She was first seen out with him about three months ago, right after Stewart Drummond died. Henry’s telling people he’s her guardian.”

“We think he’s showing her off before marrying her off to the highest bidder,” Niamh says. “My sources tell me Semyon Barevsky has been spending a lot of time in Scotland. We think he’s interested.”

“Fuck!” Damiano makes his thoughts known for the first time. “If that monster gets his hands on the girl, she’ll wish she’d died alongside her family.”

I have to agree. My past dealings with Barevsky have always been deeply unpleasant. His primary trade is in women and children. I wouldn’t discount any of the rumors I’ve heard about his depravity.

“So what’s the plan?” Mila asks. “Do we go in and get her?”

Niamh shakes her head. “We can’t risk storming in and causing a bloodbath.”

“So what?” Lorenzo asks, now more invested in the conversation because he hates men who hurt women. “You leave her there and risk her becoming Barevsky’s latest toy?”

“No,” Niamh flashes him a sweet smile that suggests she’s about to drop a surprise on him. “We’re going to send in a suitor of our own. Alexander can’t reveal himself until he knows she’s safe. Hewants her married into a family he can trust to look after her. The Volantes are known for their honor.”

Lorenzo shakes his head when he realizes what she’s hinting at. “Don’t look at me. I’m no knight in shining armor.”

“Nor I,” Damiano says.

“As if she’d try to marry some poor girl off to either of you!” Mila snipes.