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Doing what, and for whom, I wouldn’t have a clue.

Mak runs the biggest private security force in the world and has tentacles in intelligence agencies worldwide, from Mossad to MI6.

“Luke Macarthur rang earlier. He mentioned you might be taking a short vacation in Australia.” He makes it sound like I’m heading out for sun and surf.

I snort. “Not sure how short it will be.”

“Yes, Luke sent me the article.” Mak pauses. “Far be it from me to give unwanted advice,” he says delicately.

I cast my eyes skyward. “You’re going to give it anyway, you smooth prick. Might as well spit it out.”

“Consider it more of a news brief, then.”

Mak would sound like he’s trying not to laugh even if he was standing on the gallows.There’s not a conflict anywhere on the globe that he doesn’t have his fingers in, and yet I’ve never met someone more seemingly amused by life than he is.

He is also perpetually ten steps in front of anyone else in the game, which is why I’m still on the phone.

“Has Roman mentioned our little... security issue to you?” he says now.

“Nope.” I frown.Security issue?This is news to me.

“I thought not. Let’s just say that our joint venture appears to be coming in for some scrutiny, by people we might not want attention from.”

Fuck.

Mak is one of the twelve original investors in Mercura, Roman’s digital money laundering platform. I’ve been involved in Mercura since Roman first had the idea more than a decade ago, through every stage of its development. The factthat it’s now facing security issues explains exactly why Roman has started to sound so twitchy on the phone.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Actually, I don’t give a fuck.

I stare up at the departure board. My plane is due to board in less than an hour, and I still have to get through security. I start walking toward the line.

“Well, then.” Mak’s amusement ratchets up a level. “You’re clearly serious about the Australia thing.”

“I am.”

“Am I to assume you haven’t mentioned this little side trip to Roman?”

“You are to assume exactly that.”

“I see.” He pauses again. “I would like to help you, Dimitry. But my allegiances are rather... tricky in this situation.”

Which means that Mak’s allegiance is to Mercura, and therefore to Roman.

Until today, I would never have imagined my own allegiance being any different. But walking onto the flight to Australia means that I’m walking away from that allegiance.

I will be outside the bratva for the first time in my adult life.

Outside the Stevanovsky clan.

Outside Mercura.

It means I’m on my own.

It’s oddly liberating, like the slow loosening of knots I didn’t realize were starting to strangle me.

“Do what you have to, Mak.” I take a deep breath, feeling almost lightheaded. “I’m sure that between you and Roman, you’ll find a solution to your security issue.”