Page 56 of Before Broken Vows

My fingers tap against the desk. Information is power, but only if it leads somewhere. "Any common denominator? Someone we can actually go after?"

"This is the part you'll like," Ares says, and I can hear the satisfaction in his voice. "All of the payments were tracked by someone named The Hawk."

"The Hawk?" Dimitri repeats, his brow furrowing. "What the fuck?"

I go still, storing the name away. The Hawk. Not an alias I've heard before, which means someone who's been careful to stay hidden.

"All transactions, all financials, were signed off or approved by him," Ares continues. "And it wasn't just payments from those secure accounts at the bank we can't crack. It was also to other low-level gangs. The Hawk kept things clean and organized.Whoever he was working for must have been the motherfucker who ordered Dad's death. Or had a major part in it."

The rage that's been simmering inside me since my father's murder sharpens into something cold and focused. A new target to hunt.

"I spoke to George Zervas," Ares adds, "and they're going to see what they can dig up on this Hawk guy. I've sent our men on it, too. I'd assume he's gone underground, but let's fucking find him."

My mind explores the possibilities, connecting dots. If the Hawk was handling finances for whoever killed our father, he'd know names, locations, plans. Everything we need.

"Do we know anything else?" I ask. "Physical description, known associates, any patterns in the financials that might tell us where he operates from?"

"Nothing yet," Ares admits. "The files don't have personal information. Just his codename on the transactions. But I'm hoping in the coming days we can change that."

I lean back in my chair, processing. "Still unsure about George. He's being cooperative now, but I don't trust it."

"I know," Ares says, "but he's given us no reason not to trust him. Oh, sidenote—we spoke about him giving us the port. I told him to hold onto it for a few more weeks until this is resolved. I don't want our men focused on anything other than our damn vengeance."

Dimitri stands and starts pacing, his nervous energy showing. "If this Hawk fucker is as organized as you say, he's not stupid. He's got contingency plans. He knows people will come lookingif anything happens to the lawyer—and dude just shot himself—so…"

"He's right," I say. "The Hawk might be expecting us. We need to be careful here."

Ares sighs. "Being careful won't get us the answers we need, brother. But I take your point. We'll be strategic."

"Is there anything else to report on your end, Theo?" Ares asks suddenly, and I know he's not talking about the Hawk anymore.

"Nothing yet," I reply, glancing at my younger brother, who stops pacing to look at me. "But right now, we focus on the Hawk. That's our priority."

Dimitri looks like he wants to argue, tell Ares about Stassi, but something in my expression must convince him to let it go. For now.

"Alright," Ares says. "I'll send you everything we have so far. Stay focused. And Theo? We're getting closer. I can feel it. And now, with Dimitri there to help out, it's only a matter of time before this is all behind us and the right people are taken care of."

"One hundred percent, brother," I agree. "We'll talk soon."

The call ends, and I sit in silence for a moment, the name repeating in my mind.

The Hawk.

"What's wrong?" Dimitri asks.

"Nothing," I lie, tapping my fingers on the desk.

This seems a bit convenient, though sometimes life works out like that. But an organized accountant who kept records linkingback to our father's killer? The lawyer kills himself rather than talk but leaves behind his laptop with all this information?

We're either lucky, or maybe someone wants us chasing ghosts, or they're daring us to follow the trail.

"Well," I say, standing, "I'm going to bed. It's late. You're on Chicago time, so?—"

"Yeah, fucking wide awake. Damn, I hate jetlag."

I shrug. "There's a few nice bottles of whiskey behind the bar. Elena just stocked the fridge."

"Yeah, I'll figure it out."