Page 141 of Lethal Torture

“We already have the answer to the second question.” I steel myself for the next words. “The leaks were coming from Eva.”

Watching their faces fall is heartbreaking.

“She was brutally coerced,” I go on. “For now, she’s still in our care, and I promise you all that no harm will come to her. We’re going to take care of Eva, not punish her.”

“That’s shit,” Charlie says grimly, and everyone nods. “But at least we know. What about the other part of the question?”

“We’re still getting to the bottom of that.” I tilt my head down toward the basement. “I imagine whatever is happening in the basement has something to do with it. Either way, I expect we’ll have this wrapped up very soon.” I take a deep breath. “Which means that Luke’s role here will be at an end, and that he’ll be leaving.”

I’m not sure what I was expecting. Questions perhaps. Maybe some resentful, muttering asides.

Instead, I’m met with stone-cold faces and frigid silence.

In the end, it’s Anatoly who steps forward. “Vhat does Luke haf to say about dis?” His accent is thicker than usual, and his face bears no trace of the customary softness I normally sense beneath his rough exterior.

“Luke understood the job when he took it.” I face him down with the same cold composure with which I built my empire.

Only I’ve never felt so cold and alone inside while doing it. And I’ve certainly never had to draw on my mask for Anatoly.

His eyes narrow, but our shared past, for now at least, seems enough to stop him from speaking.

Then Enzo leans over the desk, his hands clasped on the marble surface. “This is bullshit,” he says flatly. “And you know it, Zin.”

The rest of the staff nod emphatically.

“Luke belongs here.” Nadja meets my eyes with a slightly defiant expression. “You know he does.”

Charlie scowls at me. “Nothing works without him. Lukegetsus. And what about Paddy?” She looks at me accusingly. “Is he going to leave, too?”

I stare at them, for once lost for words. “I—Paddy?” My head spins. “I’m not sure. I—well, I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.”

Anatoly raises his eyebrows derisively. “Seem to me, you not thinking at all.”

There’s a collective murmur of agreement.

I shift uneasily, for once horribly aware that I have no idea what to say.

“Hmph.” Anatoly snorts and turns away. “Vell. Enough talking, den.” Stalking stiff-backed to the door, he wrenches it open and takes up his position outside, hands folded stiffly in front of him.

Enzo gives me the kind of scathing glare he normally reserves for difficult guests. “No argument from me.” Pulling Nadja close, he busses her cheek and gives her shoulder a comforting pat. “Send me through the final list tomorrow, darling. We’ll talk then.” Giving me a final dirty look, he heads for the door, stopping to exchange a commiserating look and murmured aside with Anatoly.

“I’ll be in the limo,” Charlie says, not attempting to hide her dark expression as she pushes past me.

Nadja drops her head, busying herself on the computer to avoid my eyes. “You should probably go down to the basement,” she says without looking at me. “Luke brought some interesting company back with him.”

I takethe elevator to the basement, breathing deeply in an attempt to still my racing heart.

What the fuck is happening?

I faced down my father’svor.Killed more men than I like to recall at close range.

Nothing has ever shaken me as much as the disgust I just witnessed in the faces of my closest staff.

They’ll come around, I tell myself.They were happy enough before Luke came. They’ll get over his departure.

Except an uncomfortable feeling in my chest tells me that’s a lie.

I can hire someone else.