Page 106 of Protected By the Sinner

“No. He killed a thief who was stealing from his own capo and blamed Beau’s father for it, robbing Beau of the chance to grow up with a real family. You people value family. So do we. Because of your nephew, Beau’s children will never meet their grandparents. I see Angelo’sdisappearanceas a reckoning, and I hope you do too.”

“An eye for an eye.”

“It’s my sacred rule. In this case, there’s nothing left to avenge, and we both know that. You would’ve killed him anyway.”

“But it should’ve beenmewho did it, not someone outside the family.”

“There’s a war brewing between our organizations, one that could break out at any moment. If it hasn’t yet, it’s because we both know it wouldn’t benefit either side.”

“I’m a businessman, Ruslan. I make deals. What do you have to offer to make me forget your boy’s name forever?”

I expected that, of course. If I were him, I’d do the same.

“One year of free passage for your merchandise through our Eastern European territories.”

“Five years.”

“Two,” I counter.

“Deal. You have my word, and that of my soon-to-be-named successor, that your grandson will be forgotten.”

I wait until he leaves the warehouse and think of the young man I learned to love, the one who once risked his life for me.

Without Beau ever knowing, I’ve just returned the favor.

Chapter 50

New Orleans

Two Days Later

“So that’s what you guys want to do? If it were up to me, I’d kill them all,” says Ethan, my brother-in-law’s best friend and business partner.

We’re gathered at the headquarters of my companies in New Orleans. I moved my main office here so I can stay close to Amber. As her pregnancy progresses, she doesn’t want to travel anymore.

Besides, we still haven’t caught Tobias, the damn cult leader. I’m not leaving my wife’s side until he’s gone. I’ll onlyleave New Orleans without her if it’s absolutely necessary, and even then, I’ll leave an army behind.

“We need to spare at least one,” I say, “to keep the promise I made to Amber that we’d expose them.”

“Which one?” Amos asks.

“The senator would be the logical choice,” I conclude, “because his death would draw a lot of attention. But on the other hand, he has political power and probably people in the justice system on his payroll. So it’s better to go with one of the businessmen.”

“The CEO from Texas or the one from Arizona?”

“The Texan. I’d take special pleasure in seeing him publicly humiliated.”

“Why?” my brother-in-law asks.

“Because Josiah Wiley is the father of a bastard who’s got unfinished business with a friend of mine. In this case, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. The pedophile hiding behind a family-man image has a rapist for a son. We’ll send him to prison to pay for the sins of the other five.”

“And the rest of them? Do we take them out all at once?”

“Yes. We’ll stick to the original plan,” I say. “Are you sure you don’t need my men?”

Ethan is the one who answers. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Beau, but we’ve been doing this for years. We need to coordinate these hits carefully to avoid mistakes. I know you could pull it off too, but Amos doesn’t want to risk his nephew growing up without a father.”

Three days later