Page 50 of Protected by the Sinner (The Sinner’s Touch #2)

Somewhere in Europe

“A neutral location for a meeting? Doesn’t sound like your style,” says Roberto Brambilla, the head of the Sicilian mafia in the United States, as he steps into the warehouse.

“Consider it a gesture of goodwill.”

“Goodwill, my ass,” I think, eyeing the number of bodyguards we both brought—not to mention the snipers I’m sure we each have in place.

“What do you want, Ruslan? We’ve never made a deal in our lives, and we’re both too old to start now.”

“I don’t want a deal. I came to give you a warning: Beau LeBlanc, his wife, and all their future descendants, are untouchable.

He may not share my blood, but he is as much my grandson as any of the others.

If anything ever happens to him, today or twenty years from now, I’ll wipe out your entire bloodline.

And don’t be fooled by my age. This order will be passed down to the next generations.

You know how many grandchildren I have in this world. It’s not an empty threat.”

“He killed my nephew.”

“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’s disappearance as 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 been me who 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.