Page 21
CHAPTER 21
NICK
The private facility housing Lina has been around for over fifty years and has seen dozens of dignitaries and celebrities pass through its doors. She’s been here for two hours. Dropping her off presented no issues. Surprisingly, she remained mute through the process.
With Scarlet safely ensconced on my property, now, I’m back.
Technically, I’m not supposed to see Lina this early in her stay. But she’ll go mad if she picks up she’s got a security detail. Tough titty. You can’t have a family history like ours and not prepare for the worst.
On the way over, Nomad called and confirmed he’s got a team assisting. Nomad doesn’t know the players, and I told him as much, but he said he’s got a resource. A private party. I’m skeptical, but it won’t hurt to let his wheels spin.
The only source I can think of that would know all the players is one deceased Leo Sullivan, and ironically, if he still breathed this air, he’s the one I’d go to now. But he’s breathing air in another land under a different name.
The car park is full, so I leave it in a no-parking zone on the side of the street leading up to the stone mansion. Given the rates to stay here, it’s doubtful they ticket visitors, given the visitors are likely the ones paying the exorbitant rates.
The young woman at the desk has big blue eyes etched in black, a nose ring, and enough silver in her ears to set off security at Heathrow.
“It’s not visiting hour,” she says.
No shit . “I need to meet with Lina’s doctor.”
“He’s not here.”
How the fuck is that possible? “Where is he?”
“He’s only here three days a week. He’s at Gramercy Hospital the other two, but today, I believe, is his day off.”
“Who may I address?”
“What’s the problem?” a middle-aged woman in a stodgy suit asks.
“And you are?”
“Dr. Jergensen. I’m the facility director.”
“Then, Doctor, you are exactly who I need to see.”
I look at the men I left outside monitoring the entrance. She follows my gaze.
“Are they with you?”
“Yes. Is there a place we can speak in private?”
“Mr…”
“Ivanov.”
“Mr. Ivanov, I hope you can understand that we follow protocol for the good of our patients?—”
“I’d like to talk with you about my donation to your facility. Fifty million pounds. Anonymously, of course.”
Her eyes widen an appropriate amount.
“Betty, can you reschedule my next appointment?”
After I finish with Dr. Jergensen, I’m granted time to meet with my sister in a private room that reminds me of an elementary school art room.
Her heather gray sweats hang loosely, covering her from wrist to ankle. I can’t recall the last time I saw her with a freshly scrubbed face and no trace of blush or lipstick. She looks younger and more vulnerable. Skin and bones. Can’t say I fancy the model schtick. Why didn’t I see it earlier? Is she that good at hiding it, or am I that obtuse?
“How are you?” I ask as Lina pulls out a chair.
“Dandy.”
“Pissed?”
“What gave it away?”
I exhale, tired of this game she and I play. “What would you have me do? If the shoes were reversed, and you found me with a needle up my arm, what would you have done?”
She has the wisdom to look away. She folds her arms over her middle and pouts like a teen.
“You nearly killed yourself.” Bloody hell. What the fuck should I do?
“I would’ve been fine,” she mumbles.
“Would you now? Is that what you’ve been doing with your days? When I’ve thought you’ve been riding, you’ve been in a stall shooting up and coming inside when you come to? Rolling around in the horse dung? That’s your idea of a good time?”
I close my eyes because I can’t look at her. I shouldn’t have come here. It’s too early in the process. She’s at the angry stage. We’re in the angry stage.
But I don’t have a fucking choice.
“I’m sorry.”
The words are so faint I can’t quite believe she said them. “What are you sorry for?”
She wipes a palm across her face. Is she crying?
“I think I do… I’m…” She tilts her head and looks up to the ceiling or the heavens… Anywhere but me. “I have a problem.”
She sniffles. I don’t move. Don’t speak.
“The urges are strong. I’ve been…doing it alone.”
Christ.
She sniffles. “So you don’t need to kill anyone.”
I keep her out of the business, so what’s she going on about?
She smiles, but her eyes are a teary mess. “Anyway, if that’s what you came to hear, I’m tired. I’m in this time. I want to stop.”
Before, she’d been adamant. Claimed I’m too old. I didn’t understand. She’d been full of accusations. My throat tightens, and I sniff, fighting the urge to pull my little sister into my arms. I practically raised her and did a shite job of it, but it doesn’t mean I don’t love the pain in the arse.
“I don’t wanna die. Is that what you want to hear?”
“That you want to get better? That you’ll put the work into doing so? Yeah, that’s what I want to hear.”
“You couldn’t wait to hear it. You had to break policy? Couldn’t give me space to get my head on?”
Oh. That. I fidget a bit. Damn.
“Did someone else die?”
“No.” Her question snaps me out of whatever bog I fell into. “But you’ll be having security here.” I can’t read her expression. “I know it’s not your favorite, but it’s…” I lick my lower lip because it’s dry as fuck. “I’ve pissed off some people, and I… You’re going to need to be careful. Smart. It’s not inconceivable they’ll come after you to get at me. You know what I’m saying?”
“If someone shows up telling me you’ve bought me a pony and do I want to go see it, I shouldn’t climb in the van. That’s what you’re saying?”
“You’re a bright one.”
We both fight smiles as we look at each other.
“You thought this bit would upset me? I’m an Ivanov, too, you know?”
She’s right. And hell, I’m going to blink, and she’ll be thirty. It’s about time I stop treating her like a kid.
“Is this to do with Scarlet?”
Her question hits like a dagger to the heart. I dig two fingers into my temple over the raw pain.
“No.” I force a casual smile. “Scarlet’s going away.”
“Is she coming back?”
“I’m leaning toward no.” I meet my sister’s gaze, and it’s a bloody delight to find her focused and intent. “It’ll be safest if she goes off the grid.”
Safest for her, safest for Lina.
“But once this blows over, you’ll bring her home, right?”
“Won’t be wise.” Knocking out one mafia family is one thing. But this is about to blow. The syndicate won’t approve. There’s a good chance I’ve already got an enemy within the group. If the syndicate turns against me, I’ll be going up against some of the most influential men in the world. If they don’t come after me with guns, they’ll unearth skeletons, paint me as a monster, frame me for crimes.
If I come clean about the message, about Leo and the so-called Prophet, they might back me. That’s what I should do. But other than a lone message, I’ve got no proof.
And if I call a meeting, make my case, they’ll want me to hand over Scarlet. The Interpol investigation won’t incriminate any of them, but the reverberations will be felt by their connections. It’s an incestuous fucking world. And I won’t give them Scarlet.
“Nick?”
I meet my sister’s gaze.
“You deserve happiness.”
I rub the back of my neck, taking my little sister in. “Well, get clean.”
“When I do, it’ll be for me. Not you. You’ve got to do you, boo.”
“Look at you being smart.”
She rubs the inside of her arm. It might itch.
“You can’t trust Amir.”
“Curious thing to say. Why?”
“I overheard him on the phone.”
“If he spoke in front of you, he meant for you to hear whatever he said.”
“I don’t think so. He thought I was high.”
Bloody bastard.
“And I was. But I remember.”
“What did he say?”
“He said Ivanov won’t be an issue.”
“That’s all he said?” That doesn’t mean squat.
“After the call ended, he saw I was awake and told me to unzip his pants and suck him off.”
Yep. Not a friend.
“Did he get high with you?”
“He stuck with alcohol.”
There’s a knock on the door, and a guy in scrubs peers in, looking between the two of us with all kinds of suspicion.
“Lina, the physician’s ready to meet you. And a physical therapist. They want to do an admission workup.”
“Ah, celebrity treatment. A team awaits.” She stands, rolling her eyes, but readying to follow the chap.
“You get strong, yes? Kick this.”
We embrace, and she tightens her grip around me. She pushes up on her toes and whispers in my ear, “Keep Scarlet around. She’s good for you. I don’t want you to be alone.”
“Aye.” My sigh’s a long one. “You’ll be back before we blink.”
“I’m not so sure.” She squeezes my arm. “It’s too early to say, but I was so unhappy out there. I think…I need to go on my own. I think. I don’t mean it as an attack.”
The man at the door clears his throat.
“You take this time,” I tell my sister. “You focus on you. Heal. Get your head on straight.”
“I love you.” She gives me a final hug, and I watch as she shuffles to the door.
Christ. I want to believe her. Believe she’s going to find her way straight, but for today, I’ll have to settle with knowing she’s safe.
Table of Contents
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- Page 20
- Page 21 (Reading here)
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