Page 124 of Scarlet Vows

Not one fucking thing.

He has meetings, but he seems pissed. He visits a coupleof regular houses, stepping in for a half hour or ten minutes here and there.

Sometimes he just hands over an envelope.

And then it hits me.

He’s visiting the homes of families of his men who were lost.

It doesn’t exactly lift him up in my mind, and it doesn’t exonerate him, but…it’s something.

I hit hour four when he’s back home. My search and the intel from my informants give me nothing. I do have a PI I trust and use, but I’ll use him when I’m ready.

A few people have arrived, but they’re people I recognize, families Santo does business with but no one who’s in business or aligned with Simonov.

Finally, I head home.

My phone buzzes as I step inside.

Melor

Can we please meet?

After his attitude the other evening, I’m not sure I want to. But it’s not like I can say no. It’s not like I can afford to lose even a tenuous ally.

Me

Da. Come over.

He arrives ten minutes later, and I lead him to my office. He sits and accepts the vodka I place in front of him. I hold my glass and wait.

“I have come to apologize.”

I don’t react to his words.

“I don’t blame you, Ilya, for what happened. I trust you thought you were doing the right thing. The others, however, are a different story. Some have been to the hospital, and Denis… Well, he didn’t have good things to say.”

A bolt of anger shoots through me. With everything Denis did, I thought he might at least be open and willing to listen.

Right now, that doesn’t matter.

“Denis is injured,” I say. “AndIgot him out.”

“The others aren’t so willing to forgive,” he continues, ignoring me. “A real leader would’ve known he was walking into a trap—their words, not mine. And they’re even calling for you to step down as pakhan.”

That isn’t so easy, not with the will and all the stipulations. Especially if I walk…

But I don’t tell him that. It’s my decision, ultimately.

He breathes out and downs half his vodka, looking uneasy.

“Out with it,” I say.

Melor nods. “They want me to take over.”

“That’s too fucking bad. They can leave if they want, but until I’ve dealt with Santo, I’m not doing a damned thing.”

“I thought you should know.” He reaches for the bottle and tops up his glass then drinks deeply once more. “I’m not surprised this Santo double-crossed us. He’s done it before.”