Page 126 of Thorns of Blood

Lia slowly lowered her gun to her side, her eyes shining with tears.

“What do you want, Kian?” I demanded. “I assume there’s something you want from us in exchange for the twins.”

He smiled, giving a pointed look at my brothers.

“Lower your guns, then we’ll talk.” At my wordless command, my brothers lowered their weapons and Kian gave a satisfactory nod.

“Now talk, Kian,” my wife said, her voice frigid and her mask firmly on. “Tell me what you want from me.”

“Very well,” he agreed. I kept close to Lia, ensuring her safety, but letting her lead. This was her moment, nobody else’s. “I want you to run your mother’s business.”

“Why?” I questioned.

“Yes, why?” Lia echoed. “There is already one guy who runs a criminal organization in Russia. You certainly don’t need another one.”

“Correct, but you see, the criminals need to be kept in check. Illias Konstantin is the Pakhan and he’s running his empire fairly, but his children might not.”

“Well, worry about that shit when his kids grow up,” I grunted. “Why in the fuck are we worrying about that now?”

“Because The Syndicator is about checks and balances. Rather than wait until it’s too late, Lia will run Sofia Volkov’s empire and keep the Pakhan in check. This will also protect your children.”

“We can keep them safe,” I protested.

“This is ludicrous,” she muttered. “And Atticus, where does he come into play?”

“Don’t worry about Atticus. I got that handled.” He cleared his throat. “The twins will need a lot more than just your protection, Giovanni. They need the Syndicate.”

“And if I refuse?” Lia questioned.

“It’s not in your interest to do so,” Kian warned softly. “Your children’s lives depend on it.”

My arm shot up and I aimed it at him. “Are you fucking threatening her kids?”

He laughed, completely unfazed.

“Considering I’m the one who ensured their safety all this time, I’m not. Their names and association with Sofia Volkov will make them wanted around the globe. The fact that Lia was a big part of the Marabella Agreements and provided the list of candidates for it will make the twins despised and hunted. Like I said, in order for you and Liana to keep the twins safe, you’ll have to take on Sofia Volkov’s empire and participate in The Syndicate. We’re going to dismantle flesh trading around the globe. ”

“I thought this was about checks and balances,” I pointed out.

“It is,” Kian confirmed. “And about the Syndicate.”

“How does this Syndicate play into anything?” Lia questioned. “If you want our buy in, we should know what we’re signing up for.”

Kian locked his gaze on Lia. “The Syndicate is about eliminating flesh trading. You and I have a lot to atone for.” Lia paled, the sins of her past gutting her alive. “I have to undo my brother’s wrongs. You have to undo?—”

“My wrongs,” she finished, her eyes lowering on her missing finger.

“By being part of the Syndicate, you’ll offer an additional layer of protection to Jet and Elira, but also to other children who aren’t so lucky to have parents or family coming after them.”

Silence stretched for several heartbeats when Lia whispered.

“A-are those their names?” Her hands started to shake, tears gathering in her eyes as she grasped for those two names that would be her first connection to her children. Our children.

Kian nodded. “Yes, Jetmir, meaning good life, and Elira, to be free. They’re Albanian names and seemed appropriate.”

“Did they have a good life, Kian?” Her voice cracked. “A free life?”

Kian smiled. “You can ask them yourself, but I think so.”