Page 44 of Lord of Ruin

“Stop worrying, big brother. This isn’t the first rodeo I’ve been on, nor will it be the last. I’ll make certain we go to some protected areas. She will be well taken care of and I assure you that if she tries to run, my two former bouncer guards will be able to handle her. However, I don’t like this, brother. She could easily become a casualty, and that’s not something you need on your conscience. But I have a feeling you need to remember that she didn’t ask for this.”

Elena was right about that. She’d been the first person I’d called after… the incident so many years before. She was also right about Jenna.

“I assure you that neither Phoenix nor I like it any more than you do. Just keep her safe. I’ll handle my guest my way.”

Elena walked closer, placing her hand on my arm. “Uh-huh. You already like her.”

I could never lie to my sister. “I do but right now, that’s the worst thing that can happen.”

“No, it’s not. You deserve to find someone special. Remember that. When all this fighting and territory takeover bullshit goes away, family is constant and what gives you the strength to go on.”

“Says the girl who refuses to date less than three men at a time.”

“It’s different for women. We’re born and bred to handle more. I’ll take care of her. Go solve the problems of the world with our brothers.” She turned around with the same flair as she’d had when walking in, just in time for Phoenix and Nico to stride into the room. “Speak of the devils.”

“Our little sister the comedian.” I issued the words in passing, noticing the odd look on Phoenix’s face.

He walked closer, the hard glare remaining. “Tell me about this threat you received. And why the fuck didn’t you call me the moment you did?”

I yanked out my phone, handing it to him. “It was nothing more than pushing me for a third time, trying to derail my typical handling of business. I’m not that stupid.”

Phoenix eyed me carefully before handing it to Nico to read.

“How poetic,” Nico snarled.

“We need to work very closely together. All of us. I have a bad feeling we’re in for a lot more and there will be follow-up actions to the threats made. And it won’t just be about our legitimate businesses either. You know that.”

“Does that mean there’s news out of Greece?” I asked.

“So far there’s nothing from the searches our uncle has completed, but the Brotherhood has some information on international syndicates experiencing the same shit you are. Why they started with you, I’m not certain but we will work together no matter what occurs. Understood, gentlemen?” Phoenix asked as he shifted his attention from Nico back to me.

Once he did, Nico winked. Our older brother did enjoy using his recently minted title in a heavy-handed authoritarian kind of way.

“Nico. You’re friendly with one of the local DEA agents. Go talk with the guy and find out if they’ve heard anything.”

Nico laughed. As the one considered the Consigliere of the organization, he hadn’t known how his law degree would come into play when he’d graduated top of his class at Harvard.

“Do you really think Ben is going to be up front about working some case?” Nico asked.

“The two of you are buddies. You went to college together.”

“That doesn’t mean he can provide classified details, bro,” I told our illustrious leader.

“He will if he knows what’s good for him.”

Nico coughed. “I’ll use a little more finesse than that, but he won’t provide details. I can promise you that.”

“Whatever you can glean from his perspective on the international scene will come in handy. Ask him if he’s aware of the Death Squad as well.” I threw out the idea. It couldn’t hurt at this point.

“Good. That could prove to be helpful. Whether he confirms or denies, you’ll know,” Phoenix threw in. “We’re headed to a meeting of the Brotherhood. After that, a meeting with our computer experts.”

“Then we’ll talk later,” Nico said. “And here I thought we’d have breakfast together.”

Snorting, I waved the man off. Nico had been encouraged to go to law school, not something he’d wanted to do, especially since he’d been a bit of a delinquent as a kid himself. But what our father had wanted, he’d gotten. At least with regard to his sons.

Phoenix seemed studious this morning. Although I wasn’t surprised, I had a feeling he had something on his mind he wanted to share.

“What is it other than the obvious?” I finally asked.