Page 31 of Tainted Blood
“It seems the Russian needs a lesson in holding her tongue.” Santiago pours himself another drink, barely flickering. “I may have underestimated you.”
“More than you know.” At his raised eyebrow, I add, “Tell me, Santiago, how’s that new pilot of yours working out?”
I expected hellfire and brimstone. What I get is something far more unexpected. There’s a faint flicker of respect in his black eyes, before it’s suffocated by indifference.
I watch him exchange looks with Grayson. “Not well,” he answers eventually. “Benito just had himself a tragic accident.”
“How unfortunate. Almost as unfortunate as Svetlana’s will be.”
How unfortunate indeed. However, I need to veer this meeting back on track.
“This alliance won’t fail because it goes beyond business. This is about blood. About family...”
Grayson scrapes a hand across his jaw. “Did you manage to get anything out of Sanders?”
“I did...” comes a low, controlled voice.
Heads turn to where my father sits, deep in thought. “I vecchi peccati hanno le ombre lunghe.”
“Old sins have long shadows,” Santiago translates, his expression darkening. “He heard them say this?”
My father nods. “There are some things you never forget. The moment he said it, I knew what we were up against.” His gaze locks across the table. “I knew we couldn’t do this alone.”
“Anyone care to enlighten the rest of us?” I say, losing my temper.
My father grits his teeth. “Your Abuelo Alejandro, was a sick son a bitch who trafficked women. He enjoyed the hunt more than the kill. As such, it wasn’t long before La Societá Villefort came calling.”
“Like fucking poison.” Santiago’s grip tightens around his glass again.
“Their organization was mostly funded by trafficking. They controlled most of the networks, except the ones in and out of Mexico. In exchange for a huge cut, they offered him something money can’t buy.”
“Does that mean…?”
“No,” my father snaps at my insinuation. “After that bastard died, Villefort came to me offering membership. They left with three less men. Still, they didn't take the rejection lightly, and I’ve kept a vigilant eye on my borders ever since.” Letting out a curse, he finally reaches for the bourbon. “My knowledge of their inner workings is limited at best. However, he can tell us all we need to know.”
I follow his line of sight to where Santiago sits.
“Actually, this is Knight’s area of expertise,” I hear Grayson say.
“And who the fuck is Knight?” I say sharply, bringing my fist down hard on the table. “I’m done with the coded bullshit. We need to lay everything out, right now. There are two women out there who are counting on it.”
They’re counting on us.
The Colombian narrows his eyes, either to shield his contempt, or his respect. For the second time tonight, I’m suspecting the latter.
“Aiden Knight,” he clarifies, leaning back in his chair. “He’s a business associate of mine, going back twenty years. He launders money for me through his casinos on the French Riviera. He was knee-deep in Villefort until he cut himself free. In doing so, he brought the whole organization down. We believed it was dead and buried...”
There are emotions moving below his surface. Emotions he can’t contain. My stomach lurches. He’s thinking about Thalia. He knows she's in big trouble.
“Who’s it affiliated with?” I demand, bringing my fist down on the table again. “Mafia? The Russians?”
“It’s more complex than that. Back in the day, it offered an exclusive protection unit for billionaires, heads of state, royalty… They cleaned up their mess for a hefty price, and an even heftier sacrifice. They infiltrated governments. They were behind every decision on the world stage—”
“Illuminati bastard childs?”
“Something like that. They had stakes in every organized crime cell. Except mine and your father’s, and a couple of others...” He shifts his gaze to the man sitting next to me. “We have no interest in politics, other than when it suits us. We play in a very different league… As do you,” he adds, gifting me another concession. “Our reputations alone get us where we want to go.”
Damn right they do.