Retribution (27 page)

“You will. I can’t finish
this with you here Kat. You’re too distracting!” It wasn’t common
for him to raise his voice, but she needed to listen to him. He
softened his tone but the fierceness was still in it. “I’m having
trouble thinking about anything beyond you as it is. I can’t have
you here with what’s about to go down.”

“We said we’d do this
together.” Her voice cracked. She wouldn’t cry, no, she wouldn’t.
How could he send her away? She needed to see this through as much
as he did. Didn’t he get that?

He studied her for a
moment. “I know you think you owe something to the lives your
father has destroyed, but that is not your
responsibility.”

“It’s not yours either,”
she countered.

He never said
anything.

She sat straight back in
her chair and stared at him. He wore that same unreadable
expression she’d come to dislike. “I need to ask you something.
Please be honest.”

He hesitated, but then
nodded once.

“What would your brother
say?” She knew from the way Ryan talked about him that the man had
integrity.

He smiled. “He’d say; that
it’s not your fight Ryan. It was my choice.”

“He would?”

“Yes. I’ve heard it a
hundred times in my head. Then he’d give me shit for falling in
love.”

She smiled and her eyes
watered. “He sounds like a jerk.”

He felt his own mouth pull
into a bittersweet smile. Georgy would never meet Katya and he
would’ve wanted to. “He would have liked you, a lot.”

She rubbed the wetness away
with the back of her thumb. “Please don’t send me away. Let’s see
this through together, for my mom and Georgy.”

He brushed his hand down
his face clearly conflicted. “Look, if you get hurt, I’ll never
forgive myself.”

“I won’t.”

“Even a
scratch.”

She smiled again. “I have
family immunity. You need me.”

He shook his head. “I’m
going insane and soft. I really am. I wouldn’t have even considered
this a few weeks ago. I would have just hogtied you and have you
hauled away.”

“I love you so much,” she
confessed softly.

He met her eyes. “I know
you do, and that’s what makes this hard. I’m going to need help
with this.”

“Help? What kind of
help?”

***

“What the hell is this?”
Peter waved an arm over a pile of photos.

“You didn’t believe me.
This is proof.” Ivan spread the photos out on Peter’s desk.
“They’re sleeping together.”

Peter picked up one and
stared at it. Then he tossed it on the desk. “So?”

Ivan look surprised.
“They’re sleeping together,” he repeated, “I’ve seen them together
when they thought they were alone. Look, they’re holding hands.” It
was the photo he took this morning when they went for breakfast
together. He snapped a few of them, but this one showed obvious
affection between the two.

“Good.”

“Good?” He was taken
back.

“A man like Ryan Casey is
screwing my daughter. Do you think I’d be disappointed? The man is
a bloody machine, and I need him. Now I have him by the balls. He
wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize my business. Especially after
seeing these.”

“Boss, we don’t know this
man. We can’t trust him. He could be like the last one…”

“I don’t trust him.
However, Casey, is not a Miami detective. Every one of my sources
came back clean. The man is an elite killer, he’s black ops. He’s
the best, and I need him with us, not against us. My soldiers are
getting slaughtered over this rivalry. I needed him but I knew he
was particular so I had to persuade him in another way.” He put his
fists on his desk and leaned toward Ivan, a sparkle of devious
intelligence lit his eyes. “Why the fuck do you think I put him in
the adjoining room with Katya.”

“You planned
this?”

“Of course I did. She’s
beautiful. I don’t care how much glacial water runs in your veins.
She’ll crack any exterior just with her looks. She is a spitting
image of her mother, and I married her for her beauty besides her
rank in society.” He chuckled looking down at the photos again. “It
looks like she’s better than I thought. He outright adores her. It
was a bonus, him being so good looking besides skilled. She fell
for him. Now I own him.”

“Boss, she could get
hurt.”

He shrugged. “Casey will
take care of her. I just needed his loyalty. Now I’ve got him.
He’ll do anything to protect her and I need him to help me with
that shipment tonight. Find him and bring him to me.”

“Why didn’t you tell
me?”

His grey eyes studied his
most trusted for a moment before he answered. “Because I couldn’t
have you botching this up. You’re so love starved its painted on
your face like a neon sign. Now get me Casey.”

Ivan clenched his fists at
his sides. This didn’t sit well with him at all. He didn’t like
another man touching what he thought was his, especially a man who
looked like Casey did. He couldn’t compete with that. Worst of all,
he was an outsider. He wasn’t family. Well, he’d take care of him.
It was already arranged. “Yes boss.” He turned and left the
room.

When Ryan and Katya
returned from breakfast they went for a jog along the beach. She’d
been getting better, well, not as good as him, but she wasn’t as
exhausted as she used to be. She was impressed at his endurance,
but really she shouldn’t be. She almost blushed at the memories
returning from the night before. At least she’d found it in her to
enjoy the run despite the looming danger of tonight.

They were walking through
the path of the gardens in the back that led to the beach when Ivan
found them.

“Boss wants to see
you.”

“What for?” Katya asked
glaring at Ivan.

Ryan held up his hand and
gave her a look that said ‘we talked about this’. She kept the
glare but snapped her mouth shut.

Ivan looked completely
enraged that she’d listened to him so easily. His eyes went back
and forth between the two. He had images of slitting this man’s
throat in the back of his mind.

“All right.” He was
wondering when he’d approach him about the shipment again. He knew
he would. Peter needed him and he was relentless in getting what he
wanted. He intended to go along this time though.

“I’m going to shower,”
Katya said walking away as if neither man meant anything to her.
She looked over her shoulder before she went in the house. Ryan’s
eyes glanced off her but there was nothing to indicate that he held
affection for her. Gosh, he was good.

Ryan returned his attention
to Ivan and held his hand out for him to lead the way. Ivan scowled
and turned around to go back in the house.

When he walked into Peter’s
office with Ivan he got right to the point.

“I need you
tonight.”

“I’ll do it.” He crossed
his arms across his chest.

“Either you take the job,
or you’re gone—what?”

“It has to be done my
way—”

“—
Like hell!” Ivan
interrupted.

Peter held up his hand
cutting him off. He honestly expected another fight, and was
willing to use his daughter as a pawn in the whole scheme. Whatever
changed this man’s mind, he didn’t care. This was easy. Kat didn’t
realize the extent of her involvement, but he sure as hell
appreciated her lure for the opposite sex at that
moment.

Ryan finally turned his
attention to Ivan. “The operation is still yours, but I have two
men I want brought in on this.”

“No way!” Ivan
protested.

Peter nodded toward Ivan.
“I agree with him. I will not have strangers come into my employ.
Especially since I hadn’t had time to check them out.”

“I understand.” He reached
across Peter’s desk and retrieved a note pad and a pen and wrote a
phone number on them. “This number is to the head of the Castile
family. Frank Castile’s younger brother is black ops, his
protection, and a friend.”

Peter looked taken back. It
was almost amusing, the look of shock on his face. Usually this man
was raging or disgustingly full of himself.

“You’re joking, right? You,
friends with the Castile family?” Frank Castile was well known
among his industry, he was the most powerful biggest drug cartel in
New York State at one time. Everyone knew who he was in his
circles. “You’re pulling my leg.”

He shrugged a shoulder as
if it was nothing. “They also have a younger half-brother Mario,
who is mentored by Nick and very capable. If you want me, I need
those two.”

“Why didn’t you tell me
when I hired you? That would have saved me a lot of
effort.”

“It wasn’t
necessary.”

“Necessary?” He looked at
Ivan. “Do you believe this guy?”

“I never believe him,” Ivan
answered glaring at Ryan.

Peter waved an arm. “Of
course you wouldn’t.” He turned back to Ryan. “I heard Frank
retired, because of political pressures. To this day, no crimes
have been linked to him. It’s unheard of.”

“That has something to do
with Nick, and if you call that number, it’s Frank Castile’s
personal cell phone number. You can’t tell me that any source you
have is as good as that.”

“How do you know they’re
good?”

“Remember that hostage
taking in Beirut?”

Peter nodded.

“They were my
team.”

Peter just stared at him in
awe. “Just who the fuck are you?”

Ryan’s mouth pulled up at
the corner. “Nick Castile is a human weapon. He is more skilled
than all of your men put together.” Ivan made a sound of disbelief
but Ryan ignored him. “If you want that shipment bad enough, we’ll
get it for you.”

Well, Ivan certainly had
nothing to say that time.

“It’s also going to cost
you. These two aren’t cheap.”

Peter found it interesting
that Ryan never let on about any of his own talents. After the past
few weeks, he knew he was exceptionally skilled, but not inclined
to brag about anything. That alone made him know that he was more
than likely right up there with Nick Castile. “Done!” Peter agreed
immediately. “But after I make a call.”

***

When the two striking dark
haired gentlemen walked through the airport, side by side, both
displaying even confident strides, it didn’t matter what age,
female heads turned. They were an incredible sight. What most women
would categorize as tall, dark and handsome, the Castile brothers
carried themselves with poise and confidence. They were
immaculately dressed in dark suits and had one small black carry-on
bag each.

Nick Castile was over six
feet, dark hair and dark brown cool eyes. His younger brother Mario
was a spitting image of the same Castile genes, but four inches
shorter at six feet, and about twenty five pounds less of muscle.
He’d put on fifteen in the last two years thanks to his brother’s
rigorous training.

Another difference besides
age, was the smile Mario wore. Mario was excited at this new
adventure his older brother brought him on. Nick rarely ever
smiled. That was proven when Mario grinned at attractive women they
passed, and Nick never paid them any heed.

Fortunately, he wasn’t
tainted by an abusive upbringing like his older brothers, Nick and
Frank. Mario was raised by a loving mother and nurtured. He was
outgoing, and always had a smile on his face. He always thought he
annoyed Nick because he was so talkative, and Nick’s expression
always remained unreadable, but his brother never indicated it one
way or another. Only when he offered to train him, had he realized
that Nick cared about him. Soon after they found out they were
half-brothers. Affection wasn’t easy for Nick, and what little he
showed him, said a lot. Now he’d take him on private jobs and it
was difficult for Mario to contain his excitement. He had a knack
for it, like Nick. Yet, he was certain he’d never attain his
brother’s skills. Nick was a machine. He could anticipate things
way ahead of time and was flawless in his execution. The first time
he’d seen him in action, left him in awe.

The only time Nick smiled
since they left home, wasn’t at the flirting stewardesses, or the
ticket sales lady, it was when he spotted Ryan Casey. They embraced
in greeting and Ryan shook Mario’s hand, then slapped him on the
shoulder to tell him he looked good with the muscle he’d put on. He
saw the pride in his older brother’s eyes, not something people
could brag about, because he was so hard to read. He shook Ryan’s
hand enthusiastically. “I have a good trainer.”

“I’m sure,” Ryan agreed
flicking his eyes to one of his oldest friends. “Are you sure about
this Nick?”

He shrugged. “I can’t get
too soft.”

Soft?
Ryan chuckled. “How’s your wife?”

“Jordan is an angel. I have
a son now, too.”

“Wow, I’d never thought.
She must be something to stay with you,” he joked.