Vlad.
“What did he say?” I demand.
“He said he’ll take back what you stole from him,” Jacob answers.
I release Jacob and narrow my eyes. What the fuck is he saying to me?
Stole?
Me?
I haven’t stolen shit.
“I haven’t taken anything from him,” I rasp.
“He seems to think so. He said he’ll take it back, and he’ll take pleasure in killing you, your family, and anybody linked to you when the plan is complete. He said you can look for him all you want. You won’t find him, but he’ll come for you when he’s ready.”
“What bar were you in?” I ask.
“The Crow. I’ve seen him there three times now.”
I bite down hard on my back teeth. The fucking bar is a place I’ve been to twice already since we learned of Vlad’s return. Nobody knew anything, yet Vlad had been there three times. Lies. They’ll pay for that.
“When did you last see him?”
“Last night. Miguel, the owner, was talking to him,” Jacob explains.
I stand and glare down at Jacob. He’s looking at me like he doesn’t know what to expect. My brothers are doing the same. What I’m going to do is completely unexpected.
“Get the fuck up and get gone. Don’t say shit to anybody. This conversation never happened.”
Now he stares at me like he can’t believe I haven’t killed him.
He stands up and continues to stare. “What will you do? You know those men are above you. They’re assassins who work differently. Too strong for even the syndicate.”
“Never mind about me.”
“Emelia… what about her?” His brows knit together.
A cruel smile lifts the corners of my mouth. “My wife is none of your concern.
She’s mine now, and if I see you again, you’re dead. And so is anybody else you care about.” His eyes snap wide when I say that. The fool never thought of his family. “Count yourself lucky for disrespecting me and being the only guy ever to walk away. Now go.”
He’s definitely lucky. Lucky my feelings for Emelia are that strong that I couldn’t hurt him more than I did.
Jacob knows not to say any more shit to me. I watch him as he hobbles away.
I turn to the guards once he turns the corner of the alleyway and I can’t see him anymore.
“Get out of my sight and make sure my wife is safe,” I order.
Wife…
I have a wife now. And what a way to start our marriage, with another man telling the only woman I’ve ever gotten close to that he loves her. And this shit.
The guards move, and I turn to my brothers. They all look ready to kill.
Pa hung back to go home with Emelia. I wish he were here now.