“Not yet,” Sienna comments, “but he’ll be along shortly.”
“Are you sure about that?” I take my own seat across from them and sip the offered drink; it’s bubbly and sweet but definitely free from an alcoholic tang.
“Killian,” Dante warns with a slight edge in his voice. “We’ve been over this. The way Feliks slotted so easily into position tells us he was telling the truth, the old Pakhan and his archaic ways had very little in-house support. Please, this really could be the end of everything. No more death, no more threats, no more triple, and quadruple security.”
“No more temporarily closing down businesses to save lives,” Owen adds.
“We have a real chance here,” Sienna continues, sipping from a flute glass. “Things are finally changing in our favor.”
“People change,” Dante agrees and he quirks a brow at me, indicating to the glass in my hand as I drain it. “Even you. When was the last time you had a drink? You used to use alcohol as a crutch and now look at you.”
“I can’t remember,” I admit though I don’t appreciate Dante using me as an example of people changing. Even if he’s right. “I kind of like my life now, no need for a distraction.”
“How sweet,” Owen comments, and I roll my eyes, setting my glass down.
Where the heck is this guy?
No sooner has the thought flickered into my mind than the curtain pulls back and Feliks walks through, flanked by one of his men. Sienna and Dante rise immediately.
“Feliks.” Sienna holds out her hand and he smiles, shaking it gratefully.
“Sienna. I trust all the information I provided was to your liking?” he asks and she nods her head just once, stepping aside for Dante.
“Absolutely.” Dante offers his hand. “As we’ve said, your offering for peace wasverygenerous.”
I swallow a scoff with a sharp clearing of my throat. The Russians should never have tried to muscle in on my market in thefirstplace but it’s like beating a dead horse now.
“The price for peace is steep,” Feliks remarks, “it is a huge loss but we are now, officially, out of the gun-running business. All inquiries from parties old and new will be forwarded to you. I hope it can soothe a fraction of the pain the Family has caused you over these past months.”
“It’s a good step in moving forward,” Sienna states, and she retakes her seat. Dante follows. Their relaxed nature is reassurance as much as a threat. They don’t view Feliks as any kind of threat even here, secluded in a nightclub.
“Killian.” Feliks turns to me and I can see the way Sienna and Dante give me a warning look. Adon’t let your pride fuck this up for uslook.
I offer my hand.
“Feliks.”
“Nice to meet without bloodshed, eh? I never officially offered my apologies for how we met, or what happened to your man. I trust he recovered okay?” Feliks remarks with a smile that’s a little too friendly for my taste but I offer one back as he shakes my hand.
“Indeed,” I reply, heat skittering up my neck at the reminder of Archer’s injury. In the past such a thing would be retaliated with death but… here we are at peace.
He’s a man in over his head in leadership but if I’m being generous, at least he’strying.
“Owen.” Feliks moves from me to Owen and I drop down into the awaiting seat as they share their greeting. Dante offers me a grateful hidden smile. Feliks turns back to Dante and Sienna and pulls a small black folder from the inner pocket of his suit jacket.
“I understand you’re all very busy so I won’t stay for long, but when I stumbled upon this, I thought it best to let you know in person,” Feliks begins and he hands the folder to Dante. He immediately passes it to Sienna.
My heart skips a beat.That’s exactly what he said to the old Pakhan.
Old habits die hard I suppose.
“What is this?” Dante asks.
“There is still an old cell loyal to the old Pakhan, Russian idealists but when we tracked one down and killed him, he had this on him. He’d ranted and raved about their failure to take you all down from the inside and the bombing at the club that killed Callahan Ryan was the last-ditch attempt to take out at least one member of your family.”
“From the inside?” Dante asked and his tone causes my chest to tighten. Hearing such words must take him and Sienna right back to their dealings with the Snake and already my hackles rise, ready to jump in if need be.
“Yes,” Feliks nods, “the information of which is in there. I hope it can be of some use to you in answering any lingering questions and tracking down anyone responsible.”