The Inside Man: A Dublin Nights Novel

by Sahin, Brittney

  But I didn’t want Maxim shooting anyone. So, I stepped backward, all the while reaching out like Cole was a slowly vanishing spirit I desperately needed to say goodbye to before he was taken from me for good.

  My stomach squeezed. The pain in my chest magnified.

  “I’m okay,” Cole assured me. But would he be?

  “Please, I think he needs medical attention.” I faced Maxim, hoping to find a friend and not a foe despite the heavy truth I’d dropped on him.

  “He’ll be fine,” Maxim said, though his eyes weren’t on me but on Sebastian.

  He didn’t yet trust my brother even though Sebastian had saved his daughter. The League took down criminals, and here Maxim was facing both Cole and Sebastian. On any other day, he most likely would have viewed them as a threat in spite of Sebastian having saved his daughter’s life. But Maxim had shown up. Meaning he must have believed there was a chance Adrian had betrayed him, so I had to cling to the hope we’d work this out.

  But how much time did we have?

  “Luca Moreau has played everyone for far too long,” Sebastian explained, his voice low and gravelly, an indication it was taking all of his restraint not to come for me, same as Cole. There were too many guns behind me, and neither my brother nor Cole would dare risk even breathing if their actions would endanger me. “We believe Adrian hired Luca to kill Dimitri, but instead, Luca hid him away at a League prison for months, trying to gain information about your organization for The Alliance. Dimitri never broke despite the torture Luca put him through. When it became too risky to keep him imprisoned, Luca ended his life.”

  When Cole’s hand slipped to his side, and I caught him hiding a wince of agony, my knees buckled. I had to do something.

  Before Maxim could respond, the back doors opened again.

  Luca.

  Fucking Luca.

  Emilia walked at his right side, and for some reason, Sean had chosen to help out, walking at Luca’s left. He didn’t belong here risking his life like this.

  “This is him?” Maxim took one step. All his men behind him took two.

  Luca’s lips curved at the edges when our eyes connected as he closed in on us. His shuffled movements were a result of the cuffs on his ankles. Hands bound, too. He should have been gagged. I wanted that smirk gone. The satisfied grin wiped from his face.

  He did this.

  All of this.

  Cole turned slightly, his hand slipping from his wound, his chest rising and falling as he dragged in deep breaths, most likely trying to get a handle on his anger. If he felt like me, his anger was filling every crevice of his being.

  “Luca was formerly League,” Sebastian began, “and I only learned of his betrayal to us a few months ago.”

  “Good to see you, princess.” Luca lifted his chin as he walked, the smug greeting causing Cole to snap his hands at his sides as if itching to strike him.

  When I glimpsed my own hands, they were formed as fists—the same as my brother. Same as Maxim.

  We all wanted a piece of Luca.

  But I had no idea how this moment would play out.

  Emilia and Sean stopped when they were about ten feet away from Maxim, standing not too far from Sebastian and Cole.

  Luca frowned for a brief moment as he glanced at Jacques’s body on the ground. “Looks like my friend didn’t make it.”

  Every part of me was on fire, the fatigue replaced by pure wrath. The air practically charged with fury the moment the devil stepped inside.

  “You wanted this? To bring us all here. Why?” Maxim waved off his guard, an order to remain in place when he moved to stand directly before Luca.

  Luca peered at me, then turned his head to catch sight of my brother. “I would think it obvious.” An arched brow had Maxim grabbing hold of his chin, forcing Luca’s attention on him, and Luca still managed a cocky smile. Not threatened at all. No fear of death, and that had my stomach dropping.

  I stole a quick look at Cole. His hand once again pressed to the wound at his side, but he appeared to be hanging in there. Skin coloring normal. No signs of distress.

  When my eyes landed back on Maxim, he had a gun cocked and aimed at Luca’s temple. Part of me wanted him to pull that trigger. Maybe more than just a part.

  “You shoot me, and you never learn the truth.” Arrogance continued to flow through his speech despite Maxim’s hold on his jaw.

  “What truth is that?” Maxim kept the gun tight to his temple.

  “The truth behind the betrayal in your organization, behind Dimitri’s death.” At Luca’s words, Maxim released his chin, but he didn’t lower his weapon. “I’m not going to try and pretend Dimitri wasn’t in my prison, or to deny whatever the lovely Alessia has already confessed. Adrian would have hired someone to handle the job, though. Am I really to blame?”

  Was Luca seriously trying to spin the narrative? To convince Maxim to show mercy because someone else paid him to take his son’s life? But when Maxim removed his gun from Luca’s temple, I faltered a step out of fear the conniving son of a bitch might actually survive this.

  “Adrian’s not the only one who betrayed you, Petrov,” Luca announced.

  Emilia tightened her hold on Luca’s one arm as he shook out his shoulders, an attempt to keep him still and in place. She wanted him dead as much as me.

  “But did Adrian seek you out, or did you whisper ideas of power into his head and coerce him into murdering Dimitri?” My words hung in the air, stretching and stretching until Maxim shook his head.

  “I don’t need to hear what you have to say. I will speak to my nephew for answers,” Maxim remarked, remaining fairly level-headed and steady given the situation. “There is no need for you.”

  Luca had to have more ammunition in his pocket. Always thinking ahead. Prepared. He’d tricked my brother for so long. He was more of a con artist than anything.

  “I have no plans on going back to that League cell,” Luca said while catching my eyes. “It’s not nearly as comfortable as the one you spent years in.”

  “Fecking bastard!” Cole sprung forward, but Sebastian hooked his arm, halting him.

  “Don’t,” I mouthed, worried one of Maxim’s men would shoot, and Cole slowly relaxed.

  “You’re right. You’re not going back,” Cole noted. “You’re going to die.”

  Luca’s mouth pinched almost as if in amusement. “You see, I don’t like that idea much, either.”

  “Not up to you, Moreau,” Sebastian hissed, releasing Cole once he’d backed down.

  I was closer to Cole now. If we both reached out, we’d be able to link our hands together.

  “What makes you think I’d let you walk away a free man after what you have done?” Maxim asked, unphased by the sudden turn of conversation between Cole, Sebastian, and Luca.

  “Because I can offer what you’ve always wanted,” Luca said, his words leaving a trail of goose bumps all over my skin.

  “The Alliance,” I said under my breath.

  “And you can take them down?” Maxim asked, a mocking tone of disbelief.

  “Yes,” Luca said. “But only from the inside.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Cole

  “Don’t do it,” I protested the ridiculous notion we’d allow Luca to infiltrate The Alliance for us. To continue to live and breathe.

  I released my side, ignoring the pain that was worse than I’d let on.

  “This isn’t up for discussion,” Sebastian chimed in, agreeing with me. “We can work together, the Petrovs and The League, to dismantle The Alliance. We don’t need Luca.”

  “And you will help me take down the enemy, even if it means I profit off their demise?” Maxim asked.

  “We’ll have The League strike a new deal. One with the Petrovs. Void the pact with The Alliance,” Sebastian answered before I could get the words out, and Emilia nodded in agreement.

  “The League won’t do that, especially not when there’s a League leader secretly double-dipping
.” Luca winked at Sebastian, clearly trying to throw him off with more bogus intel.

  “He’s lying,” Sebastian swiftly responded, not taking the bait. “You were The Alliance’s inside man. And clearly Jacques, as well,” he added, directing his gaze to the dead man on the floor.

  Jacques? Was he The League member who tipped Sebastian off about J.J.? My stomach wrenched at the idea he’d been working with Luca.

  “Your League leaders have refused such a deal with my organization before. They chose The Alliance over Petrovs.”

  “It was a decision I’ve never agreed with,” Sebastian started, “but they did it to stop all the bloodshed. A war between The League and Alliance that neither side seemed capable of ending,” he added. “But perhaps, we should have thought outside of the box. Sought other allies to face off with our adversaries for the greater good.”

  Work with a Russian mob to take down another criminal enterprise? I’d never have pictured this would be my life back when I’d been partying in New York, when I’d been fucking around, not realizing Alessia was out there, waiting for me, needing me . . .

  “The Alliance has men and women all over the world. Politicians. CEOs of businesses,” I said what we all knew, but I wanted to reiterate one important fact. “They hide their true faces. Live a life of hypocrisy. At least you don’t pretend to be something you’re not.”

  “He’s right. You’re nothing like The Alliance.” Alessia stepped forward, and my pulse jumped at the sight of two of Maxim’s men training their pistols on her.

  Maxim waved his guards off, and I almost stumbled in relief. And also, my feckin’ side hurt. I wasn’t sure how deep the prick outside cut me after Sebastian and I had finally disarmed their guns before we’d had to switch to hand-to-hand combat.

  “Dimitri told me he never killed innocent people,” Alessia continued with Maxim’s attention on her. “And it was his desire to run the company more like The League. Profitable but with less bloodshed.” Her glossy brown eyes grew even sadder as if remembering the friend she’d made inside that hell in Russia.

  “Are you League now?” Maxim asked. “Do I have your word you will ensure these men keep their promise to me?”

  Alessia turned and scanned all of us. Emilia, Sean, Sebastian, and then me. “Yes. We’re all League. We’re all just people trying to right a bunch of wrongs.” Her admission had my chest tightening with both fear and pride. “We’re in this together. United.”

  “Alessia.” There was a whisper of worry in Sebastian’s voice. He didn’t want her to get involved, but she already was, and I had to accept that. There was no more fighting it. Her big brown eyes went to her brother, and his lips parted to protest, but he sealed his mouth closed a moment later and nodded.

  “You have five League leaders in here to give you their word.” Emilia’s comment had us looking her way, even Luca. “Five people who can serve as leader when it comes time to vote on the deal with The League.”

  Was Emilia seriously considering Alessia and Sean take on a leadership role as well?

  “The last deal with The Alliance forced me to step down, and that will no longer be necessary if we strike a deal with you.” Sebastian bunched his right hand at his side as if fighting with himself to get the next words out. “Per League rules, one must be a billionaire to serve the country, which Alessia”—he looked to my cousin next—“and Sean McGregor are. We’ve never had more than one per country, but strength in numbers to go up against The Alliance might be exactly what we need.”

  Alessia blinked in surprise, but she lifted her chin shortly after as if boldly accepting the challenge.

  I had no idea if this would work, but if we convinced the rest of The League to unite with us, we wouldn’t need Luca’s help.

  “You’re quiet.” Maxim eyed Luca, and for the first time, I’d nearly forgotten the bastard was even there, too caught up in the possibility we were getting through to Maxim.

  “Just curious how you’ll be able to take down one of the most powerful organizations in the world.” Luca brought his linked hands together and motioned toward the body on the floor a few meters away. “Inside his pocket is a USB drive, which contains only a fraction of the intel I acquired while secretly working with The Alliance. Names of men you would never dream would be part of the organization. Look at it, and you’ll see just how valuable I am.”

  “I don’t give a fuck,” Sebastian yelled.

  Emilia gave Luca’s arm a sharp yank, which he repaid with another of his smug looks.

  “Harder, ma chérie. It’s been too long since we’ve had sex, and I know you like it rough.” Luca turned his attention to me. “Like you, right? Maybe you and Emilia here should screw.”

  “Son of a bitch.” I moved past the guards, my focus back on him and only him. And this time, Sebastian didn’t stop me.

  Emilia and Sean quickly released him and stepped aside, clearing the way for me to land a punch square to his jaw. Luca stumbled back, his lip bleeding. “Do it,” he urged. “I had cameras in her room. I watched her for four years while you could only fantasize about it.”

  I knocked him to the ground and straddled him, raining blow after blow as he lay helpless to fight back. Rage ripping through me. Blood splattering from every strike.

  “Cole.” Alessia’s voice, and her palm on my shoulder, stopped me in my tracks.

  Luca laughed and spit blood. “Fighting me while I’m tied up. That the only way you can do it?”

  Sebastian and Sean were pulling me off him a second later after I’d struck him again. “Why are you stopping me? He should die.” I threw an angry hand in the air preparing to punch, but then I looked up to see Alessia, her eyes tight on me, her hands in the air in surrender when Maxim’s guards circled us. A few bullets would wipe us all out.

  I had to focus. To get my head on straight.

  But when I looked back at the floor where Luca struggled to sit, I wanted to pummel his face again. To hit until I saw bone. Then hit some more.

  “That is enough!” Maxim cocked his head to the side. “For now.” He waved his guards to Luca to help him on his feet.

  It took me a moment to realize another guard was fishing something out of Jacques’s pocket. The USB?

  “You kill me, and you never see your son again.” Luca’s words had Alessia’s eyes widening in shock.

  Alessia cupped her mouth, and I pulled her into my arms since Maxim’s men didn’t appear as though they’d stop me.

  “His corpse,” Luca said. “A proper burial. You want that to happen?”

  Alessia brought her cheek to my chest, and her fingers went to the wound at my side as if checking the damage.

  Maxim stepped in front of Luca. “Tell me where he is now, or I shoot you. How about that?” Maxim raised his weapon to Luca’s temple.

  Luca smiled, blood on his teeth. “Do it, and you never find out. I need assurances I will live before I talk.”

  “Don’t give in to him.” I held on to Alessia even tighter, never wanting to let go, despite the fact I was bleeding even more, and I hoped to hell she didn’t notice.

  “Uncuff me. Let me have my turn at Cole, and I’ll give you Dimitri’s body,” Luca offered, and Alessia pulled out of my grasp. “You let me live after that, and I give you the other person in your organization who betrayed you, and I’ll help you take down The Alliance.”

  “No,” Alessia cried. “Don’t, please. Luca made me fight your son, and . . .” Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes as she shook her head, terrified about the possibility I’d fight Luca.

  “I’ll do it.” This needed to end and now.

  “Cole.” It was my cousin. Was he going to attempt to walk me away from this cliff? A cliff, as far as I was concerned, I’d already been pushed off the day Luca entered Alessia’s life.

  Sebastian stepped forward, already working his sleeves to his elbows.

  “No.” Sean shook his head, eyeing his brother-in-law. “You might take it too far and k
ill him, and you promised my sister you wouldn’t murder him or anyone else.”

  Alessia faced me and placed her palm to my chest. “If someone has to fight, it should be me. He forced me to steal Dimitri’s life.” She abruptly whirled toward Maxim. “Let me force him to give you the location of Dimitri’s body so we can offer him a proper burial. Dimitri deserves that.”

  “Absolutely not,” I said before she turned and surprised me by brushing her lips over mine, and so help me, why did it feel like she just kissed me goodbye?

  “This is not happening,” Sebastian said as Maxim motioned for Luca’s release from the cuffs.

  Maxim’s chest lifted and fell with a heavy breath, and I was going to lose my mind while we waited for his decision.

  We had League members outside, prepared to enter as a last resort, but we didn’t want this to turn into a bloodbath, or for Alessia to get hurt in the crossfire.

  “You don’t dictate the terms, but if you do not offer the location of my son after the fight, I will cut out your eyes and your tongue and feed them to my dog.” Maxim’s gaze cut to me. “You love this woman?”

  “More than anything.” I snatched Alessia’s hand without a second thought.

  “My son gave up his life to keep her safe.” Maxim stroked his jaw, contemplative, and every second he took was another knife to my side. “I will let one of you fight Luca in her place. I will not let something happen to her after my son sacrificed so much to ensure she lived.”

  Alessia squeezed my hand as if in regret, but my entire body relaxed at his words. “Let me. I won’t kill him.” Not yet, at least.

  “You’re injured,” Sebastian reminded me as if I’d forgotten, and hell, with everything going on, a knife wound in my side wasn’t a priority.

  “I’m fine.” I quickly captured Alessia’s cheeks and set my lips to hers. “Everything will be okay,” I promised, and when I pulled back, I hated I’d left smudges of my blood on her face. “I’ve got this.”