TEN
“I was wondering if you were going to show up.”
Saban leans back in his chair and grins smugly.
He’s a smart man. Only someone with extreme intelligence would be able to establish the empire he has here. The same with my brother. The only difference is, at least from what I’ve seen, Saban seems to have a tiny bit of a conscience. Maybe.
I drop down into a chair opposite him. “You were expecting me?”
He chuckles and places his elbows on his desk. “I figured there was a pretty good chance you would eventually need my help when you screwed over your brother and then fucked his fiancée.”
I had considered coming to Saban then, but I thought I had it under control and that he wouldn’t want to become embroiled in such a mess.
Now, I'm starting to wonder whether Tarek knew where we were the whole time and was just waiting for his opportunity to swoop and ruin our bliss.
No…that's not like him. He wouldn't want me to have any form of love or contentment and especially not with the woman he loves. Whatever information led him to me, it came later. Maybe from Saban, maybe from someone else.
“What is it you want, Konstandin?”
Revenge. The word almost slips out. It’s the most honest answer I can give. But if Saban has any heart at all, a proposition that’s still very much up for debate, I need to appeal to it as well as to his desire for power.
“I need to know where he took Jade. Even though he probably assumes I'm dead by this point, I know he's not dumb enough to take her back to his place, at least not for a while.”
He chuckles and rubs a hand across his jaw. “First, what makes you think I have any idea where he took her? Second, what makes you think I'd help you and potentially piss off your brother? We're allies now, remember?”
Allies is a bit of a strong word for what they are. It’s more like enemies who know they're both strong enough to destroy each other so they don't bother. Talk about a fucking cold war.
“I have no doubt you've talked to Tarek.”
He nods, and the corner of his mouth tips up. “I have. He called to tell me he found you in Denver and to thank me for the information I provided him.”
My hands fist on the armrests of my chair. I'm not surprised. Saban always was a worm, but that doesn’t stop the anger from making its way to the surface.
He waits for a response, and when he doesn't get one, he leans back in his chair again. “Come on, Konstandin, you had to have known I would know you were anywhere within a 200 mile radius of Chicago. I knew the moment you set foot in Rockford.”
No wonder I was so damn uneasy. I should have fucking known we were too close to him and all his connections.
“So you're the reason my brother found us?”
Saban shrugs. “That was well over a year ago. I lost track of you for a while, although I did have my men looking. I knew it was only a matter of time before either they or your brother located you.”
“Why did you help him?”
He raises his hands. “Why wouldn't I help him? From what I understand, he was the wronged party here, and as I mentioned, we made a truce. Telling him where he could find his fiancée, and his backstabbing brother, seemed like basic goodwill and something that may earn me some bonus points for future negotiations.”
Blood roars through my veins like napalm. This asshole is the reason we got caught. Yes, my brother may have found us eventually, but I have no doubt in my mind the information Saban provided helped him along the way. More eyes. More ears. More opportunities to be caught.
“Tell me where Jade is. I could be an ally to you. We both know you've always wanted my brother gone. Why not join forces with me? We could end this together.”
The smile he gives me is about as warm as dry ice. “I don't disagree with you on the fact that I want your brother gone, but there's something to be said for the status quo. I have a good thing going here. Taking on your brother’s territory would stretch my capabilities to their limits. Controlling one city is hard enough. Controlling two, plus all the area between them, would be something else altogether.”
I always knew Saban was a fucking ball-less pussy. It just would have been nice to have a friend with some power in all this. “Fine, but at least tell me where he took Jade.” I try to rein in my anger and not let it show in my words, but the quirk of his brow tells me I probably failed miserably at that.
“You aren’t really in any position to be making demands are you? You have no weapon, you're in foreign territory, and one call would have your brother’s men here before the end of the day to take you to him.”
All true, but Saban underestimates me. A mistake that usually doesn't end well for most people. I scan the room out of the corner of my eye.
“You're right.” I stand and step slightly toward the desk. “I have no leverage. I have no way to force you to tell me anything, but I'm asking you nicely…please tell me where he took Jade.”
Please is not a word that comes out of my mouth often. My throat burns from having even said it, but I’m making one last ditch effort to get what I need without starting a second war.
He tucks his hands behind his head and gives me yet another grin. “He was heading back to Philly, that's all I know.”
Whether he's being honest or lying is irrelevant at this point. He signed his death warrant the moment he admitted he helped my brother find me and Jade.