AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s what I’m doing now.”
“It’s a little late for that…”
“It’s never too late, Sophia. I spent all day following the leads I was given in the morning. It took until the very last minute, but somehow, I managed to find my way back to the brownstone, back to you. I was also able to find out that Spyros had a faction of soldiers in the city. If I had paused for even one second to lament that it was too late to do anything, nothing would have gotten done. Retsos might even have you by now…”
The thought sends a chill up my spine.
“He would have never had a shot if you had told Leo what you knew…”
“There were other reasons why I couldn’t tell him,” Castor sighs. “And it’s not just because I didn’t have his number.”
“Just tell me, Castor. I’m sick of not knowing shit.”
“… I was tipped off by the Italians, Sophia. They’re supposed to be Leo’s allies. But they weren’t telling me this shit to help him, they were telling me to get in good with the Greeks. They want to betray the Barinovs and the Kilpatricks.”
My stomach churns as I imagine Leo’s reaction to this information. He would never believe it coming from Castor’s mouth—and even if he did, it wouldn’t have helped anything.
“… The Italians?”
“That’s right. They thought that by helping me get you back, and then hooking us up with Spyros and his men, they’d get us on their side—or, at least, they’d give enough fuel to Leo’s enemies to help take him down.”
“Why do they want to take him down?” I gulp, suddenly not feeling so ferocious. Is the whole world against us?
“I didn’t stop to ask,” Castor replies. “Not that I had the chance to. They only slipped a coded note through my window. Then, about an hour later, I’m pretty sure they caused a distraction that helped me escape through that same window.”
“So, you didn’t hurt any of Leo’s men… but they might have?”
“I hope not,” Castor sighs.
“You lied to me, Castor.”
“No, I didn’t. We didn’t have time for me to explain everything. Retsos was coming. But now that we have a moment to breathe, I’m telling you all that I know. The Italians warned me that Retsos was coming after you. The Italians helped me escape. And I’m certain they’re doing it because they think that we’re stronger than whatever Retsos can bring against Leo and his allies—they weren’t clear but I don’t think they believe Spyros and his men are the one’s behind the bombs. If they did, they might have tried to ally with Retsos instead. They want to spread the chaos as far and as wide as possible.”
“… But they don’t know that we’re going to fight with Leo.”
“I never got the chance to tell them that,” Castor smiles.
Fuck.
… How could I stay mad at him?
“Either way, we should get out of here,” I say. “You said that Retsos had set up a distraction for Leo, so that he wouldn’t be around to protect me. How do we know it isn’t a trap? Leo could be in danger. We should be there to help him… just in case. Did the Italians tell you where Retsos was leading Leo?”
“They gave me a hint. I’ll take us—”
Before Castor can finish, a loud knocks comes from the other side of the metal door that he’s leaning against. The vibrations seems to shake his tender wounds, and my giant grimaces, but doesn’t flinch away.
“Should I let them out?” Castor asks.
“Do you think they’ll come help us give Leo some back up?”
Castor shrugs. “Maybe.. or maybe they’ll try to stop us.”
“There’s no point in taking the risk, then. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Pulling out his own gun, Castor slowly backs away from the alley door, keeping the muzzle trained at the entrance, just in case anyone decides to try and follow us.
We don’t get far before the door barges open.
