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“We’ll find out.”
I give him a hard look. “Dakota isn’t going to be used as bait, if that’s your bright idea.”
“Fuck you, Orion.”
“Fuck you, too.” I blow out a breath. “I need to go talk to her.”
“Talk.” He shakes his head and half laughs in that way only idiots would take as benignly bitter.
We might have different methods, but we’re evenly matched. Mostly.
I’m bigger, nastier than him. And I’m used to down and dirty fighting. I could kill him with my bare hands and he knows it.
Not that I would.
But I could.
I roll my shoulders and look at him.
“She’s a grown woman, and yeah, talk, Smith. I’ve been following her social media posts.” It started as something to do when learning about her and following her to make sure she was safe, but it’s turned into some kind of obsession. I keep that to myself as I lean forward on the sofa opposite Smith.
“Sleeping with her wasn’t enough?”
I ignore him. “I wanted to see if there was any hint to why she went on the trip, beyond her just wanting a break from her small slice of fame. And there’s one person who keeps posting. On every single video, photo, and comment she makes. SlyGuyZero. Can we get someone to find out who it is?”
“Consider it done.” He swallows more of his drink and stares into the glass. “I know how I look with all this, but she is my daughter, and while I’ve got reasons for keeping away from her on the whole, I do love Dakota.” Then he looks at me. “I want this shit blown open. I want the whole of the Collectors ground to dust.”
“You think that can happen? They’re a loose group; it’s just a lot of money and taking part in depraved shit. We can destroy this branch, have Malone take out whoever he’s after. But if it’s worldwide, won’t someone step in to stop us?”
He’s silent a long time. “Truth? Fuck if I know, Orion. But taking out the leaders will at least slow it down, maybe even bring it to its knees as a group. People might get scared off and keep away to protect themselves.”
Yeah, but ultimately another cell will spring up. Always does. It’s why we always have work. Why the Knights, when all is said and done, are the lesser evil in all the big jobs we do. Small ones? That’s pretty much gray. But something like this is black and white.
When I look at him, I understand the thoughts in his head. It’s not about the Obsidian Knights or his position. It’s not about anything other than destroying those who’d dare touch his.
And I’m with him on that.
These people wanted to use and abuse Dakota.
Not one of them deserves to live.
“What I want is every one of them fucking incinerated.” He downs the rest of his drink. “I want my kid safe. Not just now, but always. It’s why I keep away from her. Why you need to, too.”
I clench the bottle, my guts greasy, twisted up with the knowledge that he’s right. Even if I wanted her in my life, I can’t have her there. I’ll burn the world for her if I need to, and then push her away to keep her safe.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“To see Dakota. Lock up when you leave.”
It takes one quick call for the driver to suddenly take Dakota on the scenic route so I’m outside her place when she pulls up.
Her face is icy, eyes narrowed. I lean against the black steel gate near the tiny patch of cement before the handful of stairs that lead up to the brownstone.
“What do you want?”
“To talk,” I say, nodding at the driver.
Dakota looks back and then to me. “I’m guessing I’ve got you to thank for that long-ass trip around Manhattan.”
