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Vlad stood up. “If that’s how you really feel, then you should be having this conversation with the leader. Not me.”
“I chose you because you know how this organization works.”
“I’m a Soldier…”
“No. To me, you’re Vlad. Someone I can trust. Someone who left this world because he knew how fucked up it could be. Someone who wanted to protect his family from this life. But, since you’ve returned to it, I’m assuming you’ve failed to protect your family from this life.”
“Careful, Constantine.”
“You should’ve been careful Vlad. If you had, you wouldn’t be here. You wouldn’t be working for the organization. And I wouldn’t be hearing rumors that your sister is missing. Is that why you returned to the leader? Do you need help finding your sister?”
Vlad clenched his hands into fists. Con knew he was pissing the man off. He needed Vlad to be mad, he needed Vlad to see fault in the organization. Only then would Vlad help him.
“Is that the reason?” Con asked again.
“My reasons are my own.”
“There were others you could’ve turned to. You could’ve come to me. You could’ve gone to…”
“Everyone who could’ve helped me is affiliated with the Soldiers. We are not here to talk about me. We’re here to talk about you. The leader wants his men reinstated here. He wants you to continue using his resources to search for Boris. He doesn’t want outsiders knowing Boris is missing.”
“I understand the leader’s reasons for wanting these things. But I have no intention of implementing them. When he sent me here, I told him I would find Boris by any means necessary. The means I’m using are necessary.”
“Fine. Be stubborn. I have to report this conversation to the leader. Do you want me to tell him you don’t trust the Soldiers? Or do you want me…”
“You can tell him whatever you like. Hell, he can even fire me and hire someone else to run this club. I don’t give a shit. Either way, I’m not leaving Chicago until I find Boris. The leader is busy looking for one of his Soldiers. That’s all he thinks of Boris as. I’m looking for my friend. I’m looking for a father, a husband, who has a family that cries for him every night.”
Vlad rubbed his hand through his hair.
“His wife thinks he’s dead. She’s losing weight. She refuses to eat. She’s having suicidal thoughts. His daughter, who is a straight A student, is falling asleep in class because she stays up as late as she can, in hopes that her father will come home.”
“That’s enough…”
“The Soldiers are supposed to take care of their own, right? Then why am I paying Delilah’s bills and providing an allowance for Azariah? Why am I the only one visiting them? Why does it seem like I’m the only one who cares?”
“Enough!” Vlad yelled.
“I feel the same way.” Con stood up. “Enough. Enough depending on the Soldiers for this. I will use my own means. But I am not too proud to admit I need help. I need help from people I can trust. I trust you, Vlad.”
Vlad shook his head. “Why does everyone continue trying to get me to go against the Soldiers. First, Garrett and Dean. And now you. Do I look that disloyal to you motherfuckers?”
“No. It’s because you are loyal. You’re loyal to your friends. And you recognize that the organization is flawed. I’m not asking you to be disloyal to the leader. I’m not asking you to disobey the leader’s orders. I’m just asking you to help me find Boris. Ultimately, that’s what I was sent here to do. The way I do it shouldn’t matter. As long as I get the job done, right?”
“The leader will be upset.”
“When is he not upset with me?”
“He thought for sure this time you would do things his way.”
“He knows I like to get shit done my way. If he was really upset, he would’ve come here himself. Or sent his brother.”
Vlad nodded. “You know him well.”
“Him, Yury and I, used to be best friends.”
“Then why don’t you trust him more?”
“I never said I didn’t trust him. I don’t trust everyone he lets into the organization. We are a group of killers. Why would I trust all of you? I’m pretty sure there are some members who don’t trust me.”
