Page 62 of Conceal

Hannah: Yes. Are you safe?

Me: I am, but I could use a friend

Hannah: What can I do?

I think about that for a minute. Because I honestly don’t know. Asking her to risk her men isn’t the way to do it. I won’t have anyone die for me.

Me: Hypothetically speaking, if I wanted my husband to… not be my husband anymore… What's the best way to go about that?

Three bubbles appear and disappear, and hope grips my chest. Please have someone smarter than me help me!

Hannah: Do you have any allies on the inside?

That sounds more like one of her guys asking, but I don’t mind. I’d three-way call her and her guys and my guys if it meant figuring all this out, but I’d be too afraid someone will overhear through my door.

Me: No. Not one

Three more bubbles and that hope swells even as nerves eat away at my belly. Please don’t say you can’t help me.

Hannah: This is Rico. Every operation has a weakness. Vitale's known for being careless. There's a paper trail somewhere. You just need to find it. His men aren't that loyal

And then that’s it. Okay. So, I have to find proof of his shady business, and then what? Send it to the FBI?

Suddenly, an image of a SWAT team busting down the door instead of me or Hannah’s men seems that much more appealing. I can do this.

But the guard in front of his office. I wonder if he’s there all the time? Or just during the day? Would I need to access the room physically at all? Or could I get access to his computer?

Through a wifi?

I do a quick Google, and yes, depending on how his network is set up and if I have a password, I could access his computer.

Me: Any way you could get a laptop to me? I'm locked up tight here

Her response is immediate.

Hannah: Not me, but I have a friend. Let me see what I can do

Even better! Of course she wouldn’t be allowed; she’s the reason half of the building is under renovation. But she’s willing to help. A smile spreads across my face for the first time in months. It’s a long shot.

But it’s the only shot I have.

Chapter thirty-nine

Lev

I’ve been avoiding the Chernov manor. I’ve been avoiding Nikolai. Because I don’t trust myself not to kill him.

We’ve been friends for years. But I realize now that I’ve been excusing his shittier behavior because of who his father is. Talking about his hookups like he didn’t care about them? I’d convinced myself that they knew the score. When he talked about his sister and assigned me to guard her, he made it sound like he was fond of her and wanted her safe.

Now, I’m seeing what his concern really was - control.

It’s morning in the apartment, and my body hurts all over, but it’s an ache I welcome. It’s the only thing that remotely takes the sting out of losing Tati.

Roman’s been content to let me work out my anger at the underground boxing ring at The Vault.

I’ve been a fuck up for most of my life, but I was starting to like who I was when I was with her. I was a man I could be proud of. Protective, caring, loyal, thoughtful, kind, even.

But who am I without her? Without that? The same fuck up that has a life sentence pending?