Page 120 of Merciless Daddy

Every face turned toward me. I gave them the man’s description, his habits, the restaurant where he ate alone on Thursdays, and the warehouse entrance he used when he believed nobody watched.

Pietro took notes.

“He carries two phones,” I added. “The cheap one is real. The expensive one is theater. He leaves the expensive one in the car when he wants to disappear.”

Angela nodded. “That’s enough to build a track.”

Sal looked at me.

“Good,” he said. “Pietro takes the server tonight. Angela handles access. Tonio stays here.”

Tonio lowered the ice pack. “Why?”

“Your face attracts questions.”

“My face attracts admiration.”

“Not tonight.”

Sal closed the file.

I remained seated. “I can help Angela identify—”

“No.”

My eyes narrowed. He came around the table.

“This is not a command from Daddy,” he said quietly. “It is advice from the man running the operation. You have given us what we need. Your brother is awake.”

I looked toward the hallway.

“Go be with him,” Sal said. “The war will survive one evening without you.”

I stood. He listened when I spoke. Then he gave me permission to stop being useful.

I found Kiryl in the guest wing wearing borrowed pajamas and reading beside the window.

He looked up.

“Are you staying?” he asked. I leaned against the doorframe.

“Until you fall asleep.”

“And then after? With him?”

“Like I said, I’ll be here until you fall asleep.”

Kiryl smiled a wicked smile.

I threw a pillow at his head.

Kiryl fell asleep with one hand curled beneath his face, as he had when he was ten and still believed I could prevent every bad thing from reaching him.

I closed his door and stood in the silent guest hall.

The house had settled around us. Wind moved against the lake-facing windows. Guards crossed the grounds outside, their flashlights appearing and disappearing between the trees.

Sal was not in his room, but I found him in the study.