Now we needed to concentrate on Ivanov, Hillman, and Ruby. “You’re saying Hillman may have been in the bratva in Detroit?”
“Not as a regular—a visitor. There were...I guess you could call them parties. Large rooms with lots of food, alcohol, smoke, music...” She shrugged. “I suppose it’s the same with the Sparrows.”
It wasn’t.
Sterling Sparrow was a private man. From what I’d seen, Andros Ivanov enjoyed showboating and splashing his name and the names of wealthy associates all over social media.
“You’d be surprised,” I replied. “Under the veneered surface, those of us at the top of the Sparrow outfit are just regular people.”
She smirked. “That would surprise me. To be people is to be human.” Her head shook. “That doesn’t describe Andros or his top men.”
I reached for the phone that she’d now dropped to her lap. “Maddie, you gave me an idea. I’ll let you know when I have more.”
“Patrick.”
“Maddie, I need to—”
“I don’t want to say this, but I have to.” She unfastened her seat belt and stood, her gaze meeting mine. “If what you say is true. If Mr. Sparrow and others—like the men up there...” She tilted her chin toward the partition. “If they’re people, if they have a semblance of human qualities and decency...” Her lips thinned as her head shook. “They won’t defeat Andros. He has no affiliation that supersedes his ambition. None. I’d like to think that Ruby could be the exception, but I can’t be confident. Andros would sell his mother...” She huffed. “...or give her to his men if it would help his cause.”
“What about the woman at his side?” The question came out before I could stop it.
She stood taller and lifted her chin. “Without batting an eye.”
Yes, I was human.
I could also kill or maim. I had and would again.
I was fucking human because at this moment I knew I wouldn’t rest until Andros Ivanov was no longer on this earth. I could blame myself for not searching harder or blame Madeline for her ending up with such a cruel man, but that wouldn’t help us or Ruby. My blame, my hatred, my seething rage was only good if it spurred results, if it helped a cause. Otherwise it was a useless emotion that would be detrimental rather than advantageous.
It was my turn to lift my chin and square my shoulders. “Thank you for the warning, but you’re wrong.”
“You don’t know him.”
“No, I don’t. I do know my men—my family. I know that right now the human qualities within me vying for supremacy are unadulterated rage and at the same time, overpowering love. I can’t right the wrongs of the past. I can’t erase memories. I can set the future straight, and if I have to burn down the entire Ivanov bratva to do that, I will.”
“I don’t want you to.”
My head tilted in question.
“I don’t want to lose you again. Let’s get Ruby and let the rest work itself out.”
“That’s not an option, Madeline. The rest is a war. The rest threatens everyone and everything I love and have worked for.”
“I never loved him,” she said as she retook her seat. “Besides Ruby, I’ve never loved anyone...anyone but you.”
“I have to get up front,” I said, unable to face more of this conversation. Turning, I left Madeline alone with her thoughts and memories. It was a shitty thing to do; however, on the list of shitty things she’d experienced, I doubted it came close to the top. One day I’d put her first. Now was about rescuing Ruby and ending this war.
Two goals.
I wouldn’t sacrifice one for the other.
I pushed open the partition and stepped into the anterior cabin. As I did, three sets of eyes came my way. “Marion Elliott,” I said as I closed the door behind me.
Garrett nodded. “We’ve been watching. He landed in Dallas during the night. Traffic cams have him entering his ranch around three this morning.”
“Why did Hillman and Ivanov both come to Dallas? I’m betting it has to do with Elliott,” I replied, happy that they’d been watching Elliott.
“That’s what we—”
“Sir,” Romero said, interrupting Garrett, “there’s a transmission coming through from Mr. Murray.”
We all turned to the screens before us.
“Reid,” I said, looking at his face on the computer. “There are four of us here.” I wanted him to know I wasn’t listening alone. Then again, if these men weren’t trustworthy, we were already fucked.
Reid nodded. “First things first. There seems to be a fucking convention in Texas.”
“Could they have found out where we were headed?” I asked.
“I don’t believe they know you’re there. Listen to this: we thought Hillman and Ivanov were waiting for a signal from Madeline. Instead, they both received a call from Elliott while he was on his way to Dallas.”
“I would like to know what they discussed.”
“I can only see the calls,” Reid said. “If I could get closer to their networks or phones, I could add malware to hear future conversations. In the meantime, Elliott called both men and their flight plans suddenly diverted to Dallas.”
“Tell me that we know more,” I said.
The table and screens rattled as the airplane’s wheels found the landing strip.
“We just landed in Corpus Christi,” I informed Reid.
Reid began, “We know that no one has come or gone from Ivanov’s island retreat since Friday morning when he left for Chicago.”
“You found it?” I asked. “Madeline said it was on the north end.”
“It is. It’s a fucking small castle behind a wall. To locals, it’s off-limits. They probably think it is a private hotel and resort. It’s also well guarded.”
The small hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention. “Madeline said that Ruby is familiar with the retreat. She seems confident that Ruby’s safe there.”
“Then it’s our opinion...” The our would be comprised of Reid, Mason, and Sparrow. “...that before you storm his castle on the beach, your attention should be on this meeting of the minds from the poker tournament.” Before I could speak, Reid went on. “Marianne has been instructed to refuel and fly back to Dallas.”
I bristled. “I want off this plane. If they’re in Dallas, now is the chance to get Ruby.”
“Or walk into another ambush,” Reid replied. “If Madeline says Ruby is safe, take care of Ivanov and Hillman. If we want to kill this snake, then we need to cut off its head. I’ll see what I can learn. Mason and a few more men plan to board one of the planes and head down in a few hours.”
“No,” I replied. “Mason can’t leave Sparrow.”
“I’m here,” Reid said.
“And you’re capable of protecting him, but we need you doing what you’re doing. What about the money that was stolen? Any indication of who reaped the benefit of a fifteen-million-dollar infusion?”
“No, I’m watching transfers.”
“What about Beckman? Standish was found by the police. It would look suspicious if he was found too, even with the fake suicide note.”