Page 71 of Be My Vengeance

“What about Danny? Who’s going to stay?”

“Dean is going to be here for a couple of hours and then will switch off with Raff. There will be someone here always, I promise.”

I nodded. “Okay, let’s go.”

At the house, Rita greeted us with hugs and coffee. It was close to three in the morning, but she knew none of us were going to be lying down or going anywhere until we had answers and solutions.

Unable to sit still, I went outside with my coffee. Gideon’s backyard was stunning and while it was freezing, he made it feel welcoming all year round. I remembered when Mila had come here to meet Gideon for the first time. Danny had actually been there, too.

“This house is gorgeous.” Mila squeezed my arm as we stepped out of the car.

“Gideon’s wife imagined it, and he built it.”

She beamed. “So romantic.”

“I’m building you your dream house too, don’t I get points?”

She gave me a little peck. “You get all the points.”

Gideon’s land was her favorite, for sure. He had so many flowers during spring and summer and even managed to make it colorful in the autumn and winter. It wasn’t the memory of Mila that struck me then, though. It was when I’d stood here years ago and was introduced to Danny.

“Alex, this is Danny. He’s going to be on my protection detail. You’ll be working closely with him,” Gideon introduced us.

Danny was a golden boy for sure. Blond hair, blue eyes, ivory skin. He was about my height but not as broad, and he had his hand out and a smile on his face.

“Hey, Alex, good to meet you.”

Tentatively I shook his hand. “Same, man.”

“Okay, I’ll leave you guys to get acquainted, I have a call to make.” Gideon left the two of us alone.

Danny was turning this way and that, looking at the landscape. “This place is insane.”

I glanced at the flowers and trees, the pool, all the luxuries Gideon had. “It’s something.”

He chuckled. “Are you the strong, silent type?”

“More like the I don’t trust you until I know you type.” But if I were being honest, a part of me instantly liked him.

He smirked. “I think we’re gonna be the best of friends.”

“What are you, five?” I turned and walked away, but he jogged up beside me.

“I bet we will be.”

“I bet I’ll punch you.”

He shrugged. “Both things can be true.”

I stopped and stared at him. “You’re not right in the head, man.”

He snorted. “Are any of us?”

“Fair point. Come on, I’ll show you around.”

Only one of those things ended up being true. I never punched him, but Danny Brooks did become my best friend and all these years later, he was so much more than that. He was the most important person in my world. And he’d better fucking live. One thing was for sure, though. Vladimir Ivanov wouldn’t.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN