Chapter 26

“Okay. I’ll let you go.”

As Pinkerton headed off Mikolas—speak of the Czechoslovakian devil—rounded the corner with another man. “My brother and I both owe you an apology,” Mikolas said.

“This is your brother? Your ug—Pavel, I mean?” The guy looked like the love child of John Stamos and Channing Tatum.

“I swear he didn’t know what he was getting into,” Mikolas said. “Sergei took advantage of his lack of English, and low self-esteem, telling him he would fix his disfigurement if he cooperated.”

Rocco searched for a physical flaw.

“I did it.” It was there when Pavel spoke. His front tooth was crooked. Just the one. That was the only flaw that set one stunning looking man apart from the other and changed both of their lives. Celebrity was a shallow mistress, Rocco thought.

“It’s okay,” he told Pavel. “I believe you were manipulated.” Rocco reached for his hand. “Now, I really should go.”

“I want you to know that Remington…I mean Ridley…was never unfaithful to you.”