Chapter 22
NIKOLAI
I swear my heart almost stopped when I heard Elena’s screams. It’s been a long time since she’s had a night terror. She has seemed so happy recently. I wonder what is going on in that brain of hers.
I’ll do anything to protect her.
And it seems, so will Melissa.
Seeing her there, comforting my little girl in her moment of need, threw out the last of my resolve.
Whatever I was battling in my head earlier has gone. It isn’t an argument.
My wife is no longer here. I can’t change that. I can only do what is right by my daughter. And follow my own heart.
Which will lead me straight to the woman in my bed.
As Elena drifts back off into a peaceful sleep as I lightly stroke her forehead. I carefully slide my arm above Elena’s, allowing me to run my fingers through Melissa’s hair.
“Thank you for going to her.”
“You don’t need to thank me. I didn’t want to overstep, but I was awake, and, I-I know what she’s going through.”
Immediately, that has fire running through my veins.
What happened to her to cause that and how can I fix it?
“Get some sleep, vedmochka.”
She settles against the pillow and my mind races. If I am going to give my heart to a woman, it can only be one who would love Elena like her own.
I can see it in her. She does.
Enzo traces a tattoo on the back of his hand absentmindedly as he flips through his phone. “Almost, just a minute.” He doesn’t look up when he speaks to me.
If I was the jittery type, my knee would be bouncing.
I can’t stop thinking about Melissa. The fact that I can’t run back to the house and bury myself in her is starting to irritate me.
I can push her further. I know it. I could see it in her eyes, she craves more.
And I need more from her. By the time I woke up, her space in the bed was empty but still warm.
And as Elena and I went downstairs, she’d made us pancakes with berries, yet disappeared to her room. I didn’t have time to question her, but I will.
“Can we do this later?” My patience is wearing thin.
“No. Found it. Look.” He slings his view up onto the big screen on the wall of his office. Red and ultraviolet LED lights illuminate the television on either side.
Fits with the vibe of his club.
Pages of code scroll past.
“What am I looking at?” I’m not a hacker. This looks like a completely different language to me.
“Here.” He pulls a laser pointer that swirls around in a tight circle around a cluster of letters. “This is a signature I haven’t seen in ten years. Someone from Russia is trying to break into our systems.”
“That’s not a surprise. Ivan probably has his men elbow deep in their computer banks trying to get to us.” I lean back and cross my arms over my chest. “I’m really not the person you should be telling.”
Enzo turns, his dark eyes narrowing. “Yes. You are. They’re targeting you.”
What?
“Why?” I’m not an obvious mark. Mikhail would be. Or, Jax. That kid is loaded.
He shakes his head. “They’re tracking your movements. The traffic cams in the area are set up on an alert when they read your license plate.”
Enzo tosses his cell onto the table and picks up his glass of bourbon. “It’s time to offload the diamonds. I’ve found a buyer and sent your brother the information.”
A weight lifts from my shoulders.
Finally.
“When?” I can’t wait to have them gone. They’ve caused so much hassle, and death.
“Soon. I’ll call later this week with specifics.” He crosses his bare ankle over his knee, sipping his drink and watching me over the rim. “In the meantime, keep your mouth shut.”
Anger surges within my chest at his arrogance. “The fuck? I don’t talk.”
His head tilts as he laughs. “They’re bugging you, I’d bet. Don’t take offense.” He waggles his eyebrows. “Not even pillow talk with that hot brunette.”
“How did you?—”
“I see everything.” He waves his hand like I should already know that. “In the meantime, I’m going to try and sever this link to whoever has tied in.” He peels the bag on his table open and pulls out my phone. “Now you see why I had to make sure this was shielded. I didn’t want any eavesdroppers.”
“You think it’s bugged?” I look down at my device, almost expecting it to look different.
His suit jacket snugs as he shrugs. “Probably. But, they’re good.”
Fuck.
Heading out to my car, I feel like I’m being watched.
Except it’s my two smiling girls waiting for me.
Melissa and Elena both wave when I get close.
The cool air of the AC hits me when I climb into the driver’s seat, but it doesn’t have much of a chill. “Just one more stop, and then we’ll head to the park.”
“Daddy, if it’s long, can we go in with you? It’s hot.” Elena wipes her sweaty forehead dramatically.
“I agree.” Melissa angles the vent to her face as I pull out of the driveway. “Sitting in the sun, it barely keeps up.”
“There’s a drink stand in the casino. Maybe you would get something icy while I talk to my brother?” It isn’t a secret anymore that Mikhail owns the building.
Another relief that I don’t have to keep that from her.
“Ooh! A smoothie!” Elena wiggles in her booster chair and rubs her hands together.
Melissa sneaks her arm across the console and rests her palm on my thigh as I drive.
I’m not sure why, but that small touch makes some jagged edge deep in my chest to soften.
“Did you want an iced latte?” She looks up at me and smiles.
“That would be perfect.”
I find a parking spot near the entrance, and I lead them up to Mikhail’s office door. “Meet me here when you’re done. I’ll try not to take too long.”
“Can I see Uncle Mikhail?” Elena jumps up and down while holding Melissa’s hand.
“Not today. We have important business to talk about.” Patting her on the head, I glance at Melissa.
She’s watching me with an expectant look on her face.
Grabbing her by the back of the neck, I attack her lips with mine, drawing her tightly against me.
When I let her go, she stumbles away breathlessly.
“I think it got hotter in here.” She fans her shirt away from her belly before leading Elena away.
Mikhail is standing near the wall, his full-length television portraying the dossier on all of our men.
“Did Enzo talk to you?” His deep voice grumbles through his mask.
I nod as I shut the door.