Chapter 22 Lorenzo #2
When I returned, I joined Dante on the sofa across from Remington. Rafael was pacing with Tony on his shoulder. He wasn’t capable of sitting still for more than a few moments, and neither was the monkey.
“I promised Nikolai he will not be sent back to his father, no matter what happens.” I wanted that out in the open. It wasn’t something I would go back on, no matter what Remington said or did.
I’d let myself be tempted. I’d done something selfish and reckless, but this time I was going to make sure that everyone involved remained safe.
Remington’s face remained neutral as he held my gaze for several long seconds.
“Any man who would give his son to Ivanov doesn’t deserve to have a son,” he said. “We’ll make sure Nikolai can start his life over somewhere else.”
I nodded. That was as big a concession as I could expect. The fact that my insides were all twisted up at the thought of sending him away didn’t matter. Niko’s safety did. Dante glanced at me, but I deliberately looked away. If he knew what was good for him, he wouldn’t push the situation.
“Have you found out anything about Nikolai’s mother?”
“Nothing concrete. My best guess is she’s with Ivanov. He’d contacted her to see if she’d rat out Dimitri’s secrets.”
That wasn’t good. Ivanov wouldn’t keep her alive long.
“For now,” Remington said. “We’ll send Nikolai to a safe house.”
“With who?”
“With guards that I trust, and you should too. If I vouch for them, then they are certainly of a fine enough quality to take care of a Russian twink.”
I balled my fist at my side and started to stand. Dante used a hand on my shoulder to shove me back into my seat.
“You don’t like that description?” Remington asked. “Do you have another one you’d prefer?”
“Nikolai deserves respect and protection. He’s been abused, manipulated, and nearly handed over for Ivanov to destroy.”
“I know what Ivanov is. I wouldn’t risk Nikolai being put with him.”
“Then why are we working with him?” Rafe asked.
Remington snarled at me. “Keep your brother in line.”
“Rafe, keep your mouth closed and just listen.”
He glared at me, but he didn’t protest.
“As I said, Nikolai will go to a safe house. He’ll remain there until we have taken care of our problem with the Russians.”
“What is this problem, exactly?” Dante asked. “I understand we need Dimitri’s weapons connections, but surely we could—”
Remington held up a hand. “I’ve been watching Dimitri for some time.
He’s been angling for an alliance with Ivanov, but until recently, Ivanov hasn’t been willing to entertain it.
Then something shifted. I needed to know what would make Ivanov willing to prop up a man like Dimitri.
What could Dimitri offer him? The man is known for having no sense of discretion, something Ivanov obviously values highly. ”
I snorted. “Ivanov is a monster.”
“He is, but I was hoping he would be a useful monster.”
We shouldn’t be working with a man like that,” Rafael said.
A cutting look from Remington silenced him again. “Speaking of people with no discretion or the ability to value their life. I’ve warned you enough, Rafael. Show respect and be obedient, or you will go exactly where I plan to send Dimitri and Ivanov.”
“So we’re taking them down?” I tried to ignore the fact that he’d threatened my brother’s life. I doubted he was serious.
“We are. I discovered why Ivanov was willing to make such a deal with Dimitri. Nikolai is certainly a beautiful young man, but Ivanov has many avenues for procuring his toys.”
I started to speak, but Remington shook his head. “You’re getting my help with Nikolai. Don’t push me.”
I dug my fingernails into my palms. I wanted to grab Remington by the collar, yank him up, and punch his smug face, but I needed him. How could I keep Rafe from popping off if I couldn’t control myself? “What does Ivanov really want?”
“Dimitri has made a connection with the Lopez family. He has a direct line to Carlos himself. If he can cut a deal to sell weapons to them, his profits will skyrocket.”
“Fuck me,” Rafe said.
“Right.” Remington had no argument there.
“So Ivanov wants in on it,” I said.
“Exactly. He’s offered money for the marriage contract, and he’s contracted Dimitri’s wife and his daughter, trying to lure them in. He plans to destroy Dimitri and take over his business.”
“We can’t let Ivanov have that kind of power. Think what he’d do with the Lopez connection.”
“I know. That’s why we’re going to take out both of them and anyone else who chooses to stay loyal. I have no love for the Kozlovs, but I’d rather see Boris in control of the local Russians than Ivanov. And if we blow this up, the Lopez family will stay far away from the heat.”
“So how will we accomplish this?” Dante asked.
Before Remington could answer, a crash had all of us jumping up and pulling out our guns.
At the sound of our weapons cocking, a young woman stepped out from where she’d been hiding in the hallway. “I’m here as a friend,” she said, her Russian accent thick.
“A friend who was spying on us. Who are you, and how the hell did you get in here?” Remington asked. We kept our guns raised but made no move toward her.
“I’m Alina Ivanov, and I came in through the kitchen door. I told your guard I was the cleaning lady.”
“You escaped from your father?” I asked.
“Yes. I used the same trick I did before. Some people never learn.”
Rafe laughed, and I slapped his arm to shut him up.
Alina stared at him. “You have a monkey.”
“He belongs to a friend.”
“We’re not discussing that now,” Remington said.
He pulled out his phone and called his head of security.
I got the sense the kitchen guard might not survive the night.
When he ended the call, he said, “Have any of you met Alina before?” We all shook our heads.
“So how do we know you’re who you say you are?
Do you have a way to prove your identity?
Or a reason why we shouldn’t shoot you right here? ”
“I know your family plays by old-fashioned rules. You don’t shoot unarmed women.”
Remington looked at Dante. “Check her for weapons.”
She sighed but submitted to the search. Dante made his search quickly. “She’s clear.”
“I can tell you a lot of things about my father. His plans. His past crimes. I would’ve killed him if I could have, but I couldn’t do that and get away.”
Remington studied her for a moment. “What you could do was come here and eavesdrop on our plans.”
“Yes. I like your plan. I want to help.”
“No,” Dante said at the same time as Remington.
After giving Dante a look that silenced him, Remington said, “We’ll keep you safe if Nikolai vouches for you, but you will be under our control until your father is dead.”
“I escaped him. Doesn’t that make me useful?”
“It makes you brave, but I’m not trusting anyone but family with this operation.”
“Where is Nikolai? I want to see him.”
I took a step forward. “What do you want with Nikolai?”
“I want to find out what you’ve done with him. How badly is he hurt?”
“You say we shouldn’t harm you, then you accuse us of kidnapping Nikolai,” Remington said. “Which is it? Are you an ally or not?”
“I’m a friend of anyone who wants to bring my father down, but I want to know that Nikolai is safe. He’s done nothing wrong. He deserves his freedom.”
“We didn’t kidnap him,” I said. “He escaped.”
She looked back and forth between the others. “I’ll handle this,” Remington said. “Nikolai escaped with the help of his mother. His father beat him and broke his arm, but we’re taking care of him now.”
“I want to talk to him.”
“Have you met in person?” Remington asked.
“Yes.”
“So he can vouch for you?”
“Yes, though I don’t know why you think I would break in here if I were anyone else.”
“Your father has made some dangerous plans. Why wouldn’t I believe he sent you here as a spy?”
Her fierce glare nearly had me taking a step back. “I am not working for my father.”
“We’ll see what Nikolai has to say about that.” He looked at me. “Call Lancelot.”