Chapter 9 Foundation
Chapter nine
Foundation
Delegation was perhaps Evelina’s new favorite word, because she doubted very strongly that she could have even found, let alone arranged the necessary meeting with, a qualified lawyer before the deadline. The deadline which her temporary and technically aboveboard lawyer agreed was outrageous.
Evelina found she liked the woman quite a lot, mostly. With the exception of how she couldn’t quite stop ogling Otto.
“And there you have it,” the fifty-something with the professional updo, practiced smile, and inclination toward the sexually taboo declared with a final tap at her keyboard.
She turned the laptop around so Evelina and Otto could see.
“The signatures have been submitted. Everything’s electronic these days, though they will ask for hardcopy backups, but that’s fine.
These will be in by the due date because they’re in now.
And this”—she tapped a manicured nail to the edge of the screen—“is the receipt, which I will forward to the email you gave me for your records. I strongly advise you keep multiple copies of everything, particularly if there’s any discrepancy about who’s coming into what.
Not to pry, but just given what I saw in these papers, you have valid reason to be cautious.
Even if you think relations with your cousin are good. ”
Evelina smiled. She hadn’t gotten overly specific with the lawyer for the woman’s own well-being, but that didn’t mean she didn’t appreciate the tip. “I’ll be sure to do that. Thank you.”
“Is there anything else I can help you with? Other paperwork that wasn’t on quite such a tight turnaround you needed looking over?”
“No, unfortunately, it was all tied together.” Evelina stood as the lawyer tucked her device away.
Otto shifted behind her, moving to the door.
The women shook hands, and one more time, the lawyer’s gaze flicked over Otto’s form as he held the door open for them to pass.
She did a huge solid for me. Let her have a little eye-candy.
Just this once. It wasn’t like Evelina had a real claim on him and she knew it.
Just because he’d threatened her with … well, actually, she realized she had entirely assumed the intent behind his words the night she’d let her control slip.
And while he hadn’t truly kissed her back, he had kissed her after. Differently.
She flushed a bit thinking about it.
The elevator doors swished open and the cooler evening air rushed over her as Evelina trailed behind Otto into the underground parking. The crisp air helped to chase the embarrassing heat from her skin, so she was pretty sure her newly increased entourage wouldn’t have noticed.
Artem stood at attention beside the door to the SUV, exactly where she’d left him over an hour earlier. “Any other errands, ma’am?”
Her lips twitched. She kept only having in-passing conversations with the man, but she was starting to hope his promised loyalty was true.
Even if he’d adopted the ‘ma’am’ thing. “The hard part is done, finally,” she said as he pulled the door open.
“Let’s go somewhere where the three of us can actually talk.
No one knows when to expect me, so now’s the best time.
” She really needed to chat him up before she left town, after all.
She almost missed the flash of surprise in his eyes before he inclined his head. “Of course. Location of preference?”
Evelina slid herself into the seat. “Ask my security guy.” She patted Otto on the chest before he could reach for her seatbelt. The overprotective ape insisted the stretch was too hard on her arm. At the frown he gave her, she added, “I’m delegating.”
His frown deepened.
Artem chuckled.
The men quickly settled into the front seats, pretty much entirely obscuring her forward view, and Otto muttered something too low for Evelina to hear. Moments later, the engine rolled to life and they were in motion.
She let her gaze wander out the window, taking in the streets and cloudy nighttime skyline of the city as they drove.
In twenty-four hours, she’d be in a whole other state with her only female friend, hopefully relaxing enough to temporarily forget her stress and enjoy a frivolous weekend.
In the back of her mind, Evelina realized it may well be her very last frivolous weekend.
One didn’t typically find the leader of any type of organized crime just out socializing or partaking of public events like it was no big deal.
A wild thought occurred to her and she couldn’t stop the gasp.
She remembered her mother saying that Aunt Nora had married some dangerous mafia man, but was it possible he’d been the man in his mafia group?
Or next in line, even? Moreover, was it possible that Aunt Nora was proving so hard to find online because she’d become some sort of power woman in her mafia group? Does the mafia have those?
“Lina?”
That was a dumb thought. The bratva weren’t well known for strong, forward women, either. Historically, they weren’t known for women in general. But that was changing, little by little.
“Lina,” Otto repeated, his voice firmer.
Evelina snapped back to the moment and found him half-twisted in his seat, scowling at her. “What?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’?” His stare burned over her, scrutinizing. “Are you in pain?”
She opened her mouth to ask why in the hell he’d just randomly demand that when it dawned on her. All she could do was groan and roll her eyes. “Bozhe moy, Otto, you’re so overdramatic. I’m fine, okay? I just had a startling moment of insight.”
He arched a brow. “I see.” He twisted back around and reached to resecure his seatbelt.
She kicked the backside of his seat. “Jerk.”
Otto ignored her and pointed over the dash. “This one up here.”
Evelina blinked as the SUV turned, suddenly recognizing where they were headed. Rather, where they’d come to. Otto had directed them to his family home. Somehow, the realization of that warmed something inside her.
“Your pops has his own house, huh?” Artem asked as he brought the SUV to a stop. “Mine never gave up his condo.”
“He passed?” Otto asked.
“Five years ago.”
Evelina watched as the men exchanged odd grunts before exiting the vehicle.
It almost felt like a moment of understanding, as people rather than the weapons and soldiers they had been shaped to become, and the whole thing left her unsure how to add her own sympathies.
She was grateful, though less than surprised, when Otto was the one to help her from the SUV.
He was gentle as always, deftly avoiding the injury on her arm and making sure she didn’t knock her still-healing knees, but somehow the weight of his touch at her back felt … heavier. Warmer, at least.
Probably it was all in her head.
Artem trailed behind them up to the house and Otto knocked only once before letting them in with his spare key.
Evelina felt nearly invisible between the two oversized men.
But she forgot the oddness of the sensation the moment the distantly familiar scent of Otto’s childhood home hit her nose.
He hadn’t brought her there often, but he had on occasion.
Usually, they’d been good visits. His home had always been warmer than hers.
She suspected that was why she’d liked it.
“Pa, you still up?” Otto shouted down the hall once the door was shut.
“Otto, that you?” Iouri stepped properly from around the corner and light flicked on overhead, revealing him dressed down in lounge pants and an undershirt. He held a shotgun low at his side. “I damn near shot you, boy.”
Evelina swatted the back of Otto’s uninjured arm. “You should have at least texted him to tell him we were coming.”
Otto tilted his head. “He hates texting.”
“Lina? Aw, hell, I shouldn’t be lettin’ you see me like this, sweet girl,” Iouri said, suddenly sounding almost embarrassed. He swept the gun behind him as if he could hide it. “Let me, ah, get a shirt on. You want anything to drink? Everything okay?” He squinted at them. “Who’s that with you?”
“You goin’ blind, Pa?”
Evelina elbowed him, then promptly regretted it as she’d used her wounded arm.
She pulled her arm in close and said, “You’re fine, Mr. Voronin, really.
I’m sorry Otto didn’t tell you we were coming.
Do you mind if we borrow your dining room?
Or a sitting room? I just need a quiet place for a comfortable conversation. ”
Otto blew out a breath. “You’re the one who told me about Artem, remember?”
Iouri nodded and gestured outward. “Please, help yourself. I’ll try to stay outta your way.”
She felt guilty about commandeering the man’s home unannounced, but she actually did understand why Otto hadn’t extended a heads-up. It would be easier to brush off an impulsive visit than a planned one.
Otto led them through the time capsule of a home, to what Evelina could only describe as an old-fashioned man-cave.
It was tucked a bit out of the way, behind the butler’s pantry and down two steps, and boasted darker paint on the walls along with darker drapery.
Cracked leather furniture offered seating, a dry bar lined the far wall, and a newer, wall-mounted television occupied the center of the focal wall.
There were a few photographs, but the lighting was dim and she wasn’t there to snoop in this space she hadn’t explored before, so she didn’t know what they displayed.
Otto motioned for Evelina to take the nicest-looking seat, a slimmer profile rocker with leather cushions and visible polished wood construction. It came with a matching footrest, but she was pretty sure using that would cost her all her professionalism points.
Once she was seated, Otto and Artem claimed opposite ends of the older, once overstuffed sofa. It squeaked a little as they sat. Artem ended up having to unholster a gun and set it on the side table for better comfort.