Chapter 35
ALONZO
None of my men argue when I tell them of their new assignments, but I can see the worry on their faces. “You’ll only have Titus at your back,” Ivano reminds me. “Surrounded by Russians? You really think that’s a good idea?”
“I have Rori and Hades too,” I remind him. “At this point, we don’t have time to worry about more men or less. We need to get the girl out of the state and back to New York, but we have to plan for any eventuality.”
“I don’t fucking like this,” David states grimly. “You’re in enemy territory, Alonzo. No matter how you look at it. And Rori can’t be everywhere at once. Your father is going to kill us all if you end up dead.”
“My father will understand.” I make a mental note to call him and update him, though I imagine Alessio has updated everyone else already. I look at Titus. “If you want to go with them, I’ll understand.”
He glares at me. “Don’t fucking insult me now.”
“Just giving you the option.” I look at them again. “Wheels up, and I’ll be in touch as soon as I can. Just let me know when you land and get her to Nico’s.”
They grumble but agree.
Mila doesn’t overly argue, seeing the entire situation as an adventure, but I have to wonder if this whole thing is another test. Is Tatiana going to be pissed that we sent her away? I mean, she can’t be all that upset that we’re trying to protect the kid, right?
Who the fuck knows with that woman?
Zakhar and Ilya say goodbye to Mila, murmuring to her in Russian, and I swear Zakhar looks like he wants to snatch her back the moment he releases her and she gets in the car.
Before he can say anything, I tell him, “I’ve already warned them about anything happening to her.
She’s safe, Romanov. That’s all that matters right now. ”
He doesn’t reply, instead stomping inside.
Ilya, however, looks at me with a gaze that could peel flesh from bone. “Your life depends on that promise.” Then he storms inside, and I try not to roll my eyes.
Deep down, I know that I’d be the same way if I had a child that I was entrusting to someone else. Especially a family I don’t know.
I glance around. I don’t see anyone, but I know the cameras are around, watching and listening. I turn to Titus, lowering my voice. “What do you know?”
“Romanov’s soldiers are pissed that he doesn’t trust them.
They want your woman’s head on a spike, actually, for daring to come in and question them.
” His lips thin into a grim line before he continues in that low murmur, “A few men didn’t know we were around the corner and weren’t being quiet.
A couple of them have spoken to Belov’s men.
Sounded a little too friendly if you ask me for opposing sides. ”
The threat to Rori ignites a burning in my gut.
They’ll pay for that, and after she’s finished with them for even attempting it, I’ll be the one to make examples of them.
After last night, my need to keep her safe is burning hot and sharp.
It was the first time I slept so well, and so sure that we finally, finally, might be moving forward.
She hasn’t forgiven me yet. Maybe never, fully, but it’s a step. And one step is all I need to keep us moving forward.
Which is why I need to let Titus in on what I’ve learned. “Belov has been reporting back to his father. If he doesn’t report by noon, he’ll be on his way here.”
Titus arches a brow. “You don’t fucking believe that they’re not already on their way here.”
I shake my head. “They’re here, and they’re waiting and watching. They’re going to attack soon, I can feel it.” And it makes me insane to know that Rori is going to put her life on the line the moment they engage.
“You should get Urso and Zeno on it. They can do it without tipping them off.”
It’s not them I’m worried about. If Tatiana or whoever it is that the Butcher is bringing with him, are watching and listening to everything, would involving them trigger them to let Timur know?
Fuck it, it’s a chance I need to take. Especially for Rori’s life.
I call Urso. “Secure line,” I say the moment he answers.
“Done. Alright, what do you need me to do?” That’s Urso, no bullshit when he knows it’s important.
“Need you to find out what you can on Timur Belov and his movements. Romanov says that his intel shows no movement, but I don’t believe that at all.
If anyone can find them, it’s you, but you need to be fucking careful.
We don’t know who is going to be monitoring activity online, and where that information might be sent back to. ”
“You wound me with that statement, brother,” he huffs, and I can hear him typing away. “But I’ll be careful. Zeno and Kida are working on cleaning things up around here for Nico now that Dante and Sofia are in New Jersey but he can help me when he’s done that.”
“What?” I bark, shocked as his words slam into me.
“Oh, yeah, shit, sorry, forgot you’re not up to speed on that,” he mutters absently. “You’re going to lose your shit when I tell you that they’re engaged now, aren’t you?”
My grip on my phone tightens to the point that I can hear it cracking. What the fuck? Why didn’t she tell me? And like fuck is she going to marry that fucker. “When did this happen?”
“Well, she only just told us today, so you’re not behind really. But yeah, he convinced her to marry him. I still want to kill him, but he took over his father’s territory and he’s now a Don. Untouchable.”
“No one is untouchable.” Maybe I can convince Rori to help me come up with a creative way to kill him. I’m sure Hades won’t mind a few extra bones to chew on…
“According to Pietro he is. They’ve worked out some kind of agreement, along with Nico.”
He sounds too fucking calm. And I don’t have time to deal with this shit right now. But when I get back to New York, fucking right I’ll be paying a visit.
“Just get me the information I need. I’ll deal with the rest of that when I get back.” I don’t wait for him to answer, too pissed, and maybe a bit hurt that she hasn’t said a damn thing. A part of me knows it’s not to distract me, but it’s bullshit.
I type out a quick message to Sofia.
Alonzo: When I get back, we’re going to be talking about why you didn’t tell me you’re shacking up with that cocksucker you’re with and about your engagement that I had to hear about from Urso.
Her reply isn’t long in coming.
Sofia: Because you have a lot to deal with, and I’m not going to distract you. And cocksucker isn’t right. He’s more of a pussy-licker. And a very good one at that…
I glare at the phone, wanting to hurl it far away, and then bleach my brain to never have the image of that in my head. Ever again.
Sofia: And they only just found out. I was going to tell you tonight before I went to bed. Well, more accurately, after my man sexed me up and before I fell into a post-orgasm coma.
Jesus Christ. I really am going to kill him. Slowly, painfully, and with as much creativity as I can muster. Hell, I’ll ask fucking Tatiana for pointers if I ever see her again.
Alonzo: Fuck off.
Sofia: I miss you too. And you better come back to me in one piece with Rori at your side, or I’m going to make you a flower girl at my wedding. I’ll dress you up in a fucking pink suit and tutu too.
I shudder at the thought. Mostly because she’d fucking do it too. Sofia is just insane enough.
Alonzo: I’m still pissed at you, but I miss you too. And like fuck would you get me to do that.
I put my phone away and see Titus grinning at me. “Say a word, and I’ll cut out your tongue.”
He holds up his hands placatingly.
I storm inside, knowing exactly where I’m going to find my woman. It’s the only place she seems to care about. I try not to let it bother me. I can’t expect her to come and seek me out, considering the circumstances.
When I reach Ilya’s office, I’m right to find Rori already there, looking over papers at Ilya’s desk.
When she hears me enter, her head lifts briefly before looking back down.
I shut the door behind me, grateful for the moment of privacy.
I step up to the desk, and she holds up a finger, then points to where Hades is sniffing along the wall on the other side of the spacious room.
Fucking handy to have a dog that can sniff shit like that out.
I move around the desk, smirking to myself as I anticipate her reaction.
She stiffens and glares at me when I swiftly lift her into my arms, take her seat, and place her in my lap.
I wrap my arm tight around her waist, holding her still when she tries to squirm away.
“I missed you,” I breathe in her ear, nuzzling at the soft skin just behind her ear.
“Didn’t like waking up to a cold bed this morning. ”
She shivers, and out of the corner of my eye I see her grip the edge of the desk. I smile. She can pretend she’s unaffected, but we both know the truth.
Hades gives a low sound, and we look over to see him standing beside the conference table. He nudges the chair at the head of the table with his nose, and then moves along to the others and does the same.
“Clever fuckers,” Rori mutters, before swiftly climbing from my lap.
It takes her seconds to find the bugs, crush them and send Hades off to find more.
He finds a couple more near the door, and one hidden in a lamp shade, but finally she tosses all the pieces into the hallway, giving the guards outside a scowl before slamming the door.
“They’ll be in here in the next ten minutes once the guards tell them,” Rori gripes.
She looks at me, and I lean back in Ilya’s chair, a sly grin on my face as I pat my thigh.
Her eyes narrow, and I’m sure she’s going to tell me to fuck off, but instead she rounds the desk, each step making her hips sway, drawing my gaze and making my fingers flex.
When she reaches me, instead of sitting on my lap, she slips between me and the desk, leaning back against it, still close enough, but not giving me what I want.