TWENTY-FIVE - Rosalie
TWENTY-FIVE
Rosalie
C onsidering I m not straddling a motorcycle this morning, I wear a light-green pencil skirt, a pink and green blouse, and new kitten heels—a green pair that look absolutely perfect with the outfit. I should feel guilty accepting the shoes, although Alexei hadn t exactly given me a choice.
I shiver as I think about the morning in the shower. What am I going to do about him? I ve known the guy less than a week, and he s planning our future. Worse yet, I m tempted to jump right into that future, which I know will be a disaster.
Around my neck, I wear an absolutely gorgeous amethyst pendant, which I should not have accepted.
Not that he gave me a choice. He d already left the apartment when I found the gift in my dresser.
I considered not wearing it because it s just too much.
I can t imagine what it costs. And yet, there s something in me that doesn t want to hurt his feelings, and I think that would.
Why am I concerned about Alexei Sokolov s feelings?
I slap my hand against my forehead as I walk down the steps toward my driveway and then pause as I note three men waiting for me. Good morning, Merlin, Percy, and Wally, I say, my instincts humming. What s up?
Merlin s dressed in a three-piece suit with a gold-colored bow tie that he tugs on. His cloudy blue eyes narrow on me. We need to talk.
I glance at Percy, who s my favorite gardener in the world. Okay. Do we need new mulch?
Percy sighs, moving his narrow frame. Before I retired, I worked for the Russian Bratva. In fact, for more than five decades, I worked for Alexei s father.
I step back, my body seizing. You were a mobster? Percy is one of the kindest and sweetest men I ve ever met, and he s a god with rosebushes. Are you kidding me?
He gulps. I was just an accountant, but I know who Alexei is, and I m not sure you do.
Merlin looks down at his scuffed shoes. Oh, I need a polish.
Then he shakes his head as if bringing himself back to the present.
I hacked into his prison records, and I have to admit Alexei was a model prisoner, although he was heavily covered by the Twenty-One Purple gang.
They don t do anything out of goodwill. You know that, right?
Actually, I m not all that familiar with gangs. I look at Wally. What do you have to do with this? As far as I know, he worked as a salesman his entire life.
He shifts his feet. Since we re all being a little bit honest here, I think we should update the security on this entire house.
I pat his arm. Unlike the other two, he s shorter at about five-foot-six and weighs over two hundred and eighty pounds.
I ve tried to work out with him because I m worried about his heart.
But so far, according to Doc, his numbers are all good.
I know he takes blood pressure and cholesterol medicine, and I make a mental note to buy him some CoQ10, which is a vitamin everyone who takes a statin should use to protect their joints.
I m a little short on funds, I tell Wally. I can t afford to update the system again. He has friends who own a security business, which is how I received a deal on the system we have now.
He reddens slightly, and his jowls jiggle. I worked in security for years.
Tell her the truth. Merlin elbows him in the ribs.
Wally winces. All right, I was with MI6. I can create and install any security system you want.
The reality of the statement crashes through me. Wait, wait, wait. Wait a minute. You re telling me that you were in the mob— I point first at Percy and then at Wally— and you worked for MI6? Are you kidding me?
No, Wally says glumly. After Percy found you, he kind of reached out to several of us who were looking for a good place to live. We all had dangerous jobs and didn t plan on living until retirement.
I glance at Merlin. I already know you were a hacker, you spent some time in prison and then worked for a government agency, but that s all I know.
That s all you ll ever know. Merlin smiles.
I think of my other four boarders. Is Felix really a doctor? He has been giving me medical advice for quite some time.
Of course, he s a doctor. Otherwise, he wouldn t be able to write you prescriptions, Merlin says. Now, Rosalie, concentrate on the moment at hand. We don t have much money, but we still have great contacts. I can get you out of town into a safe house in no time if you want.
I can t believe this. It s doubtful my other boarders have any idea about these men. How dangerous are you guys? I ask, more out of curiosity than fear. They re family, as far as I m concerned.
Considering we re all over eighty, I wouldn t worry too much, Percy says dryly. But if the occasion rises, we can protect you.
This is too much. I appreciate that, I say, but I can protect myself. I look down the driveway, where Garik awaits patiently next to the Mercedes.
Percy follows my gaze. Rosalie, if you want a life outside of the local Russian mob and away from Alexei, now is the chance. You probably won t get another one.
His words rattle me, but I m not leaving town. I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself.
Relief crosses Percy s face. All right. Looks like your choice is made. I m glad. I didn t want to move.
My heart warms. You would ve moved?
Merlin nods. We ll all move with you if you go somewhere. So consider it, all right?
My heart thumps. It feels good to have family. I miss my grandpa every day. All right, I ll keep that in mind.
Wally clears his throat. We re going to try to gather enough funds to up your security system, just in case.
I shake my head. We re all too low. In fact, several of them still owe me rent.
Apparently, retiring from the mob and MI6 doesn t lead to great amounts of wealth.
I wonder, fleetingly, if anybody really knows where these men are, and if they re truly retired.
Perhaps their businesses were such that disappearing was the only way to go.
I ll see you all later, I say. Thank you for worrying about me. I stop to kiss each man on their weathered cheeks. They all three blush, and it s freaking adorable.
My heart feeling lighter than it has in days, I walk down to where Garik opens my door.
What was that all about? he asks.
I smile. Just normal renter stuff. We need a new air conditioning system.
I slide into the luxurious vehicle, and he shuts the door.
When he enters the driver s side and starts the car, I give him directions.
I have to go by the police station, I say.
I set up a meeting with the detective from Alexei s case.
Garik s eyes meet mine through the rearview mirror. The police station? He doesn t sound too happy about it.
I smile brightly. Yep. Feel free to come in with me, Garik.
He shakes his head. It s all right. I ll leave you at the door.
Yeah, I figure. So are you like Alexei s bodyguard or something? I m not all that familiar with how the Russian mob works. I m still not sure I m okay with any of this.
Garik returns his focus to the traffic suddenly surrounding us. One of the ways it works is you don t talk about the Russian mob, he says calmly.
I can t get any details from you?
He makes a right turn down to Main Street. None whatsoever.
I have to admit, it s interesting having a bodyguard. I m thinking that you and Alexei go way back?
We do, he says. We became friends a long time ago when we opened that bar.
So you know a lot of the women he has dated.
Garik makes another turn. I wouldn t consider anybody to be really somebody he dated.
What about Blythe Fairfax? I ask. He was with her at least three months.
Garik slows down to let a school bus pass us. If you want details about Alexei s love life, or lack thereof, I suggest you speak with him.
I can admire a loyal friend. He says I can speak with you.
Huh, Garik says, clearly not believing me as he pulls up to the front of the police station. Go in the main door that is in my sight and come out the same place, he says. Please, he adds at the last minute.
I can walk from here to my office.
No.
I shrug. All right. I ll go in the front door, and I ll come out the front door, Garik. Rolling my eyes, I scoot from the vehicle, my computer bag over my shoulder. I feel his eyes watching me and the surrounding area as I lever up the stairs to open the gleaming glass doors.
Instant coolness hits me as I walk inside, and I head over to the reception desk to give my license and credentials.
They accept them, check some sort of list on the computer, and then call up to the detective before handing me a visitor s badge.
All right, go ahead. Third floor. Go right, the burly guard tells me.
I walk toward the elevators, quickly landing on the third floor, where a pretty dark-haired woman meets me.
Her skin is a deep brown, and her eyes alight with humor. Hi there. I m Louise. She s dressed in casual clothing. I ll take you back to Detective Battlement.
Thank you. I note the hustle and bustle of the place.
I walk by a guy slurping soup and shudder before continuing on.
I keep AirPods in my handbag at all times just in case, but I can get through this place quickly enough without having to use them.
We reach a door at the far end, upon which she knocks.
Enter, a booming voice yells.
She opens the door. Here you go. Miss Mooncrest is here from Cage and Lion, she announces. This is Detective Battlement.
I walk inside a room besieged by file folders, papers, and books that match the harried man behind the desk.
He stands. He s big and burly and has a square face and a hard jaw. Hello. He shakes my hand. Please sit down. There s one chair that s clear of debris, and I sit, gently nudging a couple of file folders away from my new kitten heels.