Chapter 23Hazel
23
Hazel
“ Y ou know, I’m still upset that you went to the warehouse on your own,” David says to me as we sit in his living room with Vlad, making a plan.
It’s late into the night, past one, but I’m not tired. Adrenaline pumps through my veins. It’s validating and exhilarating to be a part of something bigger than myself. The bratva life has sunk its teeth in, me, and I’m hooked.
I’m excited to play a role in taking down a corrupt bratva member. Helping clear David’s name from the gun trafficking is my hyper fixation of the night.
My relationship with David isn’t perfect, and neither is his bratva career. But in life there will always be hurtles to cross, and that’s part of the thrill.
I’m addicted to David in a way I can’t explain. Veronica and I were talking about it the other day. I’m attracted to the danger that his lifestyle brings, but now that I’m pregnant with his baby, I need to tone it down a little and try to reign him in. Not in a controlling way, because I would never do that, but I’m acutely aware of the dangers now, and what it might mean for my growing little family.
David has an operation to run, and I respect that. Maybe others would view it differently, but I don’t view it as corrupt. Not the role he plays in it, at least. David is not the villain law enforcement automatically peg him to be.
He has a business mindset, and a father he’s still trying to impress, even from the grave. It makes me feel even more drawn to him, because he wants to accomplish something bigger than himself too. He cares about his family, and he’s loyal to those who stand by him and wants to be painted in a different, more positive light.
David deserves the world, and I’m here to make sure he gets it. If that means eliminating the threats and the enemies along the way, then so be it.
“I wasn’t technically alone.” I cross my legs and take a sip from my water bottle.
“Right.” David rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling. “You just brought a long a coworker who also could have gotten hurt or have gone to the police.”
I shake my head. “She didn’t come up to the warehouse with me, and she would never do anything I told her not to. But that’s not what matters. What matters is, I saw Oleg at this warehouse with my own eyes, switching out the counterfeit machines with the gun manufacturing ones.”
David clutches the sides of his head as if he’s trying to alleviate a migraine. “We will go there last, if you think that’s where we’re most likely to find him.”
“The crew is going to meet us at the empty apartment,” Vlad mentions. “There’s too much heat with the enemies and the police to meet downtown. Remember, we still want to make it look like Oleg is responsible for everything we’re going to do.”
“It won’t be hard,” David says. “Especially because the police already know I’m at war with him.”
“No.” I shake my head. “You need to look at it in a different way. Oleg is at war with you . You are the innocent one in all this.” I meet his gaze and hold it. “Never forget that.”
David stands up, takes my hand, and pulls me to a standing position. His mouth slams into mine, and lightning strikes through my body, sizzling me from my core.
“Alright, alright,” Vlad chuckles. “We have work to do. Save the celebrating for after it is done.”
Butterflies pelt through my stomach as we pull up to the apartment complex. David squeezes my hand. “Wait here while I go inside. Miroslav will stay with you.”
Miroslav is driving the car. He catches my eye in the rearview mirror and gives me a nod of solidarity.
I sigh deeply and nod, looking at David. “Hurry back.”
David kisses the top of my forehead. “I will.”
He and Vlad step out of the car, and I watch them walk toward the apartment, more nerves burrowing under my skin with every step he takes away from me.
“David will be fine,” Miroslav tells me, looking out the window, not at me. “He knows what he’s doing.”
“I know.” Then, after a pause, I whisper. “Thank you.”
Miroslav looks at me in the rearview mirror again. “He cares about you deeply.”
I smile. “I’ve heard.” When he laughs, I add, “I care about him, too.”
A crew of three other cars follows us out to the first warehouse on the list. My heart slams against my ribs and my face burns so hot that even with the AC blowing on my face, I can’t find any relief. It’s two in the morning, the next night after we sat up late in David’s apartment with Vlad putting the pieces of the plan together.
We couldn’t wait to act, because we don’t know what Oleg’s next move will be, and we need to stay one step ahead of him.
Now that we’re living the moment, it’s thrilling to watch it all unfold, coming one step closer to David gaining his much-deserved freedom and peace to run his business.
He stays in the car with me as Vlad runs up to the warehouse with the crew. Everyone is wearing masks and black clothing to blend in with the night. I hear Vlad giving orders in a low voice as they run toward the building.
I turn to David. “Why aren’t you going with them?”
David’s gray eyes shine under the moonlight. “Vlad can handle it. That’s why he’s my top captain.”
“I’m sure he appreciates the level of trust you put in him.”
David’s mouth tugs at the corners like he’s trying to smile but the stress of the moment makes the muscles in his face too stiff to accomplish it. “I trust him with my life, and the members of our crew do too.”
“Speaking of life…” I trail off, glancing down at my stomach. If I squint my eyes just right, I can see a tiny bump starting to form, making it poke out just a little, below my navel.
David instinctively cups his hand over my stomach. His skin is warm. My pulse quickens and suddenly I’m very hot again.
David spreads his long fingers out over my belly, pressing gently. “I can’t wait to see you with a big, pregnant tummy.”
A deep laugh rolls from inside me. I love being close to him. He makes me feel so safe and comfortable. His torso is strong, his arms are thick, and his chest is the perfect pillow at night. He’s my pillar in everything. He grounds me, keeps me centered on what’s most important.
David’s expression turns soft and distracted. He gazes out the window. “That’s why I really stayed in the car with you.”
I feel myself frown. “What do you mean?”
David is still staring out the window when he says, “I can’t take the risk right now of something happening to me. The thought of you being alone and raising the baby by yourself is too much to bear.”
My throat feels very tight suddenly, and my arms are heavy like lead. I would be lying if I said I didn’t sometimes resort to these terrible thoughts myself. And when it happens, it causes me crippling anxiety.
But David’s face is twisted, almost as if he’s in pain, and I know I need to pacify him. So, I put my fingers on his chin and pull his face toward me.
At that moment, a huge fireball of orange blazes through the inky night, and I know the first warehouse of the night is going up in flames.
The car windows are open so David can hear what’s going on with the crew. The heat from the fire touches my skin, making me feel wild and passionate.
The glow of the torched building reflects in David’s gray eyes, making them appear as if they are on fire too.
“Hey,” I whisper, my throat dry. My hands are sweaty as I press them to David’s. He’s looking at me as if he’s waiting on me to cure all the internal torture he’s ever felt.
“I’m going to write a story,” I begin. “Where your bravery, your selflessness, and your glory will be known by everyone who reads it. You will own this city in a new way once it’s complete. Don’t worry about the warehouses. You can find a new location to operate, and you have the bratva’s support.”
David’s eyes shimmer. “You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, Hazel.”
I love it when he says my name in his sexy Russian accent. I know my boss Robert isn’t going to like the new spin on the story, but I don’t care anymore. He doesn’t know David. He doesn’t understand how much he means to me. It’s not important to me anymore to impress Robert.
From now on, I will do things for my own mental health and for the heart of my creativity, not some boss who wants to control me and keep my career stagnant and boring.
“David…” I trail off and lick my lips. His eyes search mine. I wait a beat, finding my voice, forcing the words out that I’ve felt for longer than I realized, until now. “I love you.”
David’s hands are on the back of my head. His fingers are in my hair. His lips are fusing with mine. His tongue glides into my mouth. He whispers against me. “I love you too. I have always loved you, since the beginning.”
I don’t know what he means by that. If it’s rhetorical, or in a past life, or in a soul bonded way. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m here for it all, the good and the bad.
Shouts and flames and chaos swirl around me, but it’s beautiful in an almost cinematic way. I float through the epicenter of my emotions, and I know then, fate is placing me right where I need to be.