Chapter 16 - Jaroslav
There are pizza boxes spread over the boardroom table, half-eaten slices left forgotten into the excited chatter that’s darting back and forth across the table.
Zakhar is pacing, as he always does when he’s thinking. He’s spinning a pen in his fingers as he wanders back and forth along the window.
“What about that smaller mafia group. The older son who just inherited the far left territories from his father? What was his name again?” Zakhar asks, pausing his steps.
“They’re too small. They wouldn’t have the finances to pull off these constant interferences.” Bardil shakes his head. “I still think it’s the Popovs. But we can’t run around accusing such a big group without solid proof.”
Valery’s eyes sparkle, and she suddenly stands up, excited, her face bright as though she’s solved a mystery.
“What if a bigger group was using a smaller group as hired guns…so to speak? For example, if the Popovs were using that group where the son had just inherited the territory. It would benefit both families. The Popovs could keep their hands clean, and the smaller group could earn favor with a larger group in the area and build a strong alliance with them.”
“The Popovs wouldn’t ally with a small group like that. It would be beneath them.” Zakhar scrunches his face thoughtfully.
“Ok, but they might make it sound like an alliance was on the table, and just use the group in the meantime. Manipulation tactics to get what they want out of it,” Valery counters, leaning forward with her hands pressed into the table.
“That sounds like the type of shit they would pull. Definitely,” I agree, staring at Valery, in awe of her brilliant mind.
Why in the world would her brothers keep her away from their business when she clearly has a knack for it?
She’s incredible. Even my brothers can see it.
They’ve been brainstorming with her for a few hours now, and they’ve gone over every possible enemy, every curveball, every option.
She’s detail-oriented and her thought process is rich with critical thinking.
Zakhar’s brows shoot up as he stares at Valery in surprise. “That’s brilliant.”
Georgy nods. “That is brilliant. Especially if they were using a new group…that would explain the new tactics that we haven’t seen before.”
“Jaro, can you call that forensic guy…what was his name?” Zakhar asks.
“Killian. Yes. Do you want him to go over the scene?”
“Yes, if we can find some evidence, we should keep it for reference in the future. We’ll need to use it against whoever we eventually nail this on. It’ll be important to be able to back up our accusations with proof.”
“Good thinking. I’ll call him now and have someone take him to the scene.”
I stand up, wandering away from the table as I slide my phone from my pocket.
There is a smile traced over my lips. I’m proud of her.
I’m proud of how she’s handled my brothers and is working with them.
I’m proud of how brilliantly smart and sassy she is, how she holds her own and shows confidence in her ideas. I’m proud to call her my wife.
After arranging for Killian to visit the scene, I return to the others. “It’s getting late,” I remark, standing behind Valery, who has taken a seat again and is bent over some paperwork, tracing her finger over a map.
“What if we looked at all the routes they could have taken to get to and from the scenes of each attack?” she asks, glancing around the table.
“Not tonight, little raven. We can look tomorrow. You need rest. We all do.”
She pouts her lower lip out, then pulls her mouth to the side. “But I think it’s important to…”
I gently place my hands on her shoulders and squeeze. “Not tonight,” I say again. “You look tired; you hardly ate anything.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not tired at all,” she tries to argue, but I throw her a stern look and she relents. “Fine, but I’m taking these maps with me if that’s alright with everyone?” she glances at my brothers.
“We have extra copies. Go ahead.” Bardil nods. “You were an excellent addition to this brainstorming session, Val. It was great to have you with us tonight.”
She grins at him, her eyes shining. I can’t stop smiling either.
“Thanks, Bardil. I hope you guys get some decent rest. We can chat again tomorrow.” Valery stands, gathering the papers and shoving them into a brown folder, which she tucks under her arm.
She turns to face me, her eyes slightly red with a soft shadow beneath them, her cheeks flushed, and her smile looking sleepier than she would have me believe.
I slip my arm around her waist and pull her close to my side, enjoying the warmth of her body against mine.
“Goodnight, everyone,” I say, leading her toward the door. “Goodnight,” she calls out, too.
***
I stir awake during the night and reach my hand out beneath the blankets, searching for her, wanting to pull her close to me in my half-dreaming state. But she’s not there. In a flash, my eyes are open and I’m fully away.
“Valery?” I murmur, sitting up and flicking on the bedside light. With my head cocked to the side, I listen for any sounds coming from the bathroom, but the light is off, and she doesn’t seem to be in there either.
“Val?” I call out, but there is no answer. My heart somersaults, confused. Where would she go?
I kick the blankets off and stand up, stretching, my body pleading for me to climb back in bed and go back to sleep, but I won’t be able to sleep until I know where she is and what she’s doing. I want her at my side.
“Valery?” I call into the hallway as I leave the bedroom.
I roam downstairs toward the kitchen, thinking she might have gotten up to get a glass of water, but the kitchen light is off. Walking back toward the stairs, a soft light from the living room catches my eye, and I head in that direction.
Valery is sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table. The maps are spread out over the table, and she’s tracing lines with a red pen over the possible routes.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
She jumps and lets out a sharp squeal of fright. “Jaroslav!” she exclaims, pressing her hand over her heart. “Don’t sneak up on me like that,” she huffs, letting out a sharp breath.
A chuckle escapes me, and I walk over to her. “I told you to get some rest. Why are you still working on this?”
“I was trying to sleep, but then I started plotting the routes in my mind, and I had to come down here to check the maps to see if I was right.”
Reaching for her, I shake my head and pull her to her feet. “No, this can wait, little raven. You are coming to bed and getting a good night’s sleep.”
“But if I just…”
“Valery,” My voice is stern, and she goes rigid at the tone, snapping her mouth closed mid-sentence and pressing her lips together, her eyes wide.
“Ok,” she mumbles. “I am a bit tired.”
We climb back into bed, and despite her rules and boundaries, I pull her close to me, wrapping my arm around her waist and tucking her tight into the curve of my body so she can’t sneak off again. “Go to sleep,” I say sternly.
She giggles, sending a current of desire through me. “You’re so bossy,” she teases.
***
The next day, I work from my home office, and every time I go to check on my little raven, she is bent over the maps, plotting routes and taking notes.
When she’s done with the maps, she starts going through all the files again, rereading the details of the attacks, in case she missed something before.
I’m exhausted for her, but she seems fueled by the puzzle of it all. Her eyes gleam when she talks to me about a new possible idea, and while I love seeing her enthusiasm, I think she needs a break.
It’s past five and she’s still sitting cross-legged on the living room floor with papers all around her.
“Come, little raven. I’m taking you to dinner.” Standing over her, my eyes trace over the work she’s been doing. It’s excellent. She’s still blowing my mind with her brilliance.
“I just need another hour or two then…”
“Now, Valery,” I laugh, bending down and literally scooping her off the floor. She squirms and fights against me. “Put me down, I need to…”
“You don’t need to do anything except put a pretty dress on and come out with me so you can give your busy little mind a break.” She is still trying to wiggle free, so I throw her right over my shoulder and hold her in place.
“Jaroslav put me down,” she demands, but her voice is edged with laughter.
“No, I don’t think I will,” I muse, carrying her up the stairs to our bedroom. Half of me wants to throw her onto the bed and help her relax in other ways. My hand is cupped over her thigh, just below the curve of her ass, my fingers dangerously close to heaven.
She giggles and squirms again, and my hand slips higher.
My cock stirs, my heart beating faster as a low growl rumbles through me. “You’re asking for trouble, little raven,“ I warn her.
Valery lets out a loud sigh and gives up the fight. We walk into the room and I glance at the bed, wondering if I should…But I don’t.
Letting her slide down my body, her feet reach the floor, and I take her jaw in my hand. “Get dressed, be ready in thirty minutes,” I say, leaving no room for discussion. My eyes burn in hers, again thinking about other ways to help her switch off her busy mind.
She nods, biting her lip to hide her smile.
Fuck, she’s beautiful.
Sexy and smart and beautiful.
***
We’re at a quiet restaurant at the edge of town. A peaceful place with beautiful, romantic decor. Candlelight and soft music complement the flavorful foods we’ve ordered.
She pushes her fork into a piece of fried haloumi cheese and slips it into her mouth. I watch as her lips wrap around the fork, my heart quickening for the hundredth time.
“You’re brothers are awesome. To be honest, I thought they’d dislike me,” she muses, after a quiet moment.
“No one could possibly dislike you, Valery,” I laugh.