Chapter Eight
Briar hurried down the hall.
Artem rushed to catch up with her. Grabbing her arm, he turned her around.
Tears filled her eyes but she bit at her lip to keep them from falling.
Artem saw how upset she was, so he took her hand and led her to their room. Once they were inside, he shut the door. He sat her down on the sofa and said, “Let me get you some water.” He rushed to the kitchen then came back.
She took the cap off and drank the whole bottle down.
He smiled and shook his head. “You worked up a thirst. You were out for a long time today.”
“I had to be.”
He took the empty bottle and set it on the side table. Sitting next to her he turned and took her hands into his. “I need you to stop.”
Briar looked over at him. “Stop?”
Nodding, he went on. “I am not ordering you or bossing you. I would never do that. But you never think about how I worry and how I would feel if something happened to you.”
Briar stared at him and did not reply.
He went on before he lost the nerve to say what he needed, “I am in love with you. This, I think you know. I have told you but now I say it again. I. Love. You. Briar.”
She smiled at him as her tears faded. “And I love you, Artem.”
He took a deep breath and went on, “Lucky me. So, I wish to ask if you would...I mean wouldn’t...” He sighed and reached up to run his fingers through his hair.
“Artem...why are you so upset?”
He again grabbed her hands. “I wish for you to be safe. You are always out, even after dark, in the worst parts of the city. And I know you can take care of yourself, but...” He looked away. “As a man in love with you...” He looked back at her. “I need you to be safe, do you understand?”
Nodding, she stared at him. “I was thinking of helping at the shelters. It would be a great job. I live here with you and we do not need much money so...”
He smiled in relief. “I make a good salary here too. I think that is a wonderful idea. You already know most of them. Sergi has a foundation for that. Did you know this?”
She nodded. “I heard but I have no idea what that is about. I just meant that I would volunteer.”
“Da, I knew you meant that. This is such a relief!”
Staring at him, she asked, “It is?”
“Da, I worry about you being out there, especially at night. But at the shelters you wouldn’t get hurt.”
She shook her head. “My dear sweet man. I could get hurt crossing the street right here in front of the hotel.”
He squeezed her hands with his. “You’d better not.”
With a snort, she stared at him. “I didn’t know you felt like this.”
“I didn’t want to make you leave by telling you to stay. I need you to be with me.”
She raised her hand and cupped his cheek. “I don’t think I have ever known such a kind, gentle man like you, Artem. You are so special.”
He laughed. “Not like shortbus special, right?”
She laughed with him. “No! Who would say that?”
“Levin,” he said as he smirked.
“I will slap him so hard!” She gritted.
His eyes widened at her. “He just teases. It is not—”
She shook her head as she smiled. “I am teasing you now. But no one had better say shit like that about you.”
“So you feel the same as I do. A need to protect those that we love. And I love you, Briar. More than anything in life.” Artem scooted closer and kissed her gently.
Back in the main suite...
Vitali got up and finally stood. Looking up at Sergi, he swiped at his split lip and spoke, “Mr. Constantine, I committed no crime. I wish I could make it up to Tiyana, but I cannot. I do not know what would make it right.”
“So, you are just free to walk away?” Felix growled as his large hands fisted at his sides.
Even Willy let out a growl at this prospect.
Sergi spoke up, “I know of a solution. It will fit with his supposed crime. Vitali, you shall forfeit your business and the proceeds will be used for several homeless shelters in the city.”
Vital gasped. “B-but what about my wife and family?”
“They shall live on a stipend.” Sergi glared at him. “No reason that they should suffer because you were so self centered that you chose yourself over other people.”
“B-but what about me?” Vitali asked.
Sergi scoffed. “See? That is the first thought you had. Yourself.”
Feliz and Kirill both nodded.
“Hell yeah,” Kosta’s voice came over the cell.
“You will work at the shelters here in Boston,” Sergi went on. “I will have Kirill make a schedule for you and we shall notify these shelters that if they allow you to work there, they will get additional funds.”
Vitali stood there with his jaw dropped. In utter shock.
“In addition, you will stay at the shelters instead of having a home to go to.” Sergi stared at him. He knew Vitali could not refuse any of this or he might end up in Siberia in a cell on the ice.
Felix and Kirill crossed their arms over their chests and they looked a bit more pleased.
Willy actually smiled. A rare thing in itself.
“Kirill and Levin, take him out of here and set this up, please?” Sergi said.
The two men escorted the stunned looking Vitali out the door.
“Well, holy shit, boss!” Felix exclaimed. “Pure genius.”
“Of course, it is,” Kosta said over the phone.
Willy and Misha both nodded.
Sergi smirked at him and replied, “I have my moments.”
“Talk later bro,” Felix tapped his cell screen to end the call with his brother.
“Could I do the same?” Willy spoke up.
They all looked over at him.
“Do what?” Misha asked.
“Have a job to help the homeless,” Willy explained.
“You could volunteer, right?” Misha asked him.
“I-I tried and they never kept me around much. Well, I was still ...like in a bad way, maybe?”
Misha looked over at him. “I like the idea. We already have a foundation here, Will. It helps the churches and the homeless. You could be a part of that.” He looked over at his father.
Sergi placed his hands behind his back and stared at Willy. “I think it would be like your calling to do so. After all, you know them already and you understand the issue like most could never do. This could be a great thing.”
Willy raised his hands up. “Don’t pin awards on me yet.”
Misha laughed and patted him on the back.
It did Sergi good to see these two finally reunited. “I think this is a great project.”
Misha beamed at his father. Then he turned to Willy. “Let’s go have some dinner.”
Willy stared at him and asked, “What are we having?”
Misha patted him on the back. “Whatever you wish to have. I seem to remember that you were partial to porterhouse steaks.”
Willy gasped in surprise. “Oh, nah. We can’t do that.”
Misha laughed as he escorted him out of the suite. “You would be surprised, Will. You would be surprised.”
“Hell, I already am, Mish.”
After they left, Sergi stared at the closed door.
Felix had never seen Sergi wearing such a huge smile.
Later at dinner....
The dining area was full of voices and laughter.
Willy and Misha had been talking at great length about the years that had gone by since they were in school together. They also spoke about the Foundation for the Homeless, the Boston Chapter.
Briar looked relaxed and happy. This was a great look on her. Artem held her hand as they listened to Willy and Misha across the table.
Sergi was watching all of this and listening. He smiled at his son and he felt so relieved that his family was safe. His cell buzzed in his pocket. Reaching in he retrieved it to read the text he just received. His smile faded from his face.
Felix noticed his expression and asked, “What is it, boss?”
Sergi sighed and told him, “Seems Greta wasn’t bluffing. Viktor says there are more of the Dmitricoffs that we missed. One brother and three nephews. He claims they are the worst of them. He’s sending the proof of this to Kirill.”
Now Felix’s cell buzzed. He retrieved it and also had a text to read. “Holy hell...” He sucked a breath in.
Sergi slowly shook his head as he waited for the bad news.
Felix stood from the table. “Kirill just told me that someone is torching cars in the parking lot behind the hotel.”
Now they all could hear booms from the lower levels of the hotel.
Nikoli raised his phone and showed Sergi a picture he had just received. “Scratch that,” he said. “They are blowing cars up in the parking lot behind the hotel.”