Chapter 30
Adrian
As Sera's due date gets closer, I feel an odd weight on my chest. We're at thirty-four weeks now.
Any day, the doctor says. Things between us are good.
More than good. They are fucking great. However, there are still so many threats lingering, and there's a proverbial gun to my head, which is why I'm back to work even though I want to stay in bed.
Not that Sera is complaining. By the time I am dressed and heading out, Sera is in her workroom.
I stop by the door, watching her examine some ancient manuscript Antonio sent over.
She's so focused she doesn't hear me at first. Just runs her gloved fingers over yellowed pages with reverent care.
I want to tease her, but I know if I do, she'll smile, laugh, and I'll never leave. I'll have to fuck her. And unfortunately, I have things that need to be taken care of. Things that will help to ensure her safety.
"I'm leaving," I tell her.
She looks up, removing her magnifying glasses. "Where are you going?"
"Meeting with Antonio," I swallow the heavy lump in my throat. "About Gabriel."
Something flickers in her expression. Pain, maybe, and for a moment, I expect her to push back, tell me to spare him. But she just nods. "Be careful."
"I will." I move into the room, tip her chin up. "Leo is staying here with you. He's your personal guard now."
We'd discussed this. I trust no one else with Sera and my son.
Her shoulders sag.
"I don't need a personal guard in the house. I already agreed to stay put."
I've made a lot of concessions to broker peace in my house, but I will not budge on this one.
"You are far along, and I don't like not being here with you." I kiss her forehead. "Don't argue. Leo's presence makes me feel better."
"Shouldn't Leo be with you?"
"I'll be fine." I meet her eyes. "He'll keep you safe while I'm hunting the people who want to hurt you."
She swallows hard. "My brother."
"Yes."
"Adrian—" She stops herself. Takes a breath. "I meant what I said. Do what you have to do. But if there's any other way..."
I expect this. Sera was angry when her brother cornered her, but I know deep down she has a gentle heart, and he is her last blood relative.
"I know."
Sera isn't like me. She's not like Bianca either, despite how badly my mother would like that. She's kind and sweet. She cares for people.
If it comes down to it, she will have me kill her brother to protect our son.
Doesn't mean it won't destroy her if I do.
"I'm not going to kill him unless I have no other choice."
A shudder leaves her. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. The options might be limited." I kiss her again, harder this time. "Stay here. Stay safe. I'll be back before dinner." This time I press a soft kiss to her forehead. "I'll bring you some cheesecake from that place you like."
It's a small concession, and she knows it. But still, she smiles.
"Okay."
I leave before I can change my mind. Before I can lock her in this room and never let her out. Before the fear that something could happen to her while I'm gone makes me irrational.
Leo is waiting in the hallway.
"She's in her workroom," I tell him. "Don't let her out of your sight."
"Understood."
"I mean it, Leo. Gabriel is desperate. And desperate men do stupid things. We haven't heard from the fucker in weeks, but I'm not stupid. He wants something." I pause, something nagging at me. "And there's something else. That Russian. Artem. The one who cornered Sera at the bookshop months ago."
Leo's expression sharpens. "You think he's connected to Gabriel?"
"I don't know. I assumed Alexei sent him, but I never confirmed it. And now with Gabriel hiring mercenaries..." I shake my head. "Just keep your eyes open. Anyone approaches this house, I want to know immediately."
"She'll be safe. I've added to the guard force, and I won't leave her side."
I want to believe him. But the memory of Sera's face after the safehouse explosion still haunts my nightmares. The way she looked at me, blood on her dress, terror in her eyes. Gabriel orchestrated that. Put mercenaries on us. Nearly killed her and our son.
He's out there. And he's a threat.
Leo's voice is firm. "Go and handle business. I've got her."
I nod and head out.
The Dockside Warehouse is exactly what it sounds like. A massive space in Queens that the Marinis use for their shipping operations. Legitimate on the surface, and anything but underneath.
Antonio is waiting in his office when I arrive. Saint is with him, sprawled in a chair like he owns the place.
I fucking hate the douche bag. When Bianca told me of her plans to marry Gemma off to him, I'd tried to talk her out of it. But Bianca wants to cement the relationship, and there's no better way than to do that through marriage.
Still, I don't love it. Antonio wants an heir, badly, and I'm not sure my sister understands that. From the way Saint acts, I wonder if he does.
"Adrian." Antonio stands, extending his hand. "Thank you for coming."
"You said you had information."
"Straight to business. I appreciate that." He gestures to a chair. "Sit."
I do, but my attention is split between Antonio and Saint. The latter is watching me with barely concealed amusement.
"How's the little wife?" Saint asks. "She pop out her little heir yet?"
My jaw tightens. "Watch yourself."
"Just making conversation." He leans back, hands behind his head. "Must be hard, having a brother-in-law who's a rat. Embarrassing, really." He laughs, leaning his head back. "Though I suppose you are about to have one who's about to breed your sister, and you seem fine with that."
I'm out of my chair before I can think, hand on my gun. "Say that again."
"Saint," Antonio says sharply. "Enough."
"What? I'm just saying—"
"You're being an asshole. Stop." Antonio turns back to me. "Ignore him. He's in a mood."
"I'm always in a mood," Saint mutters.
I take my hand off my gun. Bianca will fucking kill me if I kill Saint.
I ignore him, focusing on Antonio. "You said you had information about Gabriel."
"We do." Antonio leans forward, his expression serious. "One of our dock workers came to me yesterday. Said Gabriel was asking around a few weeks ago. Looking for hired muscle. Men who could handle weapons. Men with military experience."
My blood goes cold. "Mercenaries."
"Seems like it. He was vague about what he needed them for, but he was willing to pay well. Cash upfront."
The safehouse attack. I suspected that Gabriel had something to do with it, and now I know.
He planned it.
Fuck, he knew his sister was going to be there, and he didn't give a fuck if she was caught in the crossfire, as long as he saved his own sorry ass.
"Do you have names?" I ask. "The men he hired?"
"We're working on it. My people are asking around, but these types don't exactly advertise." Antonio's jaw tightens. "What concerns me is why he needs a crew at all. The Gabriel I know is a coward. He runs, he hides, he makes deals. He doesn't fight."
"Because he's caught between the feds, the Morozovs, and me," I say. "And he thinks he can fight his way out."
"Or he's planning something bigger," Saint offers. "Maybe he's hoping to start a new syndicate. If he eliminates you and the Morozovs, there'll be a power vacuum." Saint shrugs. "And since he's your son's uncle..."
The idea is ridiculous, and yet, not impossible.
"He's not stupid enough to try that," I say.
"Isn't he? From what I've heard, your brother-in-law is a degenerate gambler with a death wish." Saint's grin is sharp. "Sounds exactly stupid enough to me."
"He tried to sell Sera to the Morozovs twice now," I say coldly. "So yes, he's desperate. Not suicidal."
"Maybe not yet. Give him time."
"I'd rather not give him any time at all." I look at Antonio. "Can your people find him?"
"We're trying. But he's slippery. And if he has federal protection—"
"He doesn't. Not anymore." I'm certain of that. "They might have been protecting him, but after the embezzlement, after going rogue, he's on his own. The feds won't touch him now."
"Good. That makes him easier to kill." Saint sits forward. "Want me to handle it? I'm between projects. Could use the entertainment."
"No."
"Why not? I'm good at this. And you're too close to it. Might hesitate when it matters."
"I said no." My voice drops to ice. "He's family. Sort of."
Saint laughs. "Family? The man tried to sell your pregnant wife. That's not family."
"He's Seraphina's brother. That makes him complicated."
"Complicated." Saint shakes his head. "You've gone soft, Nero," he sneers. "That pretty little wife has made you weak."
My voice drops to ice. "Careful, Saint. You're marrying my sister in three months. I'd hate for something unfortunate to happen before then."
Saint doesn't flinch. Just grins. "Threats? How pedestrian."
"Not a threat. A promise."
"Enough!" Antonio's voice cracks like a whip. "Both of you. We have bigger problems than your dick-measuring contest."
I sit back down, imagining all the ways I could kill him. Then I remember Gemma. Remember that this asshole is going to be my brother-in-law. Remember that starting a war over his bullshit isn't worth it.
Saint looks almost disappointed.
He shouldn't be.
I just spared his life.
"Gabriel Romano is a problem for all of us," Antonio says, taking control of the room.
"If he's hiring mercenaries, if he's planning something, we need to find him before he acts.
Adrian, I'll have my people keep looking.
They'll reach out to the mercenary networks, see who Gabriel contacted.
Someone will talk—they always do when money's involved. "
"How long?"
"A few days, maybe less. I'll call you the moment I have something solid."
"Make it sooner."
"I'm doing what I can." Antonio's expression hardens. "And Saint, you focus on the wedding preparations."
"Thrilling," Saint mutters.
"And if we find Gabriel, Adrian has first claim. Agreed?"
Saint shrugs. "Fine. But if he comes after any of us, all bets are off."