Chapter Twenty-One
Ivan
Man, having Clare around is amazing.
Always willing to help me out. To feed me. Available for a chat and spend some time with me.
I don’t know what I’d do without her. Five days in Leonid’s basement? Confined to a bed? Battling pain for the first three? All this sounds like my idea of hell. My brother’s home isn’t bad, but I’m not the indoor type. I prefer cruising around all day, taking care of business and keeping everything under control. I hate being stuck in one place, and this was exactly what had happened to me. I was just glad I had someone by my side to make this experience less shitty than it was.
Dr. Yuschenko’s “okay” takes a huge load off my chest. I can finally get out of this basement. The only downside is leaving Clare. I was starting to get used to having her around all the time. Waking up to a beautiful, smiling face and listening to her feminine voice. I know I’m going to miss all this, but I’ve been sitting on my ass for far too long. These past five days seem like a fucking eternity.
Leonid and I need to tie up a very important loose end, something we couldn’t do during the time that I spent laid up. My brother sounded optimistic on the phone when he mentioned he’d come up with a plan to get rid of Simeone. Not confident, just hopeful.
That Italian has beaten us twice. Both of us have tangoed with death and have escaped it by the skin of our teeth. It was good to hear Leonid admit that we need to tread more carefully.
So, with darkness spreading across the city, I’m eager to know just what’s helped him get his hopes up.
There is peace and quiet across the marina as I locate Leonid’s yacht. I board a little boat and undock it, setting the rope down on the ground. I press the “start” button on the panel, the wind hitting me in the face on this cool night.
I’ve missed this feeling. I realize that now, leaving a number of smaller yachts behind. This sense of freedom is precious. I can feel the wind in my hair, droplets of water splashing onto my cheeks.
Once arrived at the yacht, I put the engine in idle, glancing at the reflection of the water across the side of our vessel. I disembark and grip either side of the staircase, a seagull’s call echoing through the air.
It’s strange, but the bridge is a little more crowded than usual. Leonid isn’t alone. I recognize Dmitri’s large frame along with two very attractive women. All of them face me; they’re smiling for some reason I can’t fathom.
“So, we’re having a party,” I say, a bit annoyed by the spectacle. “Thanks a lot, assholes. I’m still on medication—I can’t have a fucking drop of alcohol.”
“Always grumpy,” Leonid teases, reaching out. “Welcome back, brother. We missed you around here,” he says, pulling me closer. “And no, we’re not having a party. Yet. Dmitri, do the honors.”
“It’s great to have you back, Ivan,” Dmitri grins, raising his glass to me. “Leonid’s right—this isn’t a party. It’s just us showing you what we’ve got in store for that Italian fucker.”
“I’m listening,” I say in a stiff voice, stepping out of Leonid’s side hug.
“First of all, this is Nicki and Brandi.” He introduces the blonde on his left and the brunette on his right. These two can turn heads. Nicki is tall with a slender figure, her black mini dress bringing out her long legs. Brandi is in a white floral dress and more voluptuous than Nicki. Her plunging cleavage would have a man staring at her chest in no time. “They work for us. Tonight, they’re on a mission: draw Tommy Simeone out of his hiding hole.”
“That could work,” I say, shaking my head. “Where is Simeone right now?”
“Yuri called me just minutes ago,” Leonid replies in a more serious tone. “Simeone just checked into the Palms Hotel Spa. We won’t have to do this in his apartment.”
“Nice,” I say, the news bringing a smile to my face. “We still have to know the number of his room, though. Dmitri...” I pause, turning my attention to our man. “What will the girls do exactly?”
“This is the beautiful part,” he says with a chuckle. “They’ll knock on his door and say they’re a gift from Don Pistone for managing to evade the Bratva.”
“And you think he’ll buy that?” I ask, doubt written all over my face.
“Why wouldn’t he?” Dmitri says with a shrug. “Look at them, Ivan. They’re so...”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” I yell, not thrilled by the idea of listening to him describe what I can see with my own two eyes. “When was the last time you heard a mobster being so generous to one of his men? Our girls are not common twenty-dollar whores. They’re a lot more expensive, am I right?”
“Yeah.” Nicki’s got the balls to give me an answer that Dmitri won’t. “My rate is five grand per night. So is Brandi’s.”
“Thanks for your input, sweetheart,” I say with a half-smile on my face. “Simeone’s been around long enough to be able to tell the difference between a street hooker and an expensive escort. At best? He’ll kick them out. You don’t want to know the worst-case scenario.”
“Damn it, Dmitri,” Leonid grumbles, casting a nasty glare over at him. “I told you—your plan sounded stupid. Why didn’t you come up with anything better?”
“Here’s what we do,” I interject, not allowing Dmitri to offer us an excuse. “First, we get the number of his room. Then, Nicki and Brandi head up there. They act drunk and pretend they’ve lost their keys. Girls, you might have to get a little friendly with him. Nothing much—just a little touching and giggling so that he’s convinced you’re actually too drunk to find your keys. Leonid and I move in when the time is right. Is that understood?”
Dmitri nods.
Leonid cheerfully adds, “That’s so much better. It’s a lot more believable than the bullshit you just suggested, Dmitri.”
“Come with me,” I tell Leonid before turning around. I step out of the bridge and onto the deck in anger, waiting for him to follow. Once we’re almost halfway across the yacht, I turn to him.
“Is something wrong with that moron in there?” I ask, tossing a glance at the bridge. “Because something must be very wrong with him if he thinks his stupid plan would work on a henchman like Simeone. And you, Leonid...” I stop talking and shake my head in a quick manner. “You disappoint me, bratishka. Did you actually okay that plan of his?”
“No.” His response is sharp. “He mentioned it to me yesterday, and I asked him to think of something more convincing. I knew it wasn’t good.”
“Thank God,” I groan and suck in a deep breath. “There should be surveillance cameras in that hotel. We need to—”
“I’ll have Rurik disable them remotely,” he interrupts. “Ivan, I’ve been meaning to tell you this. Simeone is mine. You don’t get to kill him. I do. I’m his target. I want to know why he came after me.”
“You got your wish,” I accept, understanding his point. “There’s something else we haven’t discussed yet. What if his Don put out the hit on you? What do we do in that case?”
“Then, fuck Viktor,” Leonid grumbles, anger dripping from his voice. “I’ll kill that motherfucker.”
“We,” I correct him. “We kill him. If Viktor has a problem with that...”
“Let’s not go there yet,” he suggests, throwing his arm forward. This is the best assurance I’ve got from him. We don’t have to say, “I’ve got your back,” to one another. I know he won’t fail me, and he knows I’ll be there to support him. This is our way—the Bratva way. Brothers to the very end.
Clare
“Leonid left this for you.”
I stare at Yuri in a mix of surprise and disbelief. That must be the longest sentence he’s given me in the time he’s been guarding me. Furthermore, the envelope in his hand is a puzzle. Up till now, I had no idea that Leonid was into letters. I thought he was more of the verbal type, since he didn’t like to talk on the phone much, either.
“Thank you,” I say to Yuri, taking the envelope. I pry it open with steady fingers and go back to my bed. Laying down, I bring it close to my face.
“My dear Clare,
First, let me apologize for not spending time with you lately. I was a busy man before I met you. I’m even busier these days.
I wanted to let you know about something. Your ordeal will soon be over. Tomorrow night, we’re hunting down the man who tried to have us both killed. I wish I could guarantee you the outcome of this showdown, but I can’t. He’s a tough son of a bitch.
I’ve been missing you, gorgeous. Every single thing about you. Your voice, your hair, the feel of your skin against mine... I’m going to do my best tomorrow, Clare. For you. For us. Finding you was one of the few joys I’ve had in all my life in the Bratva. So, I’m going to do everything in my power to stay alive. To come back to you in one piece and discover more of the joys of being with you.
Love,
Leonid
I read the letter twice, mixed emotions coursing through me. On one hand, Leonid is demonstrating his caring, loving nature. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more affectionate man than him. He has a way with words and is perfectly capable of moving me. On the other hand, he’s dropped a bomb on me. One way or another, my adventure is coming to an end. Very soon, I’ll know if I can have a future with him and Ivan. Inevitably, a question rises in my head.
What happens if one of them doesn’t make it?
The answer hits me hard in a matter of seconds.
I won’t stay in Miami. I’m going back to Oregon. Life is simpler there. It doesn’t move as fast. I won’t have the same amount of sunshine, but that’s the least of my worries. Not having Leonid or Ivan is going to tear me apart. I won’t settle for one of them, because I know something in my heart. The survivor of this conflict will only remind me that one of them is dead. One of them perished in his attempt to keep me safe. To punish our wannabe killer. To me, this is not acceptable. I’d rather get back to my hometown than stay in a place where I lost someone so close to my heart.