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“I don’t know about love, but I am infatuated with her which is why I don’t want to tell her just yet. I don’t want any awkwardness between us while I fix it. I want to have this time with her like you have had.” He added and I felt bad for the guy.
He had the least amount of connection with her, and he must have felt like we had a head start.
“None of us will step in your way. Let me know if you need a hand with it. Anything else?” Riley asked and I hesitated.
“I think there is a missing link in the Bratva. Konstantin isn’t someone who would marry. He would just take what he wants so he doesn’t really need Katerina. Something doesn’t add up and that is why I don’t want her out there. I think the people taking her might have answered to Konstantin, but they weren’t operating on his request.” I said, voicing the thoughts I had on the drive here.
“You think there is someone else who is the puppet master?” Leo asked and I nodded.
“I think the person I am looking into, this White Fox, is connected somehow. Hearing that someone took something so randomly personal from her home, that tells me this is more personal than we realize.” I said and they went silent as they considered that information.
“Then we need to keep her here until we figure it out. We need to keep her safe. I don’t trust anyone else.” Riley said with conviction, and I was surprised just how firm the man was.
“Agreed,” I said, as I watched her pace the length of the deck, then pulled out her phone.
I recognized that look and I knew what she was about to do.
Thirty three
Katerina
My world felt like it was constricting. Konstantin was back.
The man I was supposed to marry until Yuri came into my life.
I spun my phone around and around, trying to tell myself it was enough.
Whenever I was reminded of Konstantin, Yuri was there to remind me that he was never going to let me be taken by him.
I looked inside at the four men sitting at the table, knowing that they would say the same thing but they didn’t understand Konstantin and his family and now I didn’t have Ivan to hide behind.
I met Alexsei’s eyes and quickly turned away. He knew. He had seen me do this so many times now and I hated myself for it but then with everything that had happened with Riley and Leo, now this reminder, I needed to do it.
I walked away from the house into the trees, wanting space as I went through my voicemail and found the one I was looking for.
The one from Yuri the day he died.
I pressed play, listening to his voice before I hung up quickly, not able to do it. My hand shook as I took a deep breath, and then went to listen again when a hand firmly gripped my wrist.
“Why do you still insist on tormenting yourself with that message?” Alexsei said softly and I glared at him.
“Because it is my reminder of what happens when I trust, when I love, and what I lost. It is my reminder that the only way I can get through life is on my own and through protecting myself.” I snapped and he shook his head with a smile.
“I think those men inside would disagree. I think the woman who sat at the table with the stare of someone who is in love would disagree. This woman is the same scared woman who has been running all her life. Konstantin will not get to you, Katerina.” He said firmly and I inhaled sharply.
He was right. I had made all these promises to trust Leo and Riley and I was running from them again.
“You’re right. I owe Riley and Leo more than that.” I said as I flipped my phone around.
“What about me? Could you learn to trust me?” He said softly and I sighed.
“I don’t know, Alexsei. I want to. I’ve thought about it a lot, especially these past few days before going to sleep. But how do I know that you are telling me the truth?” I said and he smiled.
“You don’t. That is part of trusting me,Pchelka. I know I am asking a lot, but I promise you that I am giving you everything in return.” He said softly and I hesitated, deciding to ask a question instead.
“Why do you call me that?” I asked and he chuckled.
“Because you are my honeybee. You are the queen that my life has been centered around since the minute I met you. You are regal, royal, and strong in your commanding presence andyou always brought a sweetness to my life that I had never had elsewhere.” He said, shocking me.
