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“You think she knows something about the research?”
My water fizzes as I pour it into a glass, taking a sip before replying. “It’s possible, but unlikely. She does have a connection to the Bratva, which means she’s likely to become a target for the Red Hitters, if she isn’t already.”
“They’d love to get their hands on a woman. They’re easy to get information out of,” he replies.
The mere thought of any of those crooked cops putting their hands on my precious Lily makes me want to throw my glass across the kitchen. She doesn’t deserve to be treated like a disposable pawn, and I’m not going to let them put her through that. She must be protected, no matter the cost.
“She’s in my care at the moment, but she wants to leave the estate,” I explain, trying to steady my shaking hand so I don’t spill water all over myself. “As you know, under Bratva rules, I can’t keep members of high-ranking family members against their will.”
“Is she that important?” he asks, doubt creeping into his voice.
I try to hide my emotions, but anger shines through my voice like the beginnings of a wildfire. It’s impossible to keep it under control. “She is part of the Bratva. She will be protected whether you think it’s important or not.”
“Oh… I, um, wasn’t aware she was sworn in. Highly unusual, considering her age.”
“Just get a team together that can track her without her knowledge. I’m going to hook her up with GPS, and she shouldn’t be hard to follow. I want to know where she lives, where she works, and more importantly, if any of the Red Hitters decide to pay her a visit.”
I throw back the rest of my water, hoping it will cool me down. I don’t want Lily to come downstairs and find me in such a furious state. She would immediately know something is wrong.
“I can get some people together, but this is short notice. Understand that it’s going to be difficult to keep her out of danger,” Donovan says, speaking slower and choosing his words more carefully.
“Don’t let it happen. This is more important than you realize,” I snarl. “If anything happens to her, there will be severe consequences for you.”
“Is… is that a threat?” he asks, his voice wavering a bit. I can hear the fear now, the uncertainty that comes from being called out so harshly. He’s confused as to why this is so important, but that’s not for him to understand. I need him following orders, not questioning them.
“It’s not a threat, Donovan, it’s a promise. Keep Lily safe from the Red Hitters,” I say, hanging up immediately after.
11
Lily
I open my eyes to find Ivan standing over me, a tray full of fresh fruits, coffee, and oatmeal in his hands. His green eyes sparkle in the natural sunlight streaming through the translucent curtains, and the corners of his mouth turn up in a smile as I sit up.
“What’s all of this?” I ask as he hands me the tray.
“Breakfast, darling. I don’t want you going out on an empty stomach,” he replies, moving over to the window and pulling the curtains open.
A solid golden beam falls over the bed, bending over the sheets that are tangled at my feet. Normally, I’d be shy to be naked in front of someone who is fully clothed, but Ivan makes me feel so comfortable. Even though he’s large and imposing, the way he moves is gentle and caring.
I take a deep breath, smiling a bit as I become adjusted to being awake. I slept like I was dead last night, totally exhausted by the evening of passion I shared with Ivan. I didn’t know I could be fucked in that many positions, and for that amount of time. I swear I lost track of how many orgasms I had, and how he gave them to me.
Now, I’m getting breakfast in bed. It’s like a dream come true. The dream part is especially accurate because I know I’m going to wake up from it. This can’t last forever. In fact, it won’t last much longer than a few more hours.
The realization spoils my appetite, but I don’t want to turn down such a lovely breakfast from Ivan, so I eat it regardless. The coffee is amazing, and the fruit tastes like it was picked just minutes before it was sliced and put on my plate.
Ivan confirms this as he plucks a strawberry from my tray and pops it into his mouth. “These are just coming into season. In another month or two, the garden will be in full swing, and you can live off the land for the entire summer if you want.”
“Sounds lovely,” I say, dread building in my stomach. I can tell he’s trying to convince me to stay, but it’s simply not possible. I can’t leave my job, my normal life, for the Bratva. It would be an act of suicide, and I’m not that depressed. I still have hope that I can go back to normal, forgetting about the Bratva and Dimitri’s connection while I mourn him.
In a few years, this will be nothing more than a faint memory, a wild time in my life that I outgrew.
“You can see the garden, if you’d like. I know you’re probably eager to be on your way, but there are some lovely dogwood flowers starting to bloom, and they smell like heaven,” Ivan says, his voice calm and soothing.
A bit too soothing, considering he doesn’t want me to leave.
I finish the last of my coffee and give him an apologetic look. “Listen, Ivan, I’m really grateful for all this, but you know I have to go. I’d be a burden to you, or at best, a distraction from your work.”
“I doubt that very much,” he replies, his eyebrows drawing together tight on his forehead. “You’re a pleasure to have over, and every man needs a distraction from work, or he’d work himself to death.”
