Bile burns my esophagus when Nikolai answers, “It’s no concern of yours.” He’s not being rude, but he is giving clear signs Dimitri’s visit isn’t up for discussion.
It’s a pity for him that my urge to protect him has grown as strong as my confidence the past year. “If it affects you, Nikolai, it affects me. We’re a team.” My hand drops to my stomach. “All of us.”
Nikolai was raised on hate. I will not have our baby reared the same way. There are parts of Nikolai’s industry I never want our baby subjected to, but I also understand that once you’re Bratva you’re always Bratva.
Even when you leave, it follows you.
Nikolai’s brother is living proof of this. Nikolai gave Rico a full pardon, yet he continually peers over his shoulder, waiting for the day he’ll be forced to answer for his desertion.
The worry in Nikolai’s voice startles me when he discloses, “Dimitri was here to issue a warning. He doesn’t appreciate the Russian stamp my entity is forging on his turf.”
I step back, my mouth dropping in bewilderment. I’m not just stunned he yielded to my demand so quickly; I’m shocked by his confession.
“You assured Rico you’d never set up shop in Florida. You may not have promised, but your word alone holds merit.”
“I know.” Nikolai scrubs the stubble on his chin before taking a seat on one of the cots his man vacated in a hurry. “And I intend to keep my word.” His lifts and locks his eyes with mine. “I am many things,Ahren, but I’ll never be accused of being a cheat.”
His reply has a double meaning—both for Rico and me. Although the eagerness of the unnamed blonde earlier tonight caught me in a low, I trust Nikolai with every fiber of my being. I know he’d never break mine or his brother’s trust.
After removing his hand from his chin, I slip into Nikolai’s lap. I am defenseless to his charm, but my obsession has as many good points as it does bad. Just my body pressed against his is enough to bring him back from the brink of insanity, so imagine its strength when he’s gifted my eyes at the same time?
“Do you trust Dimitri?”
Nikolai’s fingertip counts the bumps in my spine before he shrugs. “He’s yet to give me a reason not to. But. . .”
He leaves his question open for me to finalize how I see fit. Trust is not an easy thing for him to give. That’s why I’ll never break it, because I know how difficult it was for him to give it to me so early in our relationship.
“It was a great risk for him to come here.”
Nikolai jerks his chin up, agreeing with me.
“He wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t believe what he was saying.”
Nikolai’s agreeing gestures keep coming, although this one isn’t as smooth as his first.
“If it is true, who do you think the Russians are?”
Nikolai smirks, amused at my endeavor to talk shop. He generally uses acharge like a bull in a china shop, ask questions latertactic. Not once the past year have I seen him sit down and work through his confusion. Any “talks” he undertakes are usually done with his fists, so I’m certain this is as foreign to him as it is for me.
Hoping he’ll see the good that can come from a new approach, I ask, “Have you spoken to Trey? He might have heard some rumblings.”
“These aren’t my men.” His eyes go a little murky with anger. “I trust them with both my life and yours. They wouldn’t be a part of my crew if I didn’t.” The conviction in his tone can’t be missed.
“Then who could it be?”
I’m not being nosy. I genuinely want to help him with this. Besides, isn’t this my role? A true queen doesn’t sit back and watch the royalties roll in. She brings an equal share to the table.
My breaths shorten when Nikolai mumbles, “Perhaps Asher.”
His reply shocks me. Asher is his friend more than an associate, so for Nikolai to suspect him isn’t just outrageous, it’s utterly blindsiding.
The reasoning behind his suspicions make sense when he says, “Asher has been off the radar since Dominque’s death. A grieving man could never be accused of being reasonable.”
A moan vibrates my lips. “But shouldn’t Dominique’s death keep his focus in Russia? He wants revenge, not a life in a foreign city.”
Although details are short, I am aware Nikolai used Asher’s infatuation with one of Vladimir’s whores to establish negotiations with Asher’s father last year. Nikolai wanted the Yurys business trades to be conducted through his entity instead of Vladimir’s. Dominque sweetened the deal at the start of their negotiations.
Unfortunately, she was killed in a coup gone wrong a little over six months ago. Asher has been off the grid ever since.
