While they argue the semantics of murder, I round Dimitri’s desk. My heart thuds in my chest when he pushes away from the battered material so I can slot into my favorite position on his lap, but is left disappointed when I plant my backside on his desk instead. I need his eyes on me so he can see the honesty in them when I say, “You know as well as I do that Nikolai is arriving here sometime this week. Maddox is about to be released from jail—”
“That could have occurred a shit ton earlier if he had accepted Dimitri’s offer.”
I continue talking as if Rocco never interrupted me. “Justine is his baby sister. She wouldn’t miss his release for anything, and Nikolai would never disappoint her like that.”
How do I know this? Dimitri went to hell and back to help Claudia, and we’re not even related, so I’m confident when I say Nikolai will be making an interstate visit sometime soon.
“There are rules he must follow.”
“Rules you’d ignore in an instant if it had a chance of negatively impacting Fien, Matteo or me.” I scoot to the edge of his desk before lowering my head so we meet eye to eye. “Nikolai isn’t your enemy, Dimi.”
When he attempts to talk, I press my finger to his lips. “He wasn’t when he bought the Dvoráks to justice for hurting me, and he wasn’t when you sent Collin to ‘collect’ Justine so Nikolai could finish what he started at the Petretti compound. Youarefamily, you were just raised to believe differently.”
I inch back before placing my hand on the teeniest bump in my stomach. “The same could have happened to our childrenifyou hadn’t fought for Fien as your father failed to do for Nikolai.” Col knew he had birthed a child with Vladimir’s wife, yet he still let Nikolai endure horrific abuse at the hands of his enemy. That isn’t something a father does. “Talk to him, threaten him if you must, but don’t act like this isn’t concerning you as much as it is. You’re not fooling anyone, Dimitri—not even someone as simple-minded as me.”
The tightening of his jaw reveals he doesn’t like me speaking down about myself, but if he won’t automatically stand up for his family like I know he wants to, I have no choice but to make it seem as if we can’t defend ourselves.
More than satisfaction for a job well done pumps through me when Dimitri says a short time later, “I’ll talk to him.” His confirmation my ruse had the effect I was aiming for isn’t responsible for the jitters skating through me. It is what he says next, “OnceI’ve taught you what happens to anyone who dares to speak about you with disrespect.” After pushing his chair further away from his desk, he nudges his head to the floor. “On your knees, Roxanne. If my cum can’t wash the dirty words out of your mouth, I’m sure my cock can ram them so far down your throat you’ll never speak them again without thinking about me first.”
I don’t need to peer over my shoulder to know Rocco and Smith have left. The swivel of Dimitri’s hand when he wordlessly demanded for them to leave is indication enough, not to mention his tattooed hands moving for the belt on his trousers.
A killer is on the warpath and there’s only one name on his list.
His wife.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tickled pink by the knowledge.
3
Dimitri
“Am I keeping you from something?” I ask Rocco, acting oblivious to where his thoughts have been lately. “Or should I saysomeone?”
While I slip out of the room I share with Roxanne, Rocco grumbles a heap of curse words under his breath. He loves meddling in relationships, but when it includes his, he clams up like he didn’t have the gall to kill his father in cold blood.
That was the only time I’ve ever seen him sweat. I guess it’s understandable. You don’t feel remorse when you’re taking out the trash.
Eager to get things moving so I can get back to my family before they wake, I shift our conversation from personal to business. “Is Nikolai’s flight on time?”
Rocco lifts his chin. “To the minute. His pilot is almost as anal as Landon.”
His reply makes me smile. Not because Nikolaibelieveshis sneak into my town in the wee hours of the morning will go unnoticed, but because I almost have all the Walsh’s on payroll. It’s amazing what money can achieve. It truly seems as if the world wouldn’t spin without it.
After scrubbing my hand across the bristles on my chin, I get back to the task at hand. “Remind Roxanne to take her iron tablet when she wakes. Ollie said her levels are a little low.”
“Oh… so a lack of iron is the reason for the circles under her eyes? I thought that was because she was up being thoroughly fucked all night. My bad.” He pauses, purses his lips, then asks, “Do you want me to hit Ollie up for some Viagra for you? I’ve got no shame. I can get the shit you’re too embarrassed to ask for but need.”
When I shoot him a warning look, he laughs as if I’m not about to gut him where he stands, but mercifully, he also keeps his mouth shut. It’s for the best. I may have killed him if he didn’t. I’m still a jealous, neurotic prick when it comes to Roxanne, and even with news of Rocco having his own permanent squeeze circulating amongst the crew, I can’t rein in my somewhat infuriating neurosis.
“Remind Roxanne about her vitamins, then stay the fuck out of her room unless she needs you.” I’d rather stay and take care of business myself, but since that isn’t an option, Rocco is the next best thing. He riles me like I won’t slit his fucking throat, but my kids think the sun shines out of his ass and he loves them just as much, so he’s the second best man for the job.
Does the knowledge make it any easier to walk away? No, it doesn’t. But I’d prefer to be gone for an hour or two than not see my wife and kids for months on end like I did Fien. Rocco’s presence guarantees that will never happen. He’d slay a thousand men before he’d let anyone hurt my family, and I’d be right there beside him killing the rest.
After handing Rocco the key that opens every room in my home without a hint of disdain on my face, I make my way down the corridor. Unlike my father, I never leave without saying goodbye to my family first. I’ll never let anyone take them from me, but if I were to be taken I want them to know they’re on my mind when I wake, and the last people in my thoughts before I go to sleep.
Fien is almost six, has two wobbly front teeth, a face of an angel, and almost dead-straight hair, but she is as lax on personal safety as it comes. She doesn’t notice me sneaking into her room. I guess to her it’s as customary as Roxanne’s nightly shouts. I snuck into her room multiple times per night when she was first returned to me, and even now, four years later, I still do it at least twice a night. I get a great amount of satisfaction knowing she’s sleeping in her bed, under my roof, unharmed and safe.
After ruffling Fien’s hair and kissing her temple, I head for her brother’s room next door. Although Matteo’s hair is as dark as Fien’s and his eyes are just as blue, his personality is on the opposite end of the scale. He’s three going on twenty-three, has chompers that cause significant damage any time Rocco pisses him off, and he not only senses my approach when I sneak toward his bed, he springs off his mattress, jabs me in the Adam’s apple, then wraps his arms around my neck.
