“Is that what he said?”
“He didn’t need to.”
Being able to touch her soft skin, to be close to her evoked something deep and carnal inside as a man who couldn’t afford the luxury of thinking with his dick. “You should have told me who you were.”
“Why? So you could have forced me to turn my uncle and the rest of my family over to you? My uncle doesn’t know who the Ghost is, but he does realize the Bratva are dangerous.”
Now at least I knew the full breadth of their conversation. Which perhaps would come into play at some point. Right now, leaving the hospital was required. Being here provided easy access for the Ghost. Although the game required cold calculations. The kill with me lying on my back would be beneath him.
I cupped her face, using enough pressure she pressed her hand against my chest. Yet her touch was far gentler than mine. While the memories of what had occurred were fleeting at best, I sensed how much damage I’d done to what little trust we’d had.
“You’ll need to tell me about the man your sister married.”
“An Italian prince. Have you thought about the possibility that we were brought together? Have you yet wondered why and how?” She didn’t try to pull away, instead her fingers wrapping around the cheap hospital gown. A true lifeline.
There was no reason to feel so strongly about each other. We both knew giving a damn about the other was dangerous. But the desire was even stronger than before.
“Meaning?” I asked.
“Enzo Savoy, my sister’s new husband, will soon take over the throne of the Savoy Cosa Nostra. I wasn’t supposed to be in firstclass, nor did I have any access to that fancy club where we spent time together.”
I pulled her even closer. “Then how?” I could tell she was insinuating Enzo Savoy was responsible. As with all family members of the Cosa Nostra, many identities were kept secret. The Russians did so brilliantly, preventing photographs of family members taken, especially children.
Knowledge was power and in the case of a mafia regime, while there was a benefit to destroying the empire from the top down, those who did so from the bottom up usually garnered more success.
She blinked several times. “I thought Enzo had done so as a gift to my sister. What if it was someone else? What if the Ghost discovered an opportunity, although I’m not sure how or even why.”
“Because Kazimir had formed an alliance with a different Cosa Nostra family who used Mikhail’s anger with his brother against the Chertov regime.”
“And you think Enzo is working with Mikhail?”
“A good question. One that needs an answer and I can’t do so while in this hospital bed.”
Her look changed, shifting to being my doctor. “Not. Tonight. It’s after one in the morning. I’ll release you after the sun rises. Fair enough?”
When I chuckled, my body ached. “Fair enough. But you will be returning with me. I’m not going to accept an argument. With your conversation with your uncle, you placed yourself in greater danger.”
She opened her mouth to argue but thought better of it. “Fine. What are you going to do with my uncle?”
“At this point nothing. Except maybe have a conversation with him. Again, I need to get out of here.” I’d need to have a discussion with Kazimir first, and Dimitri. We needed to learn how deep the Irish mob’s involvement was, if any. I had thoughts but I wasn’t going to mention them to Vivian. Not yet.
“You will. Just not until the morning.” When she reached her other hand to the side of the bed, I arched an eyebrow.
“You’re not hiding a weapon, now, are you?” I asked while enjoying caressing her cheek with my thumb. Seeing the worry in her eyes after what had happened was… telling. There was no other word for it. She hadn’t anticipated caring for me, just as I hadn’t with her. Our connection had gone far beyond a physical attraction.
What the fuck to do with it from here had yet to be determined.
With her head cocked, the combative expression I so adored returning, a sound drew my attention as the rail on the bed rolled down.
“You’re so untrusting,” she cooed. The woman had several sides, which could be misconstrued to be very dangerous. But I’d always craved a touch of danger.
“I have reason to be.”
“Including with me.”
I slipped my hand under her hair to her neck, my grip even tighter. Not that she tried to pull away as I tugged her closer. I needed to taste her soft lips. While the trust with her was difficult, if she’d wanted to kill me, I’d be dead. She’d ignored theperfect opportunity. And I could tell by her reaction this wasn’t some great acting gig.
Whatever her reason to have a discussion with her uncle, the action was brave. Or…
