“Ivan!” Dmitri says loudly, trying to get my attention. “What. Is. Going. On?”
I finally address him. “Declan has plans to come after Emma. He claims that she was promised to him in the event that her father didn’t fully repay his debts, which he didn’t,” I explain.
“That’s a shit move,” Dmitri replies. “What kind of a father essentially sells his daughter? Can he do that?”
“It’s frowned upon in most places,” Grigory says, trying to lighten the mood.
“My conversation with Declan filled in a few missing pieces in the information Kolya got me last week,” I tell them. “He’s threatening to destroy our properties if I don’t hand her over. That asshole has another thing coming to him if he thinks he can threaten and intimidate me into giving up Emma.”
“Okay,” Dmitri says, “so we protect our properties and keep Emma out of the crossfire. But how do we know Emma is innocent in all of this?”
“What the fuck are you implying?” I ask angrily, barely keeping my temper in check.
“It just seems a little weird that we’re having increased conflict with the Irish, and now a girl who is half-Irish suddenly shows up. That can’t be a coincidence,” Dmitri replies.
“Say that again, Dmitri,” I say, my voice lowering as I get closer to my brother. “Kolya did the digging, and I believe his results. I don’t have questions about Emma’s innocence in this.”
“Okay, Ivan,” Dmitri says as he holds up his hands in mock surrender and backs away.
“Good. We understand each other,” I say. “I’m going back to the Watertown house and remaining there for the foreseeable future.”
I leave the restaurant with Ilya and Mikhail following behind me. I have things to discuss in the car with Mikhail, and I know my brothers will take care of their assignments.
I will be damned if I let Declan Callaghan think he can intimidate or strong-arm me into playing the game his way. He has severely underestimated me, and will not live long enough to regret his choices if he dares to lay a finger on my girl.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
EMMA
AFTER FIGHTING WITH Ivan yesterday and locking myself in my room here, I find myself going a little stir-crazy this morning. I don’t like being told what to do, even if the one telling me is six-foot-five and sexy as sin. I seriously can get lost in those eyes and not think twice about falling for him. I may be in trouble if I have to stay here indefinitely.
I sit up in bed and notice there’s an envelope on the bedside table.I wonder how long that’s been sitting there. A note from Ivan is scrawled across the top, letting me know I can use the credit card inside for anything I want. If I were super pissed with the current situation, I could do some serious retail damage with those instructions. As it is, I’m not that petty. However, I do have an idea. I grab my phone and make a phone call.
“Privet,Emma!” comes a familiar voice after three rings.
“Privet,Boris! How are you this morning?” I greet Boris with as much enthusiasm as I can muster.
“I am old, but I am well. Marina misses you around the restaurant,” he replies. Telling me that Marina misses me is his way of saying he misses me, too.
“I hope I’ll be able to come back soon. I assume Ivan told you what’s going on?” I ask.
“He did. He is good man. Marina will help me in the restaurant until you come back to us.”
“Thank you, Boris,” I tell him. “I’m calling because I have some questions for you.”
“Anything for you, Emma. What do you need?”
“Since I’m stuck here for the foreseeable future, I want to use the time to practice the Russian recipes you’ve been teaching me,” I tell him.
“Excellent! I send you recipes for Ivan’s favorite things.” Boris seems a little too excited by this prospect.
“Why don’t you send me recipes for your favorite dishes. I’m mad at Ivan right now,” I tell him.
“Marina will be angry if I do that,” Boris chuckles through the phone.
“Just tell me something easy to make. What about the cabbage rolls and the dumplings?” I ask Boris.
“That’s a good start. Do you have pen and paper?”
