“Tell Kolya to dig deeper and faster.”
“Yes, Ivan,” Maksim replies.
“Grigory, where do we stand legally?” I direct my attention to my youngest brother.
“To the public we are nothing but upstanding citizens who invest in real estate with the purpose of improving the lives of people in our neighborhoods,” Grigory says, a smile growing at the corner of his mouth.
“That sounds like a load of shit, but make sure it stays that way,” I tell him. “Also, make sure there’s nothing Callaghan can come after us for.”
“You got it, Ivan,” Grigory says, giving me two thumbs up. He’s smart and he knows it. Grigory may act like you can’t take him seriously, but he’s a man who should not be underestimated.
“Ivan,” Dmitri speaks up, “we need to talk about Emma.”
“What about her?” I ask.
“What’s the deal with you two?” Dmitri is getting right to the point today.
“I’m keeping her here to ensure her safety,” I tell him.
“Cut the shit, big brother,” Maksim speaks up.
“Watch your mouth!” I snap at him. I usually snap atbratvamen, not my brothers.
“You like her,” Maksim says as he stares at me and smiles. He knows there’s more there. “I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
“I do,” I admit, sighing and sitting back in my office chair. I look up to see the three stunned faces of my brothers staring back at me. “What?”
“Fucking hell.” Dmitri is the first one to speak up, throwing his hands up in surrender and turning away.
“Way to go, big bro!” Grigory is more cheerful.
“It’s about time,” Maksim adds, a smile growing on his face. “Mikhail will finally get off your back.”
“He already knows,” I admit out loud. “Remember those three days where I was unavailable and Dmitri stepped up to run things?” My brothers all nod.
“Her grandmother died. I spent those three days taking care of her and making sure she ate and bathed.”
“You had security watching her the day after we met her in the restaurant,” Dmitri noted, trying to make a timeline in his head.
“I did, and I’m not apologizing for that,” I tell him.
“You put a tracker in her phone when you were with her, didn’t you?” Dmitri asked.
“Yes, and I won’t apologize for that, either,” I confirm.
“Ivan, what do you really know about this girl?” Maksim asks.
“I know that I love her.” All three of my brothers blink and stare at me in shock. I’m surprised at myself that I uttered those words out loud.
“She doesn’t deserve what’s happening to her. She’s been imprinted on me since the night she was attacked outside of her apartment building. You know I had Kolya look more into her background. Last night, she told me herself about her history, confirming everything that Kolya told us.”
“And…” Grigory chimes in.
“I will burn the world if it keeps her safe, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop me,” I tell him.
“You don’t think things are moving too fast?” Dmitri asks. “Forgive me, Ivan, for being a little suspicious that you meet this girl who is in trouble with the Irish mafia, and allegedly doesn’t know it. It’s just a little too coincidental.”
“It’s your job, Dmitri, to help keep this family safe, and I don’t blame you for your suspicions,” I respond. “I’ve also fought my own feelings of suspicion, but I am certain of her innocence.”
