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“Flynn, have you forgotten there is a lady in our presence?” Angelo scolds him but it’s with a twinkle in his eye and Charlotte says quickly, “The fuck if I care.”
It makes my friends laugh out loud, and I roll my eyes and grin. “You must excuse my wife. I removed her from school before she graduated.”
Flynn smirks. “More like your heathen ways rubbed off on her. The poor girl. Hasn’t she been through enough already?”
Roberto appears again with a curt, “Mr. Karim.”
My heart lifts when Malik enters looking like the rich arrogant bastard he is and Charlotte whispers, “Is he the owner of the home and the jet?”
“Yes.”
To my surprise, she breaks away and before Malik reaches us, she offers him her hand and says emotionally, “Thank you so much. For rescuing us, giving us a place to stay and making the happiest day of my life perfect.”
Malik stops and stares and his usual guarded expression softens a little as he takes Charlotte’s hand, and they shake on it. Then I’m in shock as she pulls him in for a hug and whispers something that makes him laugh out loud.”
Pulling back, he shakes his head and says, “I had to try at least.”
Then he accepts the glass of whiskey from Angelo’s hand and knocks it back with one huge gulp.
I whisper, “What did you say to him?”
Charlotte giggles. “I told him his name choice was shit and it had the opposite effect.”
Before I can even react, Angelo says briskly, “Now we’re all here, I must bring you up to date.”
He smiles at Charlotte. “Roberto will show you to your room, but I’m guessing you’re anxious about what happens next, so I want to reassure you.”
She grips my hand a little tighter as Angelo says darkly. “The plan remains. We have secured the support of Don Majerio and his soldiers. Obviously, Flynn controls his own and, along with mine, we have a small army at our disposal. Pedro Carlos has also assured us of his backing, and we have the use of my wife’s family that joined mine when her parents died.”
“What do you mean, the plan remains?” I glare around the room with murder in my eyes and Malik snaps, “Relax, Ivan. The plan remains but has altered a little. As soon as Alessandro has arranged everything in Sicily, we position our troops to cause maximum devastation. The exchange will be arranged and when Massimo brings Winter to the agreed handover point, we will all be standing by to make sure he never leaves.”
“And you think he will willingly walk into a trap?”
I’m not sure about that, and Malik nods. “He will do anything to get his daughter back. If we keep it neutral and act as if we are keen to help him reunite with his blood, we will convince him that all we want is Winter back with hers. Massimo isn’t a fool; he will understand the best thing for everyone is to make the exchange and then everyone is happy.”
“Not everyone.” I growl and Angelo interrupts. “The exchangewillhappen, but Charlotte won’t be going anywhere. You have my word on that.”
“It’s too risky. I won’t agree.” I’m so desperate because I don’t trust Massimo Delauren an inch and then a sweet voice rings out and says loudly, “For goodness’ sake, Ivan, of course I will play my part. We must bring Winter back to us, and if this is the only way that can happen, I will meet with this man. I owe you all so much and I won’t let you down. ‘He who dares wins,’ as they say in England, and I wouldn’t be a true brit if I didn’t fight the battle to win the war.”
My friends stare at her in utter amazement, and it makes me so proud to see her standing defiantly beside me and doing what’s right. I couldn’t love her more and seizing her hand I drag her close to my side and whisper, “You don’t have to do this, princess. We’ll bring Winter back another way. We have the soldiers; it will be fine.”
She surprises me by pressing her hand flat against my face while looking in my eyes as she whispers, “I love you, Ivan, but if I am to survive this life, I must be part of it. You are all mafia, I am not. How will I know what that involves if I don’t dance near the flames? I will have the best protection there is, and I won’t be alone. You will be beside me and I kind of rate our chances more than a dusty old has been who needs flinging out with the rubbish. You say he’s my father, I disagree. I don’t know this man and my own father is probably wondering where I am, so the sooner we deal with this, the sooner I can go and visit him.”
Angelo interrupts. “That brings us to my next point. Charlotte needs to phone home and reassure her parents that she’s fine and happy. Tell them you’re married and convince them you’re ok. They are losing their minds and are liable to make this a diplomatic incident if we don’t move fast and the last thing we need is the authorities getting involved.”
He reaches into his pocket and hands her a phone and says with a smile. “Roberto will show you to your room. Make the call and get some rest. I’m guessing our stay here won’t be a long one.”
As Roberto opens the door, Charlotte presses her lips to mine and whispers, “Relax. I can fight, remember.”
She grins as I growl, “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
As I watch her walk away, she takes my heart with her because if anything happens to that girl, I will start World War three.
CHAPTER35
CHARLOTTE
Ivan’s room is absolutely huge. Like him, it’s dark and brutal, from the charcoal walls to the matching accessories. Black silk sheets dress the biggest emperor sized bed and the charcoal fur throw tops it in decadence. The subdued lighting makes it more mysterious somehow and the chrome tables that hold the largest lamps I have ever seen add a touch of design to an otherwise sterile space.
