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He wrinkles his nose. “Why the hell would Ivanov hit a side hustle like the laundromat?”
I step outside and signal to Sanka. He’s detailing one of the cars, but looks up as we approach. “Get me the keys to something inconspicuous,” I order him. “Quickly.”
He nods and runs towards the key cupboard.
I turn back to my cousin. “Hitting something insignificant is the point. Ivanov is sending a message. The laundromat is so unimportant no one beyond the Bratva should know about it. But Petyr does. And if he knows that…”
Konstantin guesses where I’m going instantly. “Then it’s only a matter of time. You can’t hide Paige from the world forever.”
I know I can’t.
But my God, it’s really fucking tempting.
40
MISHA
I grab takeout from my favorite Middle Eastern place on my way home.
I’ve been downtown all day making arrangements for Vasiliev, re-fortifying the laundromat and the drug lab that hides behind its walls, and moving troops around to compensate for the onslaught I fear might be lurking on the horizon.
In the quiet seconds between errands, I wondered inwardly what Paige was doing. How she was feeling. I contemplated calling her before my common sense kicked in. She would start assuming things if I called. She might even start hoping.
And I can’t afford that.
I carry the bags of food up the stairs and head to my bedroom.Ourbedroom now, strange as it is to call it that.
I walk in quietly in case she’s already asleep. But I find her sitting by the window, a big cushion propped up behind her back. Her feet are tucked beneath her and she has earbuds in as she stares out at the garden with one hand on her stomach and the other on her pendant. She’s humming along to the music, her head swaying to the beat.
I pause for a moment to watch her. When I’m not around, she looks so at peace here. That ever-present furrow in her forehead is smoothed out. She looks like shebelongs.
I walk over and set the food down on the dresser to her right. My shadow falls across the wall, and she gasps.
“Jesus!” she exclaims, clutching her heart. “I didn’t even hear you come in.”
Her earbuds fall out and I can hear the tinny sound of her music blaring. “How could you have, with your music playing so loud? You could damage your eardrums.”
“Okay,Dad.” She rolls her eyes and then spies the food I’ve brought. “You’ve come bearing gifts. You should’ve led off with that.”
“How’s the nausea?”
“It was bad this morning. But right now, that smells good.”
“Given the way you devoured the repulsive fare at the vegan place, I figured hummus and tabbouleh would be your speed.”
“Bless you,” she breathes. “Maybe you’re not so evil after all.”
I start unpacking containers. I spoon a few different things onto a paper plate and pass it to her. She accepts it gratefully, tearing into a seared chicken skewer the second she has it in her hands.
I sit down next to her, and she tucks her legs in to make room. Something about this domestic dance feels strangely soothing. Like coming home and taking your tie off, getting that first full breath of air you’ve had in hours.
“Where were you all day?” she asks between bites.
“Working.”
She raises her eyebrows. “How descriptive. At Orion or… in the field?”
I almost smile at her evasiveness. It’s charming. “The latter.”
