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I shake my head before going inside and closing the door.
As soon as I’m in a stall, a shadow follows behind me. I open my mouth to scream, but a gloved hand wraps around my mouth and uses my body to close the door.
“Miss me, Duchess?”
I breathe harshly against Luca’s palm. He’s wearing a black leather jacket and a hat that shadows his eyes. He slowly removes his gloved hand. “Whisper or he’ll hear.”
“What are you doing here? Yan is right outside.”
“I can shoot him if he comes in.”
“No!”
“I see you’re forming attachments. That’s the worst thing to do, Lia. He’s Adrian’s guard, not yours. He’s keeping an eye on you on his boss’s behalf, and won’t hesitate to hurt you if he’s ordered to.”
I know that, but I still don’t want him dead. Yan doesn’t deserve such a fate, even if his boss is a major asshole.
“He won’t come in here unless I take longer than needed,” I bargain.
Luca releases an exasperated breath. “Do you have any idea how fucking hard it is to get you alone? I’ve been trying for fucking months. First, you were hidden away in his black castle, then he put you in a shelter associated with the Bratva, and his men follow you everywhere. This is the first time that tool guard didn’t check every corner of the bathroom first.”
Releasing a long sigh, I murmur, “This is my life now.”
“I’m sorry, by the way.” His brow creases as he makes a vague gesture toward my leg. Luca doesn’t offer sympathy. He’s more hardened than me and lacks many emotions, so I know not to take it for granted.
“I’m still alive.” My voice is clogged as I fight the tears.
“Sometimes staying alive is the worst of it.” His features tighten before they relax. “Tell me you have something on Adrian.”
I shake my head. “He doesn’t talk about his business.”
“But you’re his wife now. Surely he takes you to those inner Bratva banquets.”
“No.” Since that day, he’s never dragged me to his organization and I’m somewhat thankful for that.
“Fuck, Duchess. I thought we agreed you’d bring me things on him.”
“He’s guarded.”
“Then make him unguarded.”
“You think that’s easy?”
“You can do it. Being his wife makes you the closest person to him.”
No, it doesn’t. If anything, we feel further apart than when he used to come to my apartment at night. At least back then, it was about me. Now, everything is about the baby and my despicable role of producing an heir.
While I love my child, I hate how Adrian is using him.
“Tell me what you know,” Luca says.
I mention details that I know, about Sergei and Igor and his daughter, Kristina. I also tell him about Adrian calling someone Don and having conversations with him. I don’t mention Adrian’s family history that he willingly divulged. Luca doesn’t need to know that, and it feels too intimate to let someone else be privy to it.
“All of that is old news.” Luca checks his watch. “I need more.”
“More, like what?”
“His system. What he’s working on.”
