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But Katia knew the war our marriage would cause. She understood the danger, and not once had she run toward it. Katia had been bred into this world and molded for survival. It was an instinct only those born in danger comprehended. Even with our ten-year gap, Katia was more mature and aware than any other twenty-six-year-old woman.
The Mafia stole innocence and peace, hers being one of them.
Katia wasn’t a submissive woman, she was just fucking smart. She was loud and vocal with her demands but never fought when it interfered with someone’s safety, including hers.
She was careful, cunning to those who only saw the beautiful exterior, and watchful. But she was also fragile, hopeful, a contradiction for only me.
I would deal with Leo when the time came, as it seemed some didn’t respect the boundaries placed in our…relationship? No. Our arrangement.
I had never lied to Katia. However, I omitted the real reason for our time in Montana. My reasoning had and would always be to keep her away from the filthy reality of our world. I couldn’t see myself changing, or believing it was the wrong thing to do.
A black-out Escalade waited for us at the private landing strip. Arlo, Viktor, and Ilias waited outside the running vehicle. I’d expected Arlo, not the whole welcoming party.
I stood from the leather seat, emptied my drink, and picked up her bag from the floor.
“I can get that.” Katia’s accent was heavy on her tongue. It always was when something bothered her.
Her gaze focused on my hand.
“I’m aware,” I replied, and turned to the open door.
Miami’s cool and humid breeze swirled in the late evening. A few streaks of sunlight fought the darkness as I went down the plane’s stairs.
My brothers met me as I waited for Katia’s descent. She didn’t take the hand I’d offered on the last step, and I struggled to ignore the raging need to show her some fucking manners in front of my family.
Viktor shot me a look before following her trail back to the SUV.
I watched every sway of her hips, every step she took to the flow of her long brown hair in the breeze.
“I’ll get the rest of the bags,” Ilias mumbled, leaving Arlo and me alone.
“I’m guessing it didn’t go as smoothly as you had hoped,” Arlo murmured as Viktor opened the back passenger door for Katia.
It wasn’t until she was safely inside that I turned my attention to Arlo.
Black combat books, black-blue jeans, black tee.
“Tell me you’ve found a hideout.”
Arlo grinned.
“Viktor found where some of Borelli’s soldiers are hiding,” he said excitedly. “There has to be more somewhere, but for now…” Arlo trailed off.
For now, we would take care of the ones we had eyes on.
I glanced at the running SUV. We needed to drop Katia and Viktor off at home. We only had four days before the wedding, and if I wanted Borelli eliminated, I needed to focus on getting him in the city. Therefore, I removed any distractions from my mind.
One in particular.
Katia.
Because after his son’s death, the word out on the streets for the head of Los Angeles had shifted. It was now smeared with wild madness. Unpredictable, and I needed him to fall into the trap I’d set.
A part of me knew he was coming, and soon. But I needed to keep pushing and hurting him until every breath he took was with me on his mind. I had cornered and broken him by killing his son. Weakened him in the eyes of his syndicate. Although, I needed him shattered to leave the safety his throne provided and to enter the hell my city would greet him with.
Katia didn’t stir when we all huddled inside the vehicle. Even with her sitting in the middle and me on her right, she never allowed her body to touch mine. She didn’t utter a sound or a glance in my direction. Ilias tried making conversation. It was one way. Everyone felt the tension in the cabin. The annoyance and wrath she radiated.
I ignored it.
