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Viktor’s brows pinched together, confused. But if I told Katia, she would take it and run wild. I couldn’t give her such power, not now.
“Wait,” Arlo said, fully awake in disbelief. “Are we talking about business for a woman? For Katia?” I stared at him. “You are serious.” He chuckled, unpleased.
“I am.”
“What the fuck is happening?” Ilias asked in Russian.
“Lucca is going to allow Katia to work,” Arlo replied bitterly in Italian.
I felt all their eyes on me.
“It’sgoodbusiness.Cleanbusiness,” I expressed.
Ilias veered his eyes away while Arlo continued shaking his head. Viktor sat quietly with his eyes fixed on the paperwork in his hands.
“It’s smart, Arlo,” Viktor spoke up. “Katia’s businesswillexplode, and the Moretti name will have another source of clean money in the eyes of the government. Having her tied into legal contracts and deals will make things easy to hide.” Viktor’s smile shone wickedly. “It’s perfect.” He chuckled. “She won’t be placed in any legal danger, and money will come and go, and whispers will now mix into the building industry. The revenue stream can be tricky, but large losses often happen.”
Finally, someone who sees my vision.
“She will be in prison if caught.” Exasperated, Ilias looked around us as if he was the only one who cared.
Viktor closed the folder, stood up, and faced our brothers. “You don’t understand. Everything will be legal. It’s the Moretti name that will benefit from having such a business drawing out suspicion.”
“It’s dangerous,” Ilias fired.
“It won’t be finalized until California is eliminated,” I stated.
“She’ll be in the public eye, and threats will follow her,” Ilias fought.
“She can take care of herself,” I added nonchalantly.
It was the truth. Katia could take care of herself in the outside world. The numbers in the folder spoke of it.Iknew that, and the kind of threats he now spoke of were ridiculous compared to a war.
Arlo scoffed. “She can take care of herself.”
“You’d be surprised.” I shrugged.
Arlo’s lip curled with malice, and I watched him carefully as his hatred for her deepened. I could only blame myself, because the moment I’d hid my reason for marrying her from him, I’d lost his trust to see my way.
“We’ll see.” His smile pushed through, and he left the room.
“He wasn’t too kind to Davina at first. He’ll come around,” Ilias said, following the same path Arlo had just taken out of the room.
Viktor and I stood in silence, and when the music faded, leaving us alone to the vibration of tempo at our feet, I was reminded of Arlo’s warning.
Had he meant others or him?
“I have the last of my things in my car. I’m heading to your place. Are you coming or staying?” Viktor asked, breaking through my questions.
The thought of Katia’s heat in my bed and her touch over my skin led me to say, “Let’s go.”
XXII
KATIA
This morning was different.While the covers next to me were cold and ruffled, it was impossible to not sense his presence.
“Lucca?” I asked, low and deep.
