AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, you can count on it,” she says with a smirk. “Later you two.”
As they walk off, Mads leans in. “Why didn’t you tell me about Kylie? She’s a hoot.”
I chuckle. “She’s trouble, but she’s family.”
“Meh, so, it took her an extra year to graduate, how bad can she be? I’m looking forward to getting to know her.”
Before I can reply, Stieg approaches us. “Hey, Madison, you mind if I pull him away a moment?” he asks.
Mads glances at me and then at the crowd forming around the wedding cake table. “Sure, but after they cut the cake, I’m going to be ready to go. These shoes may look amazing, but they’re killing me.”
“Sounds good, I’m about beat too,” I reply. “We’ll meet back in ten minutes, all right?”
“Tootles,” she says with a flutter of fingers.
When we’re out of earshot, I ask Stieg, “What’s up? Is it Gregor?”
“Yeah, the word is he’s itching to put one in your skull. We need to deal with that slimy turd, fast.”
“I figured as much,” I reply. “I’m doubling security at my place tonight.” I glance at him. “You should take care as well. If he can’t get to me, he’ll go for my right-hand man.”
He snorts. “Let him, I’ve been waiting to put a slug in that scrawny little bastard for some time. Just give me a reason.”
“Don’t get too anxious, this has got to be by the book,” I say as we step outside. No one’s around but I still lower my voice. “We already have to answer for Sergei.”
“When are you going to Moscow to sort that out?”
“Early March.”
Stieg stops walking and looks at me. “You’re waiting that long?”
“Mads can’t leave work until then.”
His eyes widen with incredulity. “You’re taking her to meet them,” he states rather than ask. “But you haven’t brought her in, nothing less than that will even make them consider her.” He shakes his head. “What are you thinking, Bash?”
I resume walking. “I know what I’m doing, Stieg. They’ll see firsthand what a valuable asset she’ll be, it’ll all work out.”
He laughs. “Have you told her this?”
I go silent as we continue walking.
“I’ll take that as a no. Jeeze, Bash. I don’t know.”
“Where are we going?” I ask growing wary of the conversation.
“I forgot to bring in the wedding gift, Lorna’s busting my balls about it, saying since she was one of the bride’s maids, the least I could’ve done was to remember the gift.”
I frown at him. “How’d you forget that little detail? I might have to rethink the whole, right-hand man job.”
“Hey, there were two boxes, I just brought the larger one assuming that was it. When she saw me walk in with the one gift box, she nearly had an aneurysm. I’m guessing the smaller box must have slid under something in the trunk.”
“All right, let’s hurry,” I say, digging my hands into my pockets. “It’s freezing out here.”
“Ah, too many years in the US has made you soft,” he laughs as we head to the parking lot. “This is nothing compared to winters back home.”
We reach his gray Porshe. He uses the remote to open the trunk. “Just like Lorna to have to outdo all the other ladies. One gift wouldn’t do for her.” He leans in and fishes around under a blanket and toolbox. “Ah, here we go.”
I see the small ornate box and understand how the misunderstanding could’ve happened.
