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He mockingly chuckles. “Of course you would. I’m not in the business of buying airports and using them for land. I need an income to maintain our infrastructure.”
I raise my eyes from my tablet, having already marked off this idea. “Are you in the business of protecting your family?” I ask, knowing he needs a good old dose of reality at this moment.
“This is all being set up to make sureyourson and the woman he loves can be safe. Hell, Adrik has gotten to you and your men multiple times already. Who knows what could happen when you have another mole we aren’t monitoring twenty-four-seven?” He closes his eyes in frustration, trying to get a grip, but I’m not finished.
“This isn’t a business transaction you can put in the books. This iswar. This is life and death. Can we try to not place bombs in areas that will likely damage the infrastructure of the buildings? Sure. Will we not place any bombs on the property to keep the building standing and risk our team? Fuck no.”
His eyes flash with anger, but with it comes a wave of understanding. He can’t deny my point, so we move on.
“This all needs to be kept quiet. Not even your two hands should be aware of what we are really doing. Do you think our plan is still secure?”
He scoffs, waving his hand in anger. “Do you think I would risk my son and the woman he loves by choosing to gossip to my men like a schoolgirl?”
“Fair point,” I say, raising my hands in mock surrender. “Now that all of the main business is out of the way, I have a few questions for you.”
“Ask away.” He gestures with his hands then sits back in his seat seeming to relax.
“As you're aware, I’ll be arriving in a week to help prep and set everything up with you. With the airport being not far from the city, I wanted to find a hotel there to stay at as well as get some of your dining opinions. I’ve not been to Russia before, so I need to know the lay of the land.”
His brows pinch. “Hotels?”
“Yes, I did not plan on sleeping in my rental car.” I’m having a hard time understanding where the confusion is for him here.
“You will be staying at my home withme. I have already had a room prepared for you as well as your dining choices and a few of my personal favorites taken into account.” He picks up his planner and points to a few lines of text with an air of excitement. It’s like he can’t wait to show me around his world.
“There are two restaurants I planned to show you during your stay. One is more upscale and the other is a total shit hole, but I know the owner and he makes the most impressive array of pirog I have tasted, apart from the ones my late wife used to make. You will have no need of a hotel.”
My jaw nearly falls to the floor. I assumed I would be going solo unless we were performing actual business, but I feel like he’s taking this way more seriously than I am. It makes me feel special and seen, but also somewhat defensive.
“I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself for this trip.” My voice is harsher than I intended, but he seems unphased.
“Did I ever state you were incapable?” He tilts his head in question, so much like Alexi it freaks me out for a second. He acts like I’m the one being weird here.I mean, I am definitely weird. But also, what the fuck?
“Nooo,” I drag out the word solely to give myself time to think. “It feels like you are though.”
“I am simply taking my job seriously. You wanted this role to learn to lead, I can’t quite teach you how to do that simply over video calls. You’ll come with me to meetings and watch how I run my organization. You will be honest with me if you see something you perceive as a flaw, and we will analyze the issues together. This is what a leader does. We do not simply hand you the reins and smack the horse while leaving you to flounder about.”
I sit back in my seat now, shocked but also not at the same time. When he puts it like that, it seems a lot less like he’s doing it to keep me close so that I don’t fuck up. Something my father was always great at doing with me.
“Alright, I’ll see you in a week then.”
“Until then, Lisichka.” And with that, he signs off.
Chapter 47
I walk out to greet the car pulling into the drive. The familiar red hair quickly comes into view behind the glass. Her eyes take in my home with pure awe. Although, I have no idea why. her father's house is nearly the same size, though lacking the sprawling estate. He prefers his house to be in the center of the town, using his people as a shield between him and any foreign enemy.
Coward.
I push aside thoughts of him as I approach the car and open Nessa’s door for her. Her cheeks turn a tinge pink when she looks up at me. I’m guessing where she is from, chivalry is dead based on the gratitude she exudes here.
“Thank you,” she says quietly. Her shy act is strange to me.
Just last week her witty remarks and jabs at my age were the only language I have come to understand from her. So the girl standing beside me, acting like she has no idea what her next move should be, catches me off guard.
“Come on in, I’ll show you your room so you can settle in.” I gesture towards the house.
When she moves to take the bag from the driver, I reach around her and take it for her. Ian’s eyes go wide with shock because I have never once done this. Not even for my own wife. The thought has me snapping to attention, trying to ignore the burning in my grip where her bag hangs, as I turn to the house and assume she will follow.
