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“Matt and I are going to meet with Chase tomorrow and conference with Brian. If you’re still in, we’ll let them know that we’re going to take the deal. It will mean that we need to expand the team quite a bit, get a recruitment and training plan in place. Since Matt and I will own the company, we’d like to set it up to provide equal profit sharing to the ten people on our core team, and you will each be responsible for your regional areas.”
Matt walks downstairs, and Nick starts counting out loud on his fingers. “I don’t get it, there are nine of us,” he says, and I smirk at the smartass as he continues. “Cole, Dereck, Sheldon, Matt, Jay, Damian, Nate, Keith, and me, who’s ten?” Nick says.
“We should decide as a group, but I’d like to bring Scottie on board. He’s been Carrington’s head of security for years, and like a father to Brian. He’s proven his loyalty and skills, and his connections with Interpol would be invaluable,” I say.
“The one that calls everyone lad,” Cole says, smiling before he pops the last bite of a piece of pie into his mouth.
“That would be the one,” I say, knowing it was going to be a thing.
“He’s got my vote. I talked to Damian after shit went down with Jenny, and he said Scottie was willing to take a bullet to keep them from getting to her,” Dereck says.
One by one they give the vote. “I’ll make the call tomorrow before I talk to Chase and Carrington,” I say.
“Everyone okay with the way we want to set it up?”
“It’s more than generous. You’ve secured our salaries on top of the contracts, and you’re bringing us in as partners with profit sharing. It couldn’t be better,” Cole says.
“They want their families and loved ones protected and are willing to put in a system and structure that provides that security long term. They’re good men,” I say, and everyone on my team nods their acknowledgment, and I have no doubt that each and every one of them would sacrifice their own life for those in our care.
“It’s been a hell of a day; I’m going to turn in. Who’s on tonight?” I ask.
“I’m wide awake, and Marenah needs her sleep. I’ll cover the first shift,” Matt says.
“I’m still running communications intel. I’ll take the first shift with you if you want to take over in a few hours, Cole,” Nick says.
“Roger that. I’ll get a few hours of sleep and then join you,” Cole says, snagging another piece of Gaby’s pie as he walks by the counter. “What? It has baby Snickers bars in it,” he says, grinning as he bites off the tip of the triangular dessert.
“I’ll catch the next shift,” I say, but Dereck shakes his head.
“You and Matt get a good night’s sleep and finalize the deal in the morning. We’ve got it covered,” Dereck says, and the team nods in agreement.
“And you are positive that every single one of you wants to sign up for taking care of not only Chase and Brian but the families, and you know what I mean by that. Once we agree, we don’t ever go back. It means we contract out, but Chase and Brian’s extended family will also be protected,” I say, observing each of them.
“We’ve all talked about it. I don’t think any of us were too keen on taking on a contract to protect the Italian Mafia, but the bottom line is, we already have. Carlos Larussio may not be dabbling, but you know he’s running the strings, and we’ve been protecting him and his family since the accident. He’s Chase’s dad’s best friend and hell, if things hadn’t been different for Chase’s dad, he’d be part of the mafia himself. Bottom line, they’re good people, they’re good to our families and us, and we’re in. It’s an honor that Chase and Brian want us to run the teams that support their loved ones and friends,” Cole says.
I glance around the room, and the team is all nodding, going in eyes all open. I look to Matt to see if he has any questions, and it’s clear he doesn’t. They’ll take this on knowing that it means we will all be working for the entire Italian Family and they are a vast and complicated family. “Alright, we’ll finalize the deal in the morning,” I say, walking out of the dining room, still contemplating what changes that may mean for our team.
The sender’s name on my message makes my heart race and my feet stop dead in their tracks. I open the note and read it slowly, wondering if I made the right decision to send the DNA that Matt identified on to our intel team.
Detailed report in your inbox.
I head into the den and slide into the recliner, unlace my boots and toe them off as I sit back and pull up the email on my phone.
I skim through the initial two pages documenting her name, place of residence, current occupation, and description, but slow when the report winds to birth. Born in a hospital in Moscow, as Sasha Koslov. Mother nineteen and father twenty. Sasha’s mother is the daughter of Ivan Vlasenko, head of the Russkaya Mafiya, a man rumored to lead the Bratva with an iron will. My heart is pounding as I read on. The remains of Koslov, Sasha and Marenah’s father, son of the caretaker for the Vlasenko estates, were found wrapped around a tree after Koslov visited the hospital the day before Sasha’s mother and her twin daughters were released in the care of Vlasenko.
I spend the next few hours reading and rereading every piece of this document, trying to find any possible way that it may work and swallow hard.
I am a man that deals with cold hard facts, assesses the situation, develops a plan, and acts accordingly. The hard plain fact is that I can’t have a relationship with a daughter of the Russian and Chicago Mafia while working for the Italian Family.
32
SASHA
I wake in a hazy mist,my throat dry and lips parched, feeling like they will crack at any moment. I try to sit up, but it is a struggle. Damn, I should have only taken one tablet last night, and then all of a sudden I remember Jay. I look around at my surroundings, and I have no clue if it is the same hotel room or somewhere different. But no, there was danger; Jay got me out of that room, and then I remember, they were coming after us and my heart was beating, faster and faster, stair after stair, and then I don’t have any recollection of what happened.
I look down at my clothing and blush. I’m only in my cami and panties. Jay must have undressed me, and the thought of him doing that makes my center clench with desire. He took care of me again. When I needed him the most and didn’t even know it myself. No one else has ever done that for me, and I lie back on the luxurious pillows, dreaming about what I want him to do to me as the sun rises and starts to shine into the bedroom windows.
I grab my cell phone and send a message to my sister.
