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“One of Dmitry’s men, Viktor, recognized your mother in you. I was contacted by a nurse at the hospital, who told me that he was desperate to speak to Alexei because he’d found his daughter. I visited him there, and he told me what happened at that bar before I ended his suffering. It didn’t take long to figure out who you were with. Future tip, Jessie. If you’re trying to lie low, don’t run around with the Irish Mafia.” He cocks an eyebrow at me.
“Well, I kinda think that ship has sailed, don’t you?”
He laughs softly. “You take good care of yourself, Jessie Ryan.”
“I will. Thank you, Vlad.”
He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it softly before placing his free hand over his heart. “It has been my pleasure.”
Before I can reply, his two sons are by his side talking to him in Russian. Vlad releases my hand and the three of them slip into the crowd as Mikey steps up beside me.
“You okay, Red?” he asks as he slides an arm around my waist.
I turn to him and smile. “Yes.” I lean against his shoulder as we start to head back through the park. “I think I got most of the answers I needed. Thank you for coming with me, Mikey,” I say, relieved now that he offered to be my chaperone, because I feel so emotional and vulnerable that it is comforting to have his huge arm wrapped around me.
“Any time, Red,” he replies before planting a kiss on the top of my head.
“I love you,” I breathe. “You know that?”
“Yeah,” he says with a shrug, making me laugh.
“Did you hear any of that?”
“Most of it.”
“It’s so much to take in.”
“I bet it is, Red. You want to go somewhere? Just the two of us?” he asks as he squeezes me tighter.
“I would love to. But Liam needs his lunch and his meds. Conor will probably be pacing the hallway, and even if he’s not, you're well aware he won’t sleep until we’re back. Even if we call him and tell him we’re okay.”
“Okay,” he says with an overly dramatic sigh, and I laugh again.
“How about we do something later? Just me and you?”
“Hmm,” he says as he chews on his lip as if deep in thought. “How about strip poker?”
“Is your mind always in the gutter, Mikey Ryan?”
“Pretty much, Red,” he laughs.
“Good. That’s exactly where I like it,” I laugh too.
“So, we’re on for strip poker then?” he turns to me and smiles widely.
“Yes,” I nod.
“Nice,” he nods too before leaning down to give me a soft kiss on the lips. Mikey is my happy place. He has a unique ability to lighten any mood and uses humor to diffuse almost every situation, even when it’s completely inappropriate. But that’s one of the things I love about him. I know that beneath it all, he has a heart as big as anyone I’ve ever known. And as we walk toward the car, he leans down and whispers softly, “I love you too, Red.”
Chapter
Seventeen
CONOR
I’m half asleep when I feel the covers lifting slightly and the bed dipping beside me. I am fucking exhausted, but I’m conscious Liam might need something so my body won’t let me fall into a deep sleep. And I’ve been worrying about Jessie and Mikey and won’t be okay until they are back here where they belong. I trust Jessie’s judgment, but I will never trust the Bratva. Not ever.
Her warm hand skims my lower abdomen and I smile because they are back — and safe.
