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Ivan said, “I like it. It might be my favorite one so far.”
As I stood in the kitchen, looking at Ivan tell me he liked that song, I knew without a doubt that my dad had put that melody in my head specifically for Ivan. I thanked him silently.
“Oh, Boss. I have news,” Ivan said as he indicated for Adrik to follow him to the next room. Adrik kissed my temple and whispered, “Be right back, love,” as he walked into the next room with Ivan.
“Viktor, would you mind seeing if Andrei is awake yet? He told us to make sure and wake him up for dinner.”
“If I say no, can I get his portion?” he asked, his eyebrow raised like he was legitimately considering saying no.
“Do you want me to smack you with this wooden spoon? Because I’ll do it,” I said, pointing at him with the spoon.
He laughed loudly, walking out of the kitchen. Adrik and Ivan walked back into the kitchen, both looking like they were trying to keep it together. That was serious news. Adrik walked back to me, pulling me to him. He wrapped his arms around me tightly, his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. “I missed you, solnishko.” I stepped back, looking at him, but saw only happiness in his eyes. I stood on my toes and kissed him gently. “I missed you more,” I said, smiling against his lips.
I made sure to make even more food this time, thinking there would be leftovers they could eat the next day. Wrong. They just ate more.
“I’m going to have to start rationing you guys. Or you’re all going to have to start running with me,” I said, as they all went back for seconds and thirds.
Misha laughed. “This kind of delicious death will be worth it.” They all agreed with him.
“I hate running, but I’ll do it if it means I can eat more of this,” Stephen said.
“It’s not so bad once you get used to it,” Misha said.
“Just never think you can run faster than her and you’ll be fine,” Adrik said, winking at me.
“I haven’t run in so long, you have a good shot at beating me now.” I grinned at him.
We stayed in the kitchen talking well after all the food was gone for a second day in a row.
“Have Dario and Massimo made it to meet with Trino yet?” Ivan asked.
Viktor nodded. “Armando is in contact with some of Trino’s people. They confirmed that Dario and Massimo landed this morning. Trino is making them wait, just like he did with Lorenzo and Anthony,” he said, laughing.
“I like his style,” I laughed.
Adrik looked at me thoughtfully. “I think it would be a good idea for you to meet him, solnishko. Mando and I were talking about it. I don’t want to count on him without you meeting him first.”
I smiled to myself at how reliant he had become on my observation skills. He was just as good as I was, to be fair, but I kind of loved how he included me in his business. “How funny would it be for him to come here to meet with you while the other bosses are waiting on him in Colombia?” I said, mostly joking at the absurdity of it.
Adrik looked at me, then looked to Ivan, then to Viktor. “That’s not a bad plan, solnishko. I didn’t want you to go down there while they were still there. It appears he’s going to keep them there forever because he’s having such a good time making them wait.”
Viktor asked, “How much time do you need to figure out whether he can be trusted, Sephie?”
I thought for a moment. “Not long, unless he’s a complete psycho like Massimo. He took me longer. Everyone else I’ve been able to figure out almost immediately.”
Viktor looked to Adrik. “We could meet him in between here and there. It would likely get back to the other bosses if he came all the way here, but we can meet him halfway without them knowing. We can get in and out of your usual meeting spot with Trino quickly. It’ll give Sephie enough time to meet him and he can get back before the other bosses catch on that he’s meeting with you.”
Adrik thought for a few moments. “It might be nice to get away for a couple of days. We can take Mando and Giana as well. I want Sephie to see everyone together. She’ll be able to tell me if anyone is lying. I trust Mando. I mostly trust Giana, but I don’t know her well. And I trust Trino so far, but I want Sephie to confirm that.” He looked to Misha, raising an eyebrow, silently asking for his thoughts on this plan.
Misha thought for a few minutes. We could see him working through various scenarios in his head, but he ultimately gave the green light. Adrik then looked to Andrei and Ivan. “How long before you two are up for travel?”
Andrei spoke first. “I’m good, Boss. Whatever you need. I should be able to use it almost fully in the next couple of days.” Adrik nodded, then looked to Ivan, who was quiet for a moment. He looked conflicted.
“Ivan’s wound is more serious than Bubba’s. He won’t be back to normal as quickly, but he’s still more lethal with one arm than most people are with two, so there’s that,” I said, winking at him.
“I’ll be okay to travel, Boss. She’s right. I won’t have full use of my arm for a while, but I’m good. There’s no way I’m not going,” he said, looking right at me. I couldn’t help but smile at him. He’s taking his new role very seriously.
Adrik was quiet, thinking about this plan. “I’ll speak with Mando and Trino tomorrow. Trino still hasn’t given Lorenzo and Anthony an answer on their proposed deal.” He laughed. “He’s really enjoying stringing them along. This will give him reason to make them wait even longer, so I can’t see him not agreeing to meet with us.”
