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I’d think about it more in the morning, when I’d had more time to process everything. He made it sound as if we’d have the full day together tomorrow, so if I needed to, I’d make sure to tell him before the way was out.
***
Viktor’s phone buzzed repeatedly in the dark of the early morning. I heard him grunt and felt the bed shift as he rolled over, reaching for it. A moment later, I opened an eye to the glow of his screen as he checked his caller ID.
Whoever it was couldn’t wait. He sighed through his nose and connected the call. “This had better be good.”
I heard the voice on the other end, deep, male, too low for me to pick out words. I heard the tension in the caller’s tone, though, and felt the blissful relaxation drain from my body.
Viktor listened silently to whatever the explanation was for almost a minute and a half before breaking in. “All right, Boris, fine,” he stifled a yawn. “I’ll be back in half an hour.”
“What is it?” I tried not to sound too worried. It must be something urgent, as he had jumped out of the bed and was already trying to pull on his pants one-handed.
He said a few curt words in Russian and hung up. “Mudak.”
“There was something I wanted to tell you, I don’t know if it’s important or not but—” My voice was hesitant.
“Duty calls,” Victor turned to me with an apologetic smile. “It can wait, I must also wait to meet my son, it seems. Or spend more time with you.” He leaned down and kissed me lingeringly. I whimpered, tingling and frustrated. “I will make it up to you both.”
I got up to throw on a robe and let him back out of the apartment, mind racing. Was it something to do with the attack yesterday? Yes, it had to be. “Okay. Call me once you’re free? I need to see you again today.”
He stole another kiss at the threshold. “Absolutely.”
And then he was gone.
Chapter 21
Viktor
“Do you want to tell me why you’re waking me up at five in the fucking morning, Boris?” I growled as he walked into my office. He looked sleepy and, again, a little drunk, but it was well after hours this time and I had too many other things on my mind.
“I figured you’d want to hear this face to face. Once you left, on the way to dumping off those two guys we grabbed, one of the guys got scared again and started talking. Thing is, what he told me was so crazy that I had to check it out, find some proof, before I brought it to you.”
I lifted an eyebrow, then gestured to the seat across from my desk. A full mug of coffee was already waiting for him, I was halfway through my own. He grasped his gratefully and took a long swallow.
“That’s proactive of you. So what was this odd assertion, and what did you find out about it?”
“The auction lady. The one you’re fucking.”
“Olivia. And mind your tone when you speak about her.”
“Mind my tone? Look. That woman, the one you’re claiming you don’t have a serious thing with? She has a son with your eyes.”
“I’ve claimed no such thing, and I am fully aware of the boy.”
He blinked in surprise and went quiet.
“She confirmed that her son is mine herself, Boris. Please tell me you didn’t get me up this early for that.”
“No.” He rubbed his face awkwardly. “But it’s a concern. A lot of what I dug up is real goddamn concerning. See…you need to know who your Olivia’s been associating with. For years, since she was a kid, in fact.”
My brows drew together, sudden concern giving my brain a clarity the caffeine hadn’t managed yet. “What?”
“El Luchador. Otherwise known as Luis Burgos Gutierrez. You know, the guy who tried to have you killed today? She’s best friends with his sister, Anna. Roommates in college. Has him over at her apartment regularly. Sends your son on playdates with his niece. That close.”
My heart was starting to pound. I focused on calming myself, but all the deep breathing in the world couldn’t stem that sudden rush of adrenaline.
“Isn’t it obvious? You accused me of fucking some woman who is in with the Puerto Ricans, and now it turns out you’re actually doing that!” He started breathing heavily, his face darkening. “And God knows how much she’s told them about you, or how much she’s manipulated you for them.”
