Chapter 3

• TERZO
• Earlier today
• The moment Ilya entered his office, he instantly recognized me. His nose flared. His face reddened. His eyes hardened. The muscles in his jaw ticked as he noticed the gun on his desk, and my foot crossed beside it.
• “Don’t.” I tipped my head at the open window and crossed my arms over my chest. “I didn’t come alone. Nice office, by the way. You’re legalizing your business?”
• Aleksandr Gusev, his lieutenant beside him, cursed out in Russian, ready to pull out their guns.
• “How’s your knee, Gusev?” Linden got him good, broke his knee in a cage fight years ago.
• “Let me kill him, Pakhan,” said the giant guy with Albinism while gritting his teeth.
• “Don’t,” Ilya grunted at his man and glared down at me, restraining the beast from unleashing. “Not your fucking business. What the fuck are you doing here, Siciliano? In my country, in my territory, and my office?”
• “You know why I am here.”
• “Get the fuck out of my office and my country before I blow you brain out and send it to your father, stronzo!”
• I snorted and barked out laughing, causing his men to further glare at me, and their hands went to their sidearms. “You, dickhead.” I stood up from his chair and shook my head in amusement.
• Ilya broke into a smile and came to meet me halfway before we did a brotherly hug, patting each other’s backs. While his men were still confused, he went to his liquor cabinet and poured us two shots of vodka.
• I took a shot and grimaced. It was pure alcohol, burning down my throat. “How’s your father?”
• He gestured to his men. As soon as the door shut behind us, I saw the sadness in his eyes. “It came back. When he received his treatment in the States, his doctor warned us it would come back. It was merely to prolong his life for a few years, and I was grateful.”
• “I’m sorry, Vasilyev. I wish I could do something.”
• “That’s life.” He downed another shot. His sigh became heavy as he nodded. “No man is watching us, is there?”
• “No. Marco and Gio are in the hotel.”
• “Why can’t you just stay dead?” He looked at me. “Isn’t it nice to make people think you’re dead? When Linden called me, I thought he was joking.”
• “My father can stay dead, but I can’t. I have a family business to run. My sister can’t run it by herself. You know how men in our business think of a woman running an empire. Their minds still live in the old days.”
• “I agree. Let’s talk about the reason why you’re here. I can’t help you.” He did not even hesitate.
• I studied him for several seconds. “You can’t or you won’t?”
• “You’re aware she works for me? Why do you want her?”
• “I’m preventing a war between families. If I can’t bring her home, let’s say, I have a price on my head. That’s how serious it is.”
• “What did you do?” he asked casually, not even surprised anymore.
• “It’s complicated, but I was trying to save a person I cared about. My enemies can come and blow my head off, but not the people I love. They’re off-limits, especially women. Fransesco’s son crossed that line, and I had no choice.”
• “Holy shit.” He stared at me for a moment as if he put the pieces together.
• “Yeah.”
• “I hate that fucking man, too. Maybe you can do me a favor and kill him, then you can take the girl. He almost took down the plane carrying Braddson’s nephew, right?”
• “I will take the girl with or without a favor, Vasilyev. Braddson’s nephew is my sister’s husband.”
• “Your what?” He chuckled. “I’m confused.”
• “I have another sister. Half-sister who is married to Braddson’s nephew.”
• “The sister you tried to protect?”
• “Yes.”
• “Understandable. I would do the same thing, but I made a promise to protect Danielle Souls. If you want her, I won’t hand her to you, and you can’t take her while she’s under my protection. You know what it means if I give my word to someone, I can’t break it.”
• “Understood.” I nodded. I admired Ilya. He may be a ruthless Russian pakhan, but that was how he earned my respect.
• “She’s changed a lot. You might not recognize her.”
• I sent him the latest picture of Dani Souls. She was pretty, but too innocent for my taste. I wasn’t interested in getting into any relationships. That ship had sealed a million years ago. My life was complicated and dangerous. Getting attached to someone was the last thing I wanted, especially to a woman as soft and naive as Dani.
• But I had this urge to protect her from her father, from this life, and my own monster.
• “I would know her even if she’s skinless.”
• Ilya smiled and shook his head. “What are you gonna do to her? You can’t hand her to her father who arranged him to another asshole.” He paused for a moment. “Was it you?”
• “No.”
• “I have plans. Don’t worry, Vasilyev. You have my word. I will protect her with my life. Do you know anything about her ex?”
• “Why? She never mentioned her ex.” I knew what he meant. His employees told him everything that Dani had talked to them. “You can just ask Linden. That man collects data and gossips all over the internet while Mr. Braddson collects intelligence all over the world.”
• “I’ll figure it out myself.”
• “I’ll give her a few hours ahead. Look, she’s nothing but a good employee to me. If I don’t owe you, you can go shit yourself, but you gave me your word, and I have a huge respect for you.”
• “Thank you.” I stood up and offered my hand for a handshake. “I owe you.”
• I left quickly and informed Marco and Gio, who were watching Dani at the nightclub.
• “Just be careful. If Giordani could betray me, he sure as hell can betray you.”