“Because he was trying to get his sister back. He loves Katya. And I love Katya. I can make amends with him. I believe it. I want to make peace. But you have to be inagreement. Our alliance is the reason Dimitri attacked in the first place. If we all agree to work together, we can help each other. Nina will be safe.”
“She’s not safe right now. Gabriel has her.”
He sets his hand on my shoulder. “I know. But she will be safe once we get her back. You just have to agree to make a deal with Dimitri too. Put your pride aside and do this for me, Luca. For our alliance. For Nina.”
Fuck Alek. Using Nina against me. When I first married Nina, it was just to make an alliance with Alek. Nothing more.
But I know Nina means to me more than just a business arrangement. She’s the woman I’ve touched and gotten to know. There’s still so much more to learn about her but I want to. I need that time. And I will do anything to keep her safe. I know that in my gut. It isn’t just because she’s my wife. It’s because I genuinely care for her. I see the potential in Nina.
I see how much she wants to change. And I want to change too.
I don’t always want to be cold and methodological. I feel passion for my wife and there’s no point in denying it.
I can’t strip Nina of all her passion either. Once I get her back, we can work together to become a powerful couple. I believe it.
But that means keeping her safe and if I continue to hate Dimitri, then Dimitri will come for her again, which will mean she’ll never be safe.
“Dimitri wants this?” I ask.
Alek nods. “I’ve spoken to him. Getting shot was a wakeup call for him. He could have lost his wife, Sofiya, and he doesn’t want that. He wants to keep her safe as much as I want to keep Katya safe. As much as you want to keep Nina safe. So let’s work together. Dimitri is still in the hospital so he can’t help much but he has contacts. We all do. We can use those contacts to find Nina and get her back. Let’s do this together, Luca. Let’s take down Gabriel.”
It all sounds too good to be true. I have lived my life full of darkness and death. It’s to be expected in the mafia. I’ve never had other people I could depend on. It’s what made me into the logical man I am. But Nina makes me illogical. She makes mefeel.
So, I push down my pride and I hold out my hand to Alek. “Deal. I’ll make a deal with Dimitri. As long as he helps me get Nina back. As long as Nina remains alive.”
“Of course.” Alek shakes my hand, promising me this.
It takes hours of searching but eventually Dimitri comes through. He knows a man who’s close to Gabriel’s inner circle.
Alek and I go to meet the man – a John Mathews – at some shitty bar downtown.
“Remain calm,” Alek advises me. I take in a deep breath and nod.
John is seated at a booth near the back. A nondescript man, he blends into the background. Perfect for undercover work.
“Tell me where my wife is,” is the first thing out of my mouth.
Alek gives me a hard look but he knows he wants Nina back as much as I do.
John motions for us to sit down and we both do, begrudgingly. “I know some men who work with Gabriel. They said that Gabriel took your wife to this address.” He slides over a piece of paper. “That’s all I know. Hopefully that helps.”
I grab the paper and immediately rush out of the bar. Alek scrambles to follow. “I am getting her back, Alek.”
“I know. And I’m glad you care this much about Nina to fight for her. I’m right behind you.”
We arrive at the address – some shitty little house in a shitty neighborhood. I have my gun at the ready as I make my way up to the house. Alek follows.
That’s when gunshots ring out through the night from the open window. Both me and Alek dive to the ground. The door opens up and two men – Gabriel’s guards – come running outside, shooting at us. It’s dark out. There’s no other people awake. And besides, in this neighborhood, gunshots are normal. No one will ask questions.
Alek and I run behind my car for cover.
“I will take the guards,” Alek says. “You get to Nina.”
“Stay safe. You’re the only reason I agreed to make a deal with Dimitri. If you’re dead, all bets are off.”
“Then I better stay safe. As long as you take care of Nina. If you ever mistreat her, I won’t be happy.”
“I promise.” And I’ve never wanted to mistreat Nina. I have wanted to be firm with her, change her into the woman I believe she could become. But now that she’s missing, I don’t want Nina to change. I want her just as she is. I want her back. I know that for a fact.
