“I’m fine, I’mfine!” I was anything but fine. “Can you tell me where to go and then stay here with him?”
“I kind of actually want to go see the guys. A few of my friends took bullets.” Kiril shifted.
“Wait….” I rubbed my forehead. “You weren’t there, were you?”
Kiril shook his head. “I was guarding the house.”
Of course he was.
Instantly, a small rush of gratitude spread through me. He’d been safe. Kiril was younger than the others, and I felt a special sort of protectiveness over him.
“Call Boris to come watch Brady?” I asked, rising and placing my cup in the sink. Ivan was hurt. But there was a doctor, which was good. I would just see for myself, make sure he was the same infuriating man who left, and then come home to make sure everything was ready when they moved him here. He could cuddle and have a movie day with Brady. Yes, that was a good idea! I was already moving back to the bedroom to grab jeans and a bra when a short, stunted breath made me realize Kiril hadn’t answered.
“Kiril?” I paused and saw the Made Man pinch his eyeballs shut with thumb and forefinger. “Kiril!”
“Boris is dead.”
I reached for the wall. The wave of sadness was almost as debilitating as the fear. This was the cost of being kept in the loop. There was no time for the others to process the events. I felt everything Kiril felt.
The poor guy sucked short breaths into his lungs. He was fighting hard not to cry.
I knew what a vulnerability that was for men like him. But screw that.
Moving to his side, I rubbed his back and cradled his head against my stomach. Kiril struggled with his sobs, while I fought back tears of my own.
“Sshhh,” I breathed. “I know it hurts. It’s okay, let it out.”
My voice hitched, but Kiril nodded. We stayed locked together as the damn clock pecked away the seconds—then minutes. Death had visited tonight. I slept through it. Kiril was away from it.
Who else did he claim?
I didn’t know many of the other men. But the loss of Boris was enough. The news made my heart ring with pain.
Suddenly, Kiril reared up and shot away from me.
“What the heck?” I snapped, stumbling to catch my balance.
“I can’t be touching you!” True panic consumed him. “Boss’s orders.”
I wanted to roll my eyes. “It’s okay, Kiril. I was the one—”
“No,” he shook his head vehemently, “Boss said he’d remove the fingers of any man who laid a hand on you.”
“Your hands were in your lap and on your face.Ihugged you.” Enough of this macho shit. We had real problems. “Let’s go.”
Kiril wasn’t convinced.
I clenched my fists at my side. “I won’t tell, and it will pass. Now. Take me to Ivan.”
“Brady?” he reminded me.
Holy Virgin, that was twice now I’d forgotten about that detail.
“Um, if you’d like, we can take him to my house?” Kiril offered hesitantly. “He’ll be okay, and my wife should be able to put him back to sleep on the couch.”
“Yeah, sure, that’d be good—” I halted. “Your wife?”
He had aWIFE!
