I'm sick of thinking, tired of being, but I know she’s right.
I've been a hamster on a wheel. Maybe a change of environment is the inspiration I need, not only for my work but to bringmeback to life.
“Thanks, Mom.” I pull her in for a tight hug, and she seems surprised and relieved. “You really are the best.” And I mean it. I’m lucky to have her love and support.
We might not always understand one another, but no matter what, she is always in my corner and there to pick me up when I fall. Even when I try to push her away.
23
DANTE
The fun part about any half-intelligent member of the Bratva is that they’re good at covering their tracks. With only a name to go off, we’ve uncovered a profile of sorts for Fyodor Novikov. As expected, when Izak runs a background check, there’s no information of such a person ever entering the country.
Luca stands in front of me in his grand office with ceiling-high bookshelves, the fire crackling in the fireplace.
“Izak is extensively searching the internet for even a whisper of the name Fyodor Novikov,” I begin to explain. “The other hounds are on the ground, searching for other evidence of anyone else who might be connected. It’s also coming to the end of the month, so we plan on waiting at the Trail Blaze restaurant to corner this hooded figure, who was the one conducting business on his behalf. Kage is the closest in size to the big oaf I killed in the kitchen, so we'll use him to draw Novikov out, and we will capture him and extract answers.”
Luca is flicking through paperwork and looks up once I’ve finished speaking. “It might’ve been better to keep the chef alive to try and use him.”
“Let’s say he wasn’t very accommodating. Besides, I’ve had Izak tap into his phone in case contact is made by the supplier, but there doesn’t seem to be much communication. They’ve kept outside communication to a minimum, leaving it at a clean slate. Had we kept him alive, he would have been a liability, likely warning them, and I'd much rather catch them off guard.”
Luca regards me carefully. It was a gamble either way we went, and I much prefer cutting off a potential liability than bringing it forward in hopes it becomes useful. At least that’s how I justify it, but also, I really just wanted to kill the fucker.
We acquired enough information from him to lead us to the next stage, and I believe in the hounds. I trust in Izak to eventually uncover who this Fyodor Novikov is and where he’s hiding.
“Lorenzo has cleaned up a few remaining followers in Italy. It doesn’t seem like many are left, which means either they retaliate by bringing more men over and declaring an all-out turf war, or they remain comfortable in their own territory. I want this dealt with. No mistakes.
"I called you in for another matter of concern as well. Why were you residing with Romi Lutton?”
It was only a matter of time until he found out. His blue eyes have an edge to them, and I know if I displease him with my response, he’ll most likely remove one of my fingers for it.
“I’m currently staying at my brother's house. However, I was living with Romi for a short while. I met her at Lorenzo and Lily’s going-away party. A room was advertised, and I took it.”
His gaze narrows. “She confronted my wife about our organization right around the time you started staying at Lorenzo's. I won’t be dealing with side shit surrounding one of Ara’s friends again. It only gotmeinto trouble with my wife when your brother did the same shit.”
Interesting. So, more than likely, Romi has questioned Ara about their business. I wonder if she’s done the same with Lily and Lorenzo. If she has, I’m sure Lorenzo has announced all the reasons why she shouldn’t get involved with someone like me—all of which are true.
“If it’s just fucking, find another woman for a release. I don’t need more headaches because of you Moretti boys.”
“Yes, boss.”
It’s a lie, of course. Because I have no intention of letting anything keep me away from my woman.
“You’re dismissed.”
Luca can only control my life so far. I’m not as malleable as my brother. I’ll always prioritize Luca’s safety, but at no point will I let him dictate who I do and don’t fuck. And it just so happens that I don’t want to fuck any woman other than Romi.
I foundit strange when Romi wasn’t in her apartment, and neither was Borris. That dog goes everywhere with her. So, when I track his dog tag, I find myself ringing the doorbell to her mother and stepfather’s mansion.
Romi isn’t the type of woman to let me run her out of her own home. She also hasn’t replied to any of my messages, and when I call, it goes to voicemail. When I try to track her phone, it’s switched off.
If she chooses to play such games and thinks I’m a gentleman who will give her space—she’s wrong.
Her mother opens the door and clutches her pearls. “Oh, Dante. I wasn’t expecting you."
Borris jumps out from behind her, and I scoop him into my arms and scratch under his chin. The best part about this littlerat dog is he quickly disarms women. They get the same glaze in their eyes as when they see a male holding a baby. That’s precisely how Romi’s mother looks at me now, the previous confusion around my arrival gone.
“I was hoping I might be able to speak with Romi. We had a disagreement the last time we spoke, and it hasn’t sat well with me since.”
