“What about by air?” I ask, scanning the surrounding area.
“He sends up security drones daily to search the area and tracks aircraft by radar.” Tuvan scratches his beard. “He has anti-aircraft guns in the watch towers for anyone foolish enough to approach.”
“Mm-hmm…” I’m scanning the mountain peaks around the compound, jagged arches of rock and snow. The year-round snow load is heavy in this region.
“We should be getting back, there’s a nasty storm forecast for tonight, one of the worst in years,” he warns.
Lowering my binoculars, I stare at him with a slow, spreading grin. “Of course,” I murmur, “you’re a genius, Tuvan!” Laughing, I give him a big kiss on the top of his head,
“Europeans,” he mutters, shoving me away. “Mad. All of you.”
***
“How are you, love?”
“Good, I’m good.” Aria gives me a sweet smile, but I can see the lines of exhaustion around her mouth and dark circles under her eyes as we’re Facetiming.
“I’m thinkin’ you’re not sleeping again,” I say, raising my brow when she tries to brush off my concern.
“With Zed out of the picture as head of our Syndicate, I have a lot to prove to the underbosses,” she says, rubbing her eyes. “Mostof them have known me since I was a child, which can be good and bad.”
“Go get some painkillers,” I say, “I’ll wait.”
“I’m f-” Aria sees my expression and nods, getting up. I look out the picture window in my hotel suite. Even within the relative shelter of this town, the blizzard is vicious, snow pelting sideways from the force of the wind and already collecting on my balcony and windowsills.
“Is that snow?” My bride is back, popping two pills in her mouth and swallowing them dry. “This early in autumn?”
“In the Siberian mountains, there’s only one season,” I say, “the dead of winter. Emphasis on dead.”
“We’re both from cold climates, but I don’t think I’d make it a single winter there,” she admits.
“Neither will Petrov,” I say, hate lacing every word.
She perks up. “Do you think you’ve found an answer? We’ve tripled security, thanks to your men as well, but the attacks keep coming. Those Bratva bastards blew up sixteen of the trucks in our travel hub in Edmonton yesterday, and last night, we had another breach at our main warehouse up the coast. Fortunately, we pulled the sensitive cargo out of there two days ago.”
“How do you know it was Petrov?”
Her coffee-colored eyes narrow. “He’s an arrogant fool. We recovered bodies from both sites with the Petrov tattoo, along with some of the ink they use for rank. He’s expending a lot of manpower.” Sucking in a deep breath, which I know means she’s gathering her thoughts, she looks at me. “I think he’s digging. He knows there’s something earth-shattering, he just doesn’t know how to get at it.”
“We know he and Uncle Bastard were in talks,” I agree, “and yer’ fecking uncle was a loose cannon. I only wish I’d killed him sooner. And harder.” I think of his entitled, doughy face. “I shoulda’ killed him a lot harder.”
This sets her off in a laugh. “I saw the pictures, husband. I don’t think you could have been more decisive.”
“Ah, ya’ finally called me that,” I say with deep satisfaction.
“What?”
“Your husband.” I grin devilishly. “Are you missing me performing my husbandly duties, baby?” Jesus, Mary, and Joseph I love the flush she gets when she’s embarrassed.
“No!” Aria blurts awkwardly, “I’m perfectly happy to heal up a little and… you know, rest.”
I can’t stop laughing and her face is getting redder. “Sorry baby,” I gasp out before she hangs up on me, “and here I’ve been missin’ you so much.” I let out a long-suffering sigh. “I guess it’s all one-sided.”
“You know you can’t pull off the lonely, forlorn husband act, right?” she asks skeptically.
“That’s hurtful, especially when my only concern is for you.” I attempt to look wounded but her expression tells me I’m not pulling it off. “Ah, well. Let’s play this another way. Go lock the door and sit on your couch.”
I’ve been to her office several times in the King building. I’ve fucked her on that big sectional in the corner almost every time.
