“Wow. Your house is enormous. Do you live here with your wife?”
“I’m not married.” Matias pulled the Audi into the covered garage and cut off the engine. “Wait here.”
Katya watched as he rounded the vehicle and opened her door. “Let me help you.” Hepressed the button to release the seatbelt and eased her to her feet beside him.
“You live here alone?” Katya looked around at the massive building.
“Yes. Mostly.” He smiled as he led her toward a door. “A few servants stay here, but otherwise it’s just me—and now you.”
“Great,” Katya mumbled.
“Look.” Matias looked at her over his shoulder. “It won’t be like this forever. I just need to make sure you’re not a threat.”
“And what about Jorge? He’ll come for me, eventually.”
“I’m not worried about that piece of shit.” He pulled the door closed behind her and inched his body close to her as he whispered into her ear, “Now, Let’s get that beautiful body cleaned up.”
“How’stheprisoner?”Bastianlaughed as he plopped down into a vacant chair.
Matias growled as he tossed a folder at his brother. “Infuriating. She refuses to tell me anything about her or her family.”
“Can you blame her?” Cristian set his feet on the desk in front of Matias. “You’re holding her prisoner.”
“I need to be sure she isn’t a spy.”
Bastian grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “I’ve never known a spy to look like her.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“I think what our baby brother is trying to say, Matias,” Cristian rested his hands behind his head and grinned. “Is that your prisoner is hot as fuck!”
Matias closed his eyes as the vision of Katya assaulted his brain. His brothers weren’t wrong. She was fucking beautiful. “That doesn’t change the fact that she’s an Ivanov.”
“Can’t always help who you’re born to, Matty.”
“Yeah, I know, but I need to be sure.” He pushed Cristian’s feet off the desk. “Where are we on Jorge? It’s odd to me he hasn’t been looking for Katya.”
“I might know why that is.” Bastian leaned forward as he spoke, “His father died two days ago. Heart attack. Jorge is now the sole heir of the Peru Wineries. A marriage isn’t needed now.”
“Christ.” Cristian shook his head. “That motherfucker just tossed aside one of the most ruthless mobster’s daughter. Does he realize he has painted a target on himself?”
“Have you made any headway with any of our contacts in America?”
“Yes. Apparently, the Anastasi Syndicate is having some problems with the Russians.”
“This is bad.” Matias leaned back in his chair. “If the Russians are making a move on the Italians and stealing from us, they must have something big planned. We need to know how Jorge fits into this.”
Bastian stood and stretched. “I’ll drive down to wine country. I need to see what I’ll be running soon, anyway.”
“Take Pedro with you. I don’t trust that motherfucker.”
Bastian left Matias and Cristian alone in the room. “What about the girl, Matty? You can’t keep her locked up forever.”
“I know. Once we find out Jorge’s game in all this, I’ll let her go. Having her locked up is the only thing keeping her safe; we’re sitting blind.”
“Are you sure there isn’t something more behind keeping her locked up?”
“What are you implying?”
