She chuckled and squeezed my arm. “Someoneiswatching us, Wren.” We made it to her little black convertible and her grin widened. “Get in. There’s something I need to tell you, too. Hopefully, it’ll ease your worries about Nikolai.”
Quickly, I opened the passenger’s side door and slid in, my curiosity getting the better of me. Once safely inside, away from prying ears, Kali turned to me and smiled sheepishly.
“I need you to keep an open mind. Ripp, Kase, and my brother don’t know.”
I stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. “What the hell have you done?”
She bit her lip and peered around the parking lot. “I’m impressed you could sense someone out there.”
I shrugged impatiently. “Living on the streets can do that to you. I can sense danger from a mile away.”
Her smile faded. “I hate you had to live like that.”
I waved off the comment, ready to hear what she had to say. “It made me strong,” I countered quickly.
Kali blew out a sigh and faced me. “Okay, tell me about Nikolai first and then I’ll tell you my secret.”
She started up the car and we headed on our way to K&B’s Bistro. A dark sedan followed closely behind when we pulled out of the parking lot. I watched Kali glance in the rearview mirror at them, but she didn’t seem concerned. Instead, she looked over at me and raised her brows.
“Tell me, Wren.”
Leaning my head against the seat, I exhaled sharply. “The women I fought against while in Louisiana with Peyton are turning up dead. Nikolai was the one who interviewed us, and he’s the only one who’d see us as loose ends. Parker’s been working with the FBI, but they haven’t been able to connect Nikolai to anything yet.”
Kali blew out a breath but kept her focus on the road. “Wow. Do you really think he will come after you, even with being around Ripp and Kase? We’re all under Seth Michelson’s protection.”
I scoffed at the thought. “I don’t need some mafia prick protecting me, Kali. I’ve done a pretty damn good job taking care of myself all these years.” Her body tensed and I could sense she was nervous to look at me by the way she concentrated on the road. “Oh, hell, Kali. Seriously, what have you done? Are the rumors true about you and Seth? I overheard Ripp talking about it to Ethan one day.”
“Oh my God, no!” she shouted, jerking her head to the side so I could see her face. There was nothing but truth in her eyes. “I amnotwith Seth. He’s just a friend.”
“How the hell did that happen?”
She shrugged. “It’s a long story.” Her gaze shifted to the rearview mirror. “As you know, there’s someone following us.”
My stomach clenched. “Do you know them?”
I couldn’t see into the car but could tell it was two men. Kali clenched the steering wheel and bit her lip again.
“I do,” she confessed.
She entered the parking lot at K&B’s Bistro and parked while the sedan pulled into the space behind us. Neither one of the guys attempted to get out. Kali focused on me, and I could see the hesitance in her hazel eyes.
“Just tell me, Kali. There’s nothing you can say that’ll make me see you differently. Trust me, you’d be shocked at everything I’ve done.”
Kali shook her head and laughed. “You promised to tell me some of those crazy stories one day. I’m still waiting.”
I rolled my eyes. “Soon. Right now, it’s your turn.”
She took in a slow breath and nodded toward the sedan. “Those guys work for the Rossi family.”
I recognized the name but was confused about why they’d be following us. The only thing I knew about them was that they were close to the Michelson family.
“Why are the Rossis tailing you and not Seth’s guys? Do they think Nikolai is getting ready to target you?”
Kali cleared her throat and reached into her purse for her phone. “Not exactly,” she replied.
I watched her scroll through the pictures until she landed on one with her and someone else, only she tilted the phone so I couldn’t see just yet.
“The Rossi guys are following me because of this.”
