It seemed like such a long sentence, a massive length of time to endure before I could be free.
I wasn’t yet.
One more night. Just one more night.
Even though Alexsei was upfront that he didn’t know if my brother and Yusef would be at this location tomorrow, I hoped they would be there. That when I waited near the rendezvous point where these Rivera men would gather and hide, that Erik and Yusef would be there as well.
Sleep didn’t come easily for me. It couldn’t. I tossed and turned all night, feeling so guilty to deprive Alexsei of a solid night of sleep that I went out to the sofa in the living room instead. Reading over the things I was supposed to write a paper about served as a distraction for a while. Yet, every time I let my mind wander, it went right back to the idea of witnessing my brother’s death.
He would beg. Negotiate. Whine and try to talk his way out of trouble.
Yusef would get bold and talk back, he’d bluster and attempt to argue for his release.
Both of them would deny that they’d done anything wrong to me, that it was their right to hold me captive and brainwash me for years.
I wished I could be there to stare them down and look them in the eye before they met their fate, but I couldn’t push too hard. Alexsei was right. I had to be cautious and careful with this baby I carried, no matter how badly I wanted to personally extract the victory of killing them.
Luka came downstairs first, and the sound of his walking by woke me up. A book fell from my lap and he stooped to pick it up.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he guessed kindly.
I shook my head. “No. Not really.”
“There is nothing to be nervous about.”
I raised my brows, doubting that in a heartbeat.
“About this mission today. My men will not fail.”
I nodded. “I agree. I have full faith in Alexsei. And the others.”
He sat on the armrest of the chair next to the couch.
“But I wish that I could…”
He didn’t frown or laugh. A look of understanding crossed over his wise face. “You wish you could do it.”
I nodded, glad he wasn’t judging me for saying such a thing.
Then he surprised me. Shrugging as if it wasn’t a big deal, he almost smiled. “Perhaps Alexsei would let you be more involved than as a spectator.” He stood. “My men take no chances on safety. So long as there is no threat to you…” He shrugged again. “I wouldn’t begrudge you for wanting to claim your mark of revenge.”
He left me sitting there so surprised. I’d expected him to ridicule me. To tell me to forget about wanting to do a man’s job. That I was being silly to want to kill them myself when his forces were so obviously trained to do the job right.
Later, when the women came downstairs for breakfast, I told them about how badly I wanted to be there to handle it.
They had different reactions.
“Meh.” Gabriella shrugged and made a face. “I wouldn’t want to bother. Alexsei can kill them for you.” She glanced at me. “More romantic that way.”
“No, no.” Raisa shook her head. “It’s personal.”
“Yes. It is.” And I figured that was why Luka wasn’t so against the idea of letting me tag along on the mission. He got it. As the strong Mafia boss he was, he likely took on many personal kills himself.
“I killed my father,” Raisa admitted, “and I won’t lie for a second that I sleep better every night because of it.”
“I don’t know.” Sadie cringed. “I am all for taking out men like them. It’s why I wanted to be included and participate in the takedown of that Obsidian Eye alliance. But I was about to pop.”
Gabriella laughed once. “Yeah. Youdidpop. And you popped out a baby that day. So I’d say you chose wisely to sit out on that ‘fun’ with Emil.”
