As I walk out the door, I give Alonzo a grateful look, and his face softens briefly, before it tightens again and he slams the screaming Simeon against the wall.
Any other time I’d be amused that Alonzo is willing to work with Ilya as his muscle, but this isn’t a normal circumstance, and this is the stuff he’s good at. Right now, I need to think, and I need to grab a few things from my room.
If Timur and my father are coming, I need to be ready. I’ve been focused on fighting them on their own ground, not realizing that I need to learn everything I can about my temporary lodging.
I throw open my bedroom door, stopping when I see the flower on my pillow. It’s a dark red rose, much like some of theones growing around the grounds I’ve seen in passing by some of the windows.
Damn it, how did Alonzo know I love roses? I brush my finger over the soft petals. No, I need to get myself together. I need to focus. So why do I pick up the flower and carry it with me into the bathroom? And why do I allow myself half a second to imagine Alonzo lying it there this morning after I left? Wanting me to have something beautiful to find when I came back?
Some of the cracks in my chest seal, and I can’t be angry about it. The man is full of surprises.
35
ALONZO
Noneof my men argue when I tell them of their new assignments, but I can see the worry on their faces. “You’ll only have Titus at your back,” Ivano reminds me. “Surrounded by Russians? You really think that’s a good idea?”
“I have Rori and Hades too,” I remind him. “At this point, we don’t have time to worry about more men or less. We need to get the girl out of the state and back to New York, but we have to plan for any eventuality.”
“I don’t fucking like this,” David states grimly. “You’re in enemy territory, Alonzo. No matter how you look at it. And Rori can’t be everywhere at once. Your father is going to kill us all if you end up dead.”
“My father will understand.” I make a mental note to call him and update him, though I imagine Alessio has updated everyone else already. I look at Titus. “If you want to go with them, I’ll understand.”
He glares at me. “Don’t fucking insult me now.”
“Just giving you the option.” I look at them again. “Wheels up, and I’ll be in touch as soon as I can. Just let me know when you land and get her to Nico’s.”
They grumble but agree.
Mila doesn’t overly argue, seeing the entire situation as an adventure, but I have to wonder if this whole thing is another test. Is Tatiana going to be pissed that we sent her away? I mean, she can’t be all that upset that we’re trying to protect the kid, right?
Who the fuck knows with that woman?
Zakhar and Ilya say goodbye to Mila, murmuring to her in Russian, and I swear Zakhar looks like he wants to snatch her back the moment he releases her and she gets in the car. Before he can say anything, I tell him, “I’ve already warned them about anything happening to her. She’s safe, Romanov. That’s all that matters right now.”
He doesn’t reply, instead stomping inside.
Ilya, however, looks at me with a gaze that could peel flesh from bone. “Your life depends on that promise.” Then he storms inside, and I try not to roll my eyes.
Deep down, I know that I’d be the same way if I had a child that I was entrusting to someone else. Especially a family I don’t know.
I glance around. I don’t see anyone, but I know the cameras are around, watching and listening. I turn to Titus, lowering my voice. “What do you know?”
“Romanov’s soldiers are pissed that he doesn’t trust them. They want your woman’s head on a spike, actually, for daring to come in and question them.” His lips thin into a grim line before he continues in that low murmur, “A few men didn’t know we were around the corner and weren’t being quiet. A couple of them have spoken to Belov’s men. Sounded a little too friendly if you ask me for opposing sides.”
The threat to Rori ignites a burning in my gut. They’ll pay for that, and after she’s finished with them for even attempting it, I’ll be the one to make examples of them. After last night, my need to keep her safe is burning hot and sharp. It was the first time I slept so well, and so sure that we finally, finally, might be moving forward.
She hasn’t forgiven me yet. Maybe never, fully, but it’s a step. And one step is all I need to keep us moving forward.
Which is why I need to let Titus in on what I’ve learned. “Belov has been reporting back to his father. If he doesn’t report by noon, he’ll be on his way here.”
Titus arches a brow. “You don’t fucking believe that they’re not already on their way here.”
I shake my head. “They’re here, and they’re waiting and watching. They’re going to attack soon, I can feel it.” And it makes me insane to know that Rori is going to put her life on the line the moment they engage.
“You should get Urso and Zeno on it. They can do it without tipping them off.”
It’s not them I’m worried about. If Tatiana or whoever it is that the Butcher is bringing with him, are watching and listening to everything, would involving them trigger them to let Timur know?
