"Find them. Put every available man on it."
"Okay." Lukas tilts his head to one side, studying my face. "And when we do?"
"We kill them."
"Andretti too?" He's clarifying, not challenging me.
"Andretti, his VP, his Sergeant-at-Arms, every last member of his club right down to the lowliest prospect." I get to my feet and walk around the desk. "We send a message that nobody will misread. My territory, my business, my wife, are off-limits. Anyone who comes for them will die in the most brutal way possible."
Lukas claps my shoulder. "It's a long time since I've seen you like this, my friend." His eye drifts to the picture of Katya once more. "I'm glad you've found your inspiration."
I nod. "Nobody touches what's mine. Now, set up a meeting with Eduardo's team. I want ideas for finding these assholes."
"On it."
As Lukas leaves the room, I stand alone in my study for a moment. I think about the woman still sleeping upstairs and what I'm prepared to do to keep her safe. I make no attempt to kid myself that it's only because of a contract.
Pulling open the bottom drawer of the desk, I drop the sketchpad into it. I close the drawer and head for my room to get dressed. There's work to do.
THIRTEEN
Katya
Consideringhow despondent I felt when I went to bed, I wake in a surprisingly good mood. I attribute it to the golden glow of the morning sun that bathes my room in light.
Well, that and the realization that, for a brief moment last night, Gabriele and I made progress. We experienced a moment of closeness and that's something to build on. I am nothing if not determined when it comes to securing my own happiness.
I get up and head for the shower. My bathroom is small but the shower cubicle, tucked in the corner, is spacious. I wouldn't want to entertain a guest in it, but there's enough space for me to be comfortable as I wash.
The thought of Gabriele trying to squeeze his tall, muscular body in there with me makes me smile. We'd have to get very close indeed.
I quickly strip off my pajamas and turn on the water, letting it run for a minute before I get in. I tip my face toward the stream of lukewarm water. It's a little cooler than I'd prefer, but herewhere even the summer mornings are hot and sticky, I doubt I could bear my usual temperature.
The weather might be the thing I'll miss most about St. Petersburg. What will it be like to have winter without snow? For my own sanity I'll have to persuade Gabriele to take me to the Alps. Perhaps I'll learn to ski. I dismiss the thought immediately. My father took me to Okhta Park when I was little and yelled at me constantly for losing my balance on the slope.
In any case, Gabriele seems reluctant to cross Rome with me. I doubt he'll want to venture into the mountains. I still haven't worked out why he reacts as he does. But I will.
When I'm finished in the shower, I do my hair and apply some makeup. Gabriele hasn't laid out any expectations about my appearance, but I understand how important it is for the boss's wife to look immaculate at all times. My mother certainly doesn't set foot outside the bedroom unless her lashes are curled and her lips form a flawless pout. I don't take beauty to the extremes she does with all the chemicals she pumps into her face, but I do ensure I look my best.
With my makeup and hair done, I strip off my robe and head into the closet. It's a third of the size of Gabriele's, which is ridiculous considering how many clothes I'll eventually need space for.
The black dress I wore when I first got here has been cleaned, pressed, and hung on the rail. It's not an ideal color with the sun shining so brightly, but at least it's short-sleeved.
I don't know what I was thinking when I packed my case. Probably that I needed to escape St. Petersburg undetected rather than about what clothes I should bring.
My wardrobe is embarrassingly thin for a woman in my position. I've been recycling outfits since I arrived and that can't go on indefinitely.
A plan for the day forms in my mind. I'll call Anna and see if she's free. We came nowhere close to exhausting the possibilities on the Via Condotti the other day and I'm sure there are other great boutiques to explore. We can have lunch together.
If it won't cause too big a hiccup for my security team, I want to go to one of those touristy cafes and sit at the edge of a piazza while I drink overpriced wine and eat pasta the locals would never deign to touch.
Santo might even be persuaded to take me to the Trevi Fountain. I want to throw a coin in the water. It's meant to signify you'll return to Rome one day. I'm not sure how that works if you're planning to live here.
Perhaps Santo will know if I get another wish instead. A lifetime of good health and happiness would do.
I glance at the clock on the nightstand and see that it's after ten. It's a bit late to bother Maria for breakfast, although I know she'll insist it's no trouble. She's too obliging for her own good.
Though I'm glad to at least have a clock so I can check the time, I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever get the phone I was promised. I'll need to ask Lukas what the delay is. Surely they've vetted my contacts by now. Half of my numbers are for vapid socialites. I doubt most of them are a danger to anyone but themselves.
