"So it's four to one?"
"We also have two men on the inside, so it's three to one." I grin, hoping to lighten her mood. "Decent odds."
"Crazy odds," she counters.
She's acting as if I haven't carried out raids like this a hundred times before. Every second is planned. We have insider information that makes me confident we can take on a larger number of men and win. We're going to catch the enemy sleeping.
"We've worked this all out carefully, Katya. It will go off without a hitch."
She turns away, signaling her displeasure with this conversation.
"Don't come crying to me if you get yourself killed," she mutters.
Despite myself I smile at the petulant tone in her voice. Her attitude this morning gives me hope that she might still care for me a little, even if things have been strained.
"Would you mind very much if I was killed? You'd be a very wealthy widow."
Katya whirls back around, eyes flashing with fury. "Of course I'd mind." She storms toward me and pokes a finger into my chest. "Never say that again."
She flings her arms around my neck. Her towel slips, giving me a quick glimpse of her dusky pink nipples. Now is not the time to think about wrapping my lips around them. I tug her towel back into place.
"I won't die, Katya."
"I still say you shouldn't go." She stands back and rubs her chin as if trying to come up with another method to dissuade me. “And you're leaving me here all alone. How will I manage? I'll drive myself mad with worry."
"You won't have time to worry. You'll have company."
"Who, Santo? I'm sick of playing cards with his cheating ass."
I grin at that. Santo has told me how my wife accuses him of foul play every time he wins. Katya, it seems, is a sore loser.
"Well, you won't have to play cards with him anymore if we defeat Orlov today. You'll be able to go out again."
"Hmm. That is true."
"And it's not Santo who'll be keeping you company anyway. Niamh is here."
Katya's face lights up. I wish I was as pleased that Niamh chose today to drop in and see how married life suited us. I'm going to have to do something about people arriving on my doorstep unannounced. Lately, it's been getting out of hand.
"Niamh is here? That's wonderful."
"Yes, but I should warn you, she's not alone. She brought Mila Lenkova with her."
Katya's eyes widen. "Mila Lenkova is here?"
"You've heard of her, then?"
I doubt there's a member of the Bratva anywhere in Russia or beyond who hasn't heard of Mila. She rules the Lenkov Bratva alongside her brothers and isn't afraid to get her hands bloody.
"Of course I've heard of her. She's a legend. The things I've heard about her would make your eyes water."
The things I know about Mila do make my eyes water. She isn't shy about hitting a man where it hurts. Or stabbing. Or burning. I get to my feet and look down at Katya. I place a finger under her chin and raise it until her eyes meet mine.
"Everything will be fine, Katya. I'll be back before you know it."
I drop a kiss on her forehead. We still haven't kissed properly but I don't intend to do it now. It would be like saying goodbye and that's not what this is.
"You'd better be." She turns and walks to her closet as I head for the door. "Now what the fuck am I supposed to wear?"
