He sighs. “Instead, Maks sat with me for an hour a day. He not only taught me how to read and helped with homework, but he also bought me a map of New York.” Aleksi grins a dashing grin at the memory. “He’d take me for a ride and ask me where to go and how to get there. After my first year here, I knew every street, every city better than the back of my hand. And then as soon as I could join, Maks had me in one of the boxing clubs, teaching me everything he knew there, too. I was twelve when he bought me my first computer for schoolwork. Then all the electronic shit kids probably shouldn’t have. He didn’t have to do any of that. You know? I don’t know what he saw in me; he probably recognized a sad kid missing his mom and did what he could to help me keep my mind off of… all of it. Maks isn’t just my boss, Duchess. He’s my brother. So no, I can't sleep. Not until we find him. So don’t ask me to.”
Seems we’re in the same boat, Aleksi and I. I purse my lips while swallowing a sip, not letting the tears form nor fall, set my mug back down, and give him a curt nod. “Then if you won’t sleep, I may have another side quest for you.”
His brow quirks up in interest. “Oh?”
I tap my fingernails along the table. “Something Maksim said to me when we were first married has been rattling through my mind for a while now. He asked me why my father had to make this agreement,whyhe was so low on the totem pole,whyhe could never repay his debts.” I pause only to look back at him. “And so I want to know why. Not because I regret my marriage, but I want to know why my father couldn't pay off his debts.”
“You want me to look into your father for you?”
“I want to know everything that may be useful later. From his account balances to hisrealnet worth. Too many times over the years I had to lend him money, which was never paid back, and I never gave it a second thought because he was my father and I was being a dutifuldaughter. I do not have the smarts to go about this, but you do. So, if you can dig deep for me, I would really appreciate it.”
He dips his chin. “You got it, Duchess.”
I pick up my mug again and stir the little teaspoon in it. “And Aleksi?”
“Yes?”
“Only my husband may call me that.”
He chuckles. “You got it,Boss Lady.”
Chapter Seven
Parker.
I groan at my stitches. They’re fucking itchy, and I want to claw at them. But baby girl is on it, putting another clean bandage on them so I can sleep without scratching and pulling the stitches. She moves about the room like she’s got a second wind under her wings. It’s just us now. Aleksi and Niko are downstairs, and Tildy has retired into the guest room for the evening. I know Raven wants to be here, but she still looks kind of sick. After she changes into one of Maksim’s large shirts, Sabrina helps me into bed and then climbs in with me. I lift an arm to put it under her, and she immediately tucks herself into my side.
“What are you planning, pretty girl?”
“Everything, love. From everything that can go right to everything that can go absolutely wrong. Mostly… Mostly I’m planning a way to have Kane a sniffling, urine-soaked mess at my feet before I shoot him between the eyes.”
Fuck. That’s hot. “Your urine or his?” I ask, and she giggles.
“I’m not entirely sure it matters at this point. All I know is that I want him dead and gone and our husband back.” She sighs, letting out a soft yawn.
I let my thumb rub circles over the soft skin of her hip and grab her hand with my other, kissing every finger before letting it rest just below my chest. Below my new wound. I hear her drift off, small little snores. My mind can’t seem to stop scanning over that night. The way Sabrina ran into the mansion, looking for Maks. The way I was rushed from behind, not by one but by two big motherfuckers. The pain in my chest throbs, and when I think about reaching for the bottle of Oxy, I stop myself. I would rather feel the pain and remember that I’m alive than numb myself and fall into a fever dream. Life is too short to not feel everything it throws at you. Even if it hurts.
All this has done is make me want to hold Sabrina tighter and have the longest life I can live at her side.
When I clutch her to me, she wakes up a bit only to kiss me, to reassure me she loves me, and then nestles back into me. We have so much to do in the morning when the capos get here. Traveling. Shit. She’s gonna have to push school back again. I’m not even sure if Tildy being here is a good thing or not. I take a deep breath and begin my own mantra.
I am alive. Though I've been through the valley of the shadow of Death, I have conquered evil and have no fear. Demons see me rise and seek refuge. Though I am but a man, I am greater than the shadows that perch themselves above me. They do not have access to my mind nor my soul. I am the unconquerable. My demons fearme…
And I repeat that.
Over and over until my eyes flutter closed and I fall into a restful sleep with my girl by my side.
I blink awake in the morning to the sounds of someone knocking. I let out a sigh, willing myself to wake back into this distorted reality, and rub my hand down my face. Fuck. I clear my throat. “Yeah?” I lean over, land kisses on her temple to wake Sabrina, making sure to give her hip a squeeze, then sit up. When I don’t hear an answer, I call out for them to come in.
“Hey man,” Aleksi walks in. “Dons are here. And, uh, Aristide is on his way. Niko just picked him up from a private tarmac.”
Sabrina sits up like a doll. “That’s not good, is it?”
Aleksi’s brown eyes roam over us, and he gently shakes his head, dirty blonde hair falling forward. “The news needs to be broken to him gently. I think Maks would hate it if the old man croaked and he didn’t get to say goodbye.”
Sabrina gets out of bed and shoves her hair into a messy bun on her head. “The good thing is we’ve got somewhat of a plan started. If I know my mum, she’s already got plans running, getting the Barclay estate ready and fully staffed.” She grabs her phone from the bedside. “Oh, good. Jonny’s almost here. We’ll begin to make more plans to set up Casino Night with Mother. Let me call Raven. It’s almost nine. Jonas will be at practice. Maverick and Damon have their jobs to do as well. You know, I really despise Mondays.”
I can feel her anxiety kicking in, but she takes a sharp breath. “What are you thinking, baby?”
