I almost laugh. "I never thought she was."
"No." Viktor's voice hardens. "She's worse. Screaming trouble and bringing it to your door."
"What kind of trouble?"
"The Italian kind."
I stare at him. "She's connected?"
"Tied to one of the Capelli associates for years. Five, maybe more. Name's Vincenzo Lari. Lovers, business partners, whoknows. Point is, she got caught stealing from the family, and the Italians want her gone."
I sit forward. "How gone?"
He shrugs like that's not his concern. "If the Capellis find out she's on my turf, it looks like we're protecting her. That's bad for business, and you know we're allies."
The office feels smaller. "You want me to hand her over?"
"I want you to get her off my map. How you do that is your problem. But it needs to happen this week."
My first instinct is relief. Finally, a legitimate reason to kick Natalia out. I've wanted her gone since she showed up at the gate.
But all I can see is Elle's face when I tell her. The hurt. The betrayal. She's gotten close to Natalia. Too close.
And Pasha. Christ. He's just starting to warm up to his mother. Starting to ask questions about where he came from.
"She's a danger to your family," Viktor presses. "To Elle, to Pasha. To all of us if the Capellis come looking."
"I know." My voice sounds distant even to me.
"Do it within the week, Nikolai. Off the property. Out of the city."
"So I'm supposed to tell my wife her new best friend is an international thief and kick the woman out. You realize how that'll go."
He gives me a look that's half annoyed. "You think I'm giving you an option?"
"Of course not."
He pours another drink. "You've gone soft."
"Maybe. But soft keeps the peace at home."
Viktor's smile fades into something almost paternal. "You're a good husband, Nikolai. Better than I expected. But don't forget what you are first."
"And what's that?"
"An Ivanov."
The name hangs between us, cold and heavy.
I down the rest of my drink. "You're saying if I don't handle this, you will."
He doesn't deny it. "That's what family does. We protect what's ours."
"Elle will hate me."
"She'll survive. You can't protect everyone."
Maybe not. But I can try.
