Page 83 of The Pakhan’s Accidental Bride

"I need to talk to you. Can we get lunch?"

He hesitates, clearly not thrilled about the armed escort, but finally nods. "There's a diner two blocks from here. We can walk."

"We'll drive," Luca says flatly.

Jack's eyes narrow, but he doesn't argue. We pile back into the SUV, the tension thick enough to cut. The diner is exactly the kind of place Jack would choose. Simple, unpretentious, with vinyl booths and laminated menus.

Luca and the guards take a table near the door, giving us space but maintaining clear sight lines. Jack and I slide into a booth in the back corner, as private as we're going to get.

"What's going on?" Jack asks once we've ordered. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I take a breath. "I know about your investigation."

His face goes carefully blank. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Jack. Don't lie to me. I know you've been using your credentials to look into Emil. Making inquiries with the FBI, DEA, and the organized crime units."

"How do you…" He stops, his expression darkening. "He told you."

"Does it matter how I found out?" I lean forward, keeping my voice low. "You need to stop."

"Kiera, he's dangerous. You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into."

"I know exactly what I've gotten into." The words taste bitter. "But your investigating him isn't going to change anything. It's just going to get you hurt."

"I'm a cop. It's my job to investigate criminals."

"You're not doing this as a cop, you're doing it as my brother. And you made a deal. You promised not to look into Emil or the family." I reach across the table, grabbing his hand. "Please, Jack. I'm begging you. Stop digging."

"I can't just ignore what he is."

"I'm not asking you to ignore it. I'm asking you to stay out of it. For your own safety." My throat tightens. "If the wrong people find out you're investigating Bratva operations, they won't wait for Emil's permission to act. They'll just eliminate the threat."

Jack's jaw clenches. "So I'm supposed to just let my sister marry a mobster and do nothing?"

"You're supposed to trust that I can handle my own life." The words come out sharper than I intend. "I'm not a kid anymore, Jack. I'm not the little sister you need to protect from everything."

"You'll always be my little sister."

"I know. But you have to let me make my own choices. Even the ones you don't agree with."

Our food arrives, giving us both a moment to collect ourselves. We eat in silence for a while, the weight of the conversation hanging between us.

"He really threatened you?" Jack finally asks. "Said other people would come after me if I kept investigating?"

"He warned me. There's a difference." I push my fries around my plate. "The Bratva has rules and traditions. If you keep digging, eventually, someone will decide you know too much. And Emil won't be able to protect you."

"Why would he want to protect me? I'm investigating him."

"Because you're my brother. And he…" I trail off, not sure how to finish that sentence. Because he what? Cares about me? Wants to keep me happy? I'm not even sure myself.

Jack watches me carefully. "You have feelings for him."

"That's not what this is about."

"Isn't it?" He leans back in the booth. "You're defending him. Protecting him. That's not something you'd do for just anyone."

I don't have an answer for that. Because he's right, and I hate that he's right.