Page 160 of The Umarova Crime Family

I almost grimace when Duarte calls me his friend, but I hold that reaction back. He needs to think we’re friends right now—not for too much longer, thankfully—but just enough time for Mona, my brother, the girls, and their team to get out of Portugal.

“How have you enjoyed the products?” I change the subject completely and take a sip of my champagne while I await Duarte’s answer.

“They’re great. Thank you. I’ll be needing another meeting soon. I think I’m going to end up increasing the volume of my order. I take it your family has no issues getting the product from their suppliers?”

I snicker lightly, knowing he’s baiting me. He wants to know where we get our guns. He’s trying to undercut us, and he’s doing it in a sly way. What Duarte doesn’t know is that my family handles everything from the production of the guns to the sale and shipment. “We won’t have an issue whatsoever.” I keep my response vague as hell, and Duarte furrows his brows slightly. He doesn’t like that I didn’t just fall into his shitty little trap.

“Perfect. That’s what I wanted to hear.” Duarte flashes his pearly whites.

It’s the same thing he did when he was taunting me with Mona. I’ve come to discover that this smile isn’t just a smile. There’s something that lies underneath it.

“Brother, there you are.” Eset comes in at the perfect time, and I loosen up a bit.

“I’ve been here for a while. You’ve just been running around mingling with your clients.” I smirk, and she throws her head back in a carefree laugh.

“Okay, you’re not lying. I have to at least say hello to everyone. It’s courteous of me.”

“Yeah, and it’s how you make sales,” I poke fun at my sister, and Duarte hasn’t taken his eyes off her. He does realize she’s a married woman, right?

“It’s great to meet you, Eset. I’ve heard so much about you through the grapevine,” Duarte speaks up, and Eset looks right at him.

“Well, it’s probably half bullshit, half the truth.” Eset doesn’t tear her eyes away from Duarte’s.

“I think it’s a bit of both. I hear you’re callous and that you’re a take-no-shit kind of woman,” Duarte replies.

“Those are two facts, but there’s much more about me than meets the eye.”

“That I can see, and I see there’s still a ring on your finger. I must be honest. I thought your romance with Santos would’ve fizzled out by now.” Duarte has no problem taking his shot with my sister.

Eset scoffs. “It hasn’t, and it won’t. Santos and I are extremely close.”

“If you’re that close, then where is your supporting husband?”

“He’s on his way with our daughter.” Eset raises her brows, and I know she’s getting pissed.

“Oh, I didn’t realize you two had a child.”

“Yes, so, as I said, we’re extremely close,” Eset states, making sure to shoot Duarte her best glare.

One thing she isn’t tolerating right now is her relationship being disrespected like that, and that is good for her. I fucking love it when my sister sticks up for herself. I hope in some time, Mona will begin standing up for herself the same way. I think she’s starting to undo all the damage Duarte did, but I know it might take quite some time for her to work through everything he put her through.

She’s a damn strong woman, and I don’t think she’s weak by any means. If anything, I think she’s a force to be reckoned with. I’ve seen bits and pieces of Mona standing up for herself, but it doesn’t happen every single time someone pushes her buttons. With Eset, she has no problem putting a bastard in his place. I don’t want to change Mona, but I do want her to get to the point where she has no problem speaking her mind so openly.

“I see that,” Duarte comments in a defeated manner.

I can’t help but wonder how things are going in Portugal. I know Mona is with some of the best of the best, though it doesn’t ease my worries. My stomach is flip-flopping around, and it probably will be until I get some sort of update. We discussed periodic ones, but Ruslan thought it would be too dangerous for them to check in during the raid. We received a text that they made it to Portugal a couple of hours ago. Now, all we can do is wait for the next update, which will hopefully say they’ve made it out of his home and are fleeing the country.

The door to the gallery opens, and Santos comes in, carrying Meryem with him. This little girl has gone through so much, and my sister and brother-in-law have worked very hard to try to catch her up to speed. My niece was malnourished and wasn’t taken care of for ages. She was barely walking when my sister and Santos took her in. They made it look like Eset and Santos had physically had her since the day she was born, but the reality is they adopted her from a bad situation. Eset actually killed Meryem’s biological father, but his dying wish was that his daughter would be taken care of. My sister had no problem honoring that promise and understanding why he’d make such a request.

Meryem holds her arms out to Eset, and Santos presses a chaste kiss to my sister’s lips before handing the girl over.

“How is my sweet girl? Hmm?” Eset asks Meryem, who mumbles lowly back at her. She sees a speech therapist every day of the week, and I think Meryem has come a long way. We’re all seeing more of her personality now, and I think when Mona’s children are with us, the girls might enjoy playing with one another.

“Santos, I haven’t seen you in years,” Duarte speaks up.

Santos looks right at Duarte. “I wasn’t aware we’d met.”

“You probably don’t remember me. I’d come over to your father’s place every now and again. We’re very good friends, your father and I.” I think we all know what Duarte is doing right now. He’s trying to come off as an intimidating man, but the only thing he’s doing is showing that he’s someone we’ll have to deal with. I already plan on doing that anyway… but he’s making it a much easier decision.

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