Page 20 of The Umarova Crime Family

“He is. He’s in the corner booth right near the door. I said hello to him when I walked inside.” Emily takes a deep breath, and I realize she’s the only person I didn’t speak to about the park the other day and what happened at Illusion.

“Obviously, something’s up, and I can tell you’re seeing it.”

“Yeah, I’d say. I’ve never seen you this scared in all our lives.”

I release a bit of a sigh and look at Emily. “The day we got home, Ruslan and I went to the park across the street from the hotel. Not for anything specific, just to get out and take a stroll. Well, we were sitting on a bench having a really good conversation, and out of nowhere, I felt this yucky feeling. I don’t know how else to describe it other than when you’re somewhere, and you know someone’s eyes are on you. That’s how it felt. It felt like that.”

“Okay… and?”

“It was Carter. He was in the park staring at me and Ruslan for God knows how long.”

“Ew, that’s weird,” Emily comments, and the same blonde woman comes over with her tuna sandwich on toast and her iced mocha. Emily mutters thanks, and the woman goes off on her way.

“Yeah, not to mention creepy as fuck. I haven’t seen him since the day that money was stolen at the club.” I love the fact Emily and I have such an open relationship. It makes things so much easier. I don’t think I’d ever be able to talk to anyone else the way I speak to Emily. Sure, I can talk to Ruslan about anything, but there’s something about having girl time.

“Yeah, I bet. I just… I don’t think you have anything to worry about, Amelia. Ruslan has Danill with you all the time, and I understand him working in private security can be super dangerous, but it seems like he totally has it covered.” Emily doesn’t really know what the Umarova family does, and I don’t know if she ever will. I feel like that sort of knowledge is reserved for people dating or married to the Umarovas. I’m sure Lom’s told her they work in private security as well.

“It wasn’t just at the park, though, Em. I went to work that night. Gregor had called me and said the girl who was supposed to cover me called out. Long story short, when I got there, I ended up finding out she slept with one of the barbacks, who’s married to another one of the waitresses. So, she wasn’t coming back.”

“Shit, that’s horrible.”

“Not as horrible as the black eye the husband had.” I laugh, not feeling a bit sorry for him. No one should ever cheat on someone else. If you’re not happy, then you shouldn’t be in a relationship. It doesn’t matter what the reasoning is. It does you and the person you’re with a disservice. Not to mention, it’s a huge slap in the face because your partner could deserve so much better than you.

“Good for her!” Emily cackles and takes a bite out of her sandwich. Seeing her take a bite reminds me I could take a bite, too, so I grab my scone and chomp into it. Scones are kind of like biscuits that are a little bit sweet. Not overly so, but just enough to curb a craving if you have one. “What’s that have to do with your heebie-jeebies, though?”

“Shit, I got sidetracked. Anyway, while I was working the shift, I felt like I was being stared at the whole night. Sure enough, I saw someone staring at me, but I couldn’t make out who it was. I tried following them, but I lost them in the crowd.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t just some random dude who thought you were hot or something?” Emily’s question is good. I do get stared at frequently while working, but this was so much different.

“Yeah, this wasn’t like that, Em.” Deep in my gut, I think it could be someone who doesn’t like Ruslan, but I won’t know until we can actually find the dude. For fuck’s sake, Ruslan was just rescued a little over a week and a half ago.

“I don’t know. What I do know is that I have to go pee, so I’ll be right back.” Emily gets up from her seat and walks by the front door, but she stops where Danill’s sitting and then proceeds to go to the restroom.

Sure enough, Danill grabs his coffee and walks over to my booth. He slides across from me, so he’ll be sitting next to Emily when she comes back and cocks a brow. “Your cousin tells me you’re being a bit paranoid.”

“I’m not paranoid. I’m cautious. Those are two very different things.”

“You know who says that?”

“No. Who?”

“Paranoid people.”

Danill smiles at his own joke, and I roll my eyes. “I’m allowed to be a bit freaked out with everything that’s gone on lately. It’s a lot for someone to take.”

“Yeah, it is, and I’m allowed to sit here and tell you to calm down because you’ll be fine. The only reason Ruslan got into hot water was because he was an idiot who went by himself. If he’d had one of his brothers with him, I can guarantee you things would’ve gone very differently. Relax, Amelia. Try to have a good time with your cousin. Leave the worrying and over-analyzing to me. It’s my job.”

“Fine,” I grumble and roll my eyes again. Danill gets up, takes his coffee, and walks back over to his booth. Sometimes I feel like he’s being a father figure, and it sort of cracks me up.

Chapter Twelve

Ruslan

Today is the day when I can finally go and meet with Jordan. It’s been a long time coming, and many things have come up between us, but it’s great that we are finally able to get together. He sent me an address to a rural property north of Atlanta, and I agreed to meet him there. I didn’t bother bringing Danill with me because I trusted the Steele family. They pose no threat to me, and I know it.

I pulled up to the location a few minutes ago, and Jordan was already there. The two of us are now making idle chit-chat when his niece, Leona, shows up. Now, we are just waiting for Emmett.

The shooting area is about forty feet long, possibly twenty feet wide. It’s open on each side to all the elements, with only a roof offering protection from the rain or the blazing sun. Booths line the inside, like an actual shooting range. Each person can shoot safely from their booth. I’m speaking with Jordan when I notice a car pulling up on the side. There’s already one vehicle here, which belongs to Jordan’s lovely niece, Leona.

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