Page 53 of Caught By the Bratva Beast

Over the past few days, I've given more and more thought to having children with Pearl. When I close my eyes and go to sleep at night, the few nights I'm not with her, all I can see are little kids running around. Sons that look like me and daughters with dimples, laughing and smiling. I can see it as clearly as I can see my own hand in front of me now.

Pearl would be chasing them through the forest in Russia, laughing and tumbling among the wildflowers, teaching them how to build flower crowns.

I would take our sons hunting, showing them the terrain, and letting our daughters learn how to jump and ride. We could build a perfectly happy family together if I just learned the rest of the truth about her.

Maggie takes another sip of water, nearly spilling some down the front of her paisley blouse. “Well, I know when you do have children with her, she's going to be a great mother. And with the care you've shown the kids that I'm taking care of right now, I'm sure you'll be a good father too.”

“Thank you.” I sit down behind my desk, leaning forward, forearms braced on the desk pad. “I hope this doesn't come across as strange to you. I just wanted to do the best to help my wife, but I know that asking someone to come into a casino to talk about the past is a little odd.”

“Listen, honey, my line of work. We see strange things all the time. If I stop to question every single one of them, I'm afraid I would never get moving again.”

Laughing, I lean back in the chair, crossing my arms, trying to look as relaxed as I can even though this conversation is getting me nowhere. I'd love to kick her out of my office right now and go back to searching through the little bit of information I do have on Pearl, but that would be rude and right now I'm trying to uphold the image of an outstanding citizen.

Thankfully Yegor walks in. “I'm sorry, I hate to interrupt boss. But there's an issue we need to talk about.”

I give an apologetic smile to the woman. “I'm so sorry. I can have one of my employees walk you out and arrange for a car to take you back home.”

Maggie stands up, reaching for her walker again. “Oh, thank you, that would be lovely. I'm afraid I don't get around as well as I used to these days. Let me know if you have any more questions about Pearl. Okay? I'm going to go home and search for my photo albums and see what I can find.”

“Thank you, Maggie, I know it's a lot to ask for.” I reach out and press the red button on the underside of my desk, buzzing my secretary sitting outside. She pops her head into the room with a bright smile. “Please escort Maggie to a car and see that she gets home safely.”

My secretary nods and shuts the door behind her, leaving me in Yegor alone.

I glower at Yegor as he sits down across me. My lips press together in a thin line, and I bite back the words on the tip of my tongue. I'm getting tired of his incompetency and right now I want to see how he's about to manage the situation he doesn't think I know about yet.

He'd be a fool to think that I don't have eyes everywhere. And recently, he's proving himself to be one.

Perhaps I've been too lenient with him.

“You said there was a situation.” I keep my voice void of emotion, staring just past him.

He nods, wringing his hands together as he sits down across from me, one leg crossed over the other before on crossing any shifts his weight to the side, leaning against the armrest. Then he sits up straight, sweat beating on his forehead.

“I don't know how to tell you this, but it seems that Antonio's missing.”

“What you don’t say, I’ve figured,” I glance at the calendar hanging on the wall. “He was supposed to check in yesterday.”

“When he didn't check in within the hour that he was supposed to, we thought that perhaps Nicolo had him busy. Rumors are floating around that he is making a big move.”

“What kind of big move?” I snap, voice raising. “I don't have any more patience to play this stupid fucking game. You need to get your head out of your ass and start handling shit. I found out that Antonio was missing yesterday afternoon when he didn't show up for the meeting. What I'd like to know is why you weren't the one to call me.”

“I didn't think it was relevant to call you when there is the possibility he would turn up within twenty-four hours.” Yegor sits a little taller, but sweat is pouring down his face now, dripping on his white collar. “It was my belief that we could manage this and that he had simply been delayed. We have been waiting by the phone from check-in time until now, non-stop.”

“Great, so if I go missing after I'm due to check in and beyond the check-in window after that, I should expect you to just sit by the phone, not do anything, wait to see if I turn up?”

“No, boss, of course we should look for you.”

I stand up, rounding the corner of the desk. Before he knows what's happening, I lunge, grabbing his hand. He grits his teeth, grinding them together as I take three of his fingers and snap them back.

“This is what you fucking get. You've been unreliable and I've been lenient, and perhaps that's my fault. But it ends here. Now what's Nicolo planning?”

Yegor clutches his hand to his chest, the knuckles turning purple, his fingers sitting at an odd angle. “The rumor is that he got a large shipment of weapons in. Manly rifles, some handguns. We think that he's looking toward an ambush.”

“And do you have any details on this ambush? Should I be sitting around waiting for him to ambush me just like you sat around waiting for a fucking phone call?”

I hover close to him, enjoying the way he shrinks in himself. It's been too long since I got to break someone's fingers. And if he keeps pissing me off, I'm looking forward to breaking more.

I don't have the patience to keep going around in circles with both him and my wife.

---