Page 52 of Mob Bride

“Misha, please. I’m Shane’s girlfriend. Let me in. It’s Bartlomiej’s men. Please.”

I rush to explain as I slow slightly when I’m nearly to the gate. I look over my shoulder, praying he’ll let me in, in time to escape. He must recognize Tymoteusz, who’s leaning out the window with a gun pointed at me. Misha doesn’t hesitate as he draws his weapon.

At the same time, he clicks something in his pocket, and the gate opens. The moment there’s enough space for me to slip through, he clicks his fob again, and the gate closes. Despite a leading member of the bratva pointing a gun at them, Tymoteusz and his men continue to draw closer.

Tymoteusz’s window remains open with his gun out of it. The moment he’s within range, and Misha’s certain he has a clear shot, he takes it. The silencer on his gun just makes it sound like a poof of air. The bullet goes right between Tymoteusz’s eyes, not dead center in his forehead. The space must look almost microscopic from this distance. It’s a testimony to the near paramilitary conditioning the bratva’s known for. I lower my hands and sprint to his car.

“Get behind it.” He yells to me as he tilts his head toward his car.

Bartlomiej’s men—they’re no longer Tymoteusz’s—drive past. Misha doesn’t waste any bullets, certain the car is reinforced, but he doesn’t lower his gun until they’re out of sight. He doesn’t holster it when he turns to me, but at least he points the gun to the ground.

“Shane doesn’t have a girlfriend. Who are you?”

“Shane and I are involved. It’s complicated, but I mean something to him. Please, I can explain some of it, but I need to get inside somewhere. That won’t be the only car following me. They might’ve been the only ones to get into this neighborhood, but there will be more men after me.”

“Who are you?”

“I can’t tell you that yet. Not until I speak to Shane. Please, call him or text him. Tell him it’s about Carrie. He’ll understand what that means.”

I’m panting between words, and I feel my heart beating in my ears. I put my hands on my thighs and bend over for a moment.

“How far did you run?”

“I got out of the car at your community gate. I slipped through when another car entered. Actually, that was your car.” I didn’t realize I must have followed Misha in. I was too busy trying to get onto his property to recognize the car.

“I bolted to the right as soon as I got in because I worried whoever was in the car in front of me would hear or see the commotion. I didn’t want them looking in their mirrors and seeing what was happening. I wrapped back around and wound up on your street as I tried to lose Tymoteusz.”

“You need to at least tell me how you’re connected to the Poles.”

I shake my head. “I wish I didn’t have to be evasive, Misha, but until I speak to Shane, I have to be.”

“You clearly know who I am.”

His eyes narrow at me. The accusation and speculation clear. The front door opens, and a striking blonde sticks her head out, calling to her husband. I see the rings on her finger, and I know this is Misha’s home, but I don’t know her name. She steps out as she spots me.

“Kitty, go back in the house now. Close the door.”

“Who is that, Misha? She’s clearly winded. Does she need help?” She ignores her husband’s instructions, looking around in all directions as she approaches.

“Kitty.” The warning in Misha’s voice is clear, but the look she shoots her husband is placating.

“Misha, you know I’m going to check on her. You either let me, or we wind up in an argument later.”

“Of all the times it’s been convenient having a wife who’s a nurse, this certainly isn’t one of them.” Misha’s grumbling, but there’s no bite to his words. This woman, Kitty, comes to stand before me.

“I’m all right. I’m just winded from running.”

She sweeps her gaze over me, assessing whether that’s true. When she’s satisfied I’ll survive, she asks the same question her husband did.

“Who are you?”

“I’m involved with Shane. I came into this neighborhood for sanctuary.”

I know the Four Families’ rule. Sylvia Mancinelli imposed it when she married Don Salvatore. Any syndicate woman can seek shelter with her if it’s a matter of life and death. The woman’s protected until her family can come to her. It doesn’t suspend any hostilities among the men, but it allows the woman a chance to survive. Something about one of Sylvia’s sisters being attacked and killed in Palermo and knowing she had nowhere to go.

Since the other syndicate members have gotten married, they’ve implemented the same rule. I’m banking on that now. Kitty’s eyes narrow and her gaze sharpens.

“How do you know about that? You are definitelynota wife. You’re not a girlfriend. You’re not a daughter or a sister.”

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