Page 108 of Rise of the Queen

Vitaliy laughed. “You were made for my son, malishka. You couldn’t be any more perfect. Truly.”

“Who else does Armando have files on? Who wants to bet that Sal has the same thing in his house? Has anybody checked that place since he left?” I asked.

“Nobody went to his house. He still has his security there. We all know Armando never took his security seriously,” Viktor said.

“How could he? He was too busy spending money on private investigators to follow me around,” I said, my anger clearly coming out, causing everyone to laugh.

“See, Ilya? The black eyes aren’t always intimidating. Sometimes they make her extra funny,” Stephen said. Ilya laughed quietly, still not completely convinced that there was nothing to worry about.

“We didn’t take the time to look through all the files. Yours was near the top,” Ivan said.

“At least I won’t have to fund his time in the home. He can fund himself. The cash that’s in those safes should be plenty to cover the expenses. We can find him a very chatty roommate to keep him company,” Adrik said.

“I think Vitaliy should take pictures at his house and send them to him. Give him something to look at,” I said. “Do you like Naples, Vitaliy? He has another house there. Lots of artwork in that one too. Unless a certain someone has taken it all by now, in which case, good for her.”

“You’re taking Armando’s house, Vitaliy?” Ivan asked.

“Da. I’ve decided to stay in the city a little longer. I need a place. You guys make it too easy for my men. They’re all getting soft staying here,” he said.

“If you need someone to help you furnish it, take Sephie. She LOVES shopping,” Misha said, laughing.

“Do not listen to him, Vitaliy. He for some reason hates me right now,” I said, glaring at Misha.

Vitaliy laughed. “Don’t worry, malishka. I know you better than you might think,” he said, winking at me.

The following morning, we were all in the gym. Stephen still felt insanely good. He walked up to both me and Misha as everyone was finishing up, asking, “I know you guys haven’t run in the city since you two were attacked, but what if we both go with her?”

Misha looked at me. “Do you think your lung is up to trying that now? We can go really short the first time.”

“Yes, please go really short. I know I’m going to regret bringing this up,” Stephen said.

I thought for a minute. Ivan and Adrik had both been listening to the conversation. I wasn’t going if they weren’t okay with it.“If I take both of them, do you two feel okay with me going?”I asked both Adrik and Ivan.

They were both quiet for a moment, contemplating. Viktor had also been watching and listening. He walked up with Ilya, after having a quick conversation with him. “Take Ilya, too. He likes to run. He can keep up.”

I looked back at Adrik and Ivan. They both conceded.“Keep it short and stay close to the building. I’m more worried about your lung than I am anything else,”Adrik told me.

“I know. Me too,”I responded.

I looked at Stephen and Ilya. “I feel like you guys are going to grow to hate me if this becomes a regular thing, but let’s go.”

Adrik caught Misha before we left, quietly telling him to keep an eye on my breathing. “She hasn’t done it in a while, but she starts to panic if she can’t catch her breath. Get her back here immediately if that happens,” he said.

“Don’t worry, Boss. I’m only letting her go around the block this time,” Misha said. He jogged toward the elevator to catch up to the rest of us.

“You’re very bossy. But I love you for it,”I told Adrik before we left. I could feel him trying not to worry about me as the doors to the elevator closed.

Misha looked at me as sternly as was humanly possible for him before we got to the lobby. “We’re only going around the block this time. I’m not dealing with Boss, Ivan, and Andrei if something happens to you, gazelle,” he said dramatically.

I laughed. “I’m not dealing with them either. I don’t want to fuck this up. Ilya is going to wonder why you call me gazellewhen we’re done. Slowest. Gazelle. Ever,” I said, pointing to myself.

We set off around the block, with Misha on one side of me, Stephen on the other, and Ilya behind us. Misha was still slightly paranoid about someone being able to get to us. He masked it like an expert, but I could feel his worry. He was always aware of his surroundings but even more so as we jogged around the block.

Both Ilya and Stephen were quiet as we ran. Stephen kept pace, even though he was worried about doing so. We were back at the building in under twenty minutes. Once we slowed to a walk, Misha put his arm around my shoulders, checking on my breathing. “I’m okay,” I said, in Russian.

Ilya was surprised. “You can speak Russian too? You’re American?” he asked, almost like he had gotten it wrong.

I glanced behind me, laughing at his surprised expression. “You’re Russian and yet you speak English,” I said, grinning at him.

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