Page 33 of Bratva Knight

Tatiana’s angry eyes tracked me as I made my way to her side, like a predator watching its prey. My heart was racing, pounding in my ears. How was it that, after all those years, after everything that happened between us, my insides still turned to mush around her?

I was a thirty-two year old man, but around her I felt like a sixteen year old boy trying to find the confidence to speak to his crush.

“Nikolai, welcome,” Arturo greeted, getting to his feet. He moved out from behind his desk and offered me his hand.

I shook it. “Thank you for allowing me to be here.” As much as it annoyed me, we had to run it by Arturo first. I couldn’t guard Tatiana while she was conducting Cosa Nostra business without asking for his permission.

He’d then told me he was planning to put two guards on her while she was here, so I simply suggested that I take one of their places.

“Of course. Illayana’s family is always welcome. Well, except for one.”

It wasn’t hard to guess which one he was referring to. There was only one person who had the power to piss someone off that much.

“Right. Lukyan has that effect on people.”

“Understatement of the century. Aleksandr mentioned that you’ll be checking out some prospective clients while you’re here?”

“Yes.”

“If you need any further information on them, let me know. I can have our tech guy, Renzo, help you.”

I nodded once. “Appreciate it.”

He looked at Tatiana. “Your apartment is ready. I’ll have a car made available for you to use while you’re here. There is a slight issue that I feel I should mention.”

“Issue?” Tatiana frowned.

“Your apartment was the last one available in the building, so it means the two of you will have to share. It’s a two-bedroom, so there’s plenty of space. Will that be a problem?”

Tatiana said “Yes” at the same time that I said “No.”

Arturo’s gaze darted between the two of us. “Right. Well, I’ll let you two sort it out then. Here are the keys.” He pulled out a set of keys and handed them to Tatiana. “The car is waiting out front for you and I’ve had your luggage loaded inside. You can spend the day getting situated and we can reconvene tomorrow to figure out the first step.”

“There’s no need. I’m ready to go now. I’ll just drop off my stuff and come right back,” Tatiana said, pocketing the keys. She was always one to get right to the point. “I need a list of anyone who was at the cash and distribution houses that Franco raided and torched, as well as a list of anyone who had access to them. Is there any video surveillance?”

“No. Cameras and drug houses don’t really mix.”

“Fair point. The fact that Franco keeps finding out the locations of your houses does suggest a leak within your organisation. If you’re sure it’s not coming from one of your men, it could be as simple as someone tagging one of your vehicles.”

“Tagging?”

“With a tracker. It’s what I’d do. What better way to find out the coming and going of my enemy’s business than to track the vehicles their soldiers use? It would tell me everything I need to know: where they go, how long they were there for, if they stick to a schedule. I suggest doing a sweep of all your cars. Possibly all your belongings too—yours and your men. It's possible to place a tracking device in anything these days.”

She had no idea how right she was on that one.

“That is actually a very good point.” He glanced at his brother. “Make it happen. Have all the men report to the house for a screening.”

“Aye, aye boss man.” Vincenzo pushed off the desk, sauntering towards Tatiana with a hungry look in his eyes that pissed me the fuck off. “Just one question, Pretty. How did you know that gun wasn’t loaded?”

“The weight was off,” Tatiana shrugged, like it was the simplest of answers. “A standard Glock 19 weighs roughly 1.7 pounds, fully loaded. It was too light.”

That hungry look grew, swallowing his eyes whole. “You. Me. A bottle of scotch and a can of whipped cream. Need I say more?”

I growled, stepping forward to place myself between them. It forced Vincenzo back a step, that stupid boyish smirk on his lips that he was well known for still on his face.

“So youareseeing someone. That’s cool. I can take a hint.”

“No, you can’t,” Arturo scoffed.

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