Page 39 of Wicked Arrangement

“Like what?” I ask, concerned.

“Well, he said that he’d been kidnapped lots of times, which is why he’s not a pro tennis player, and he told the familylegend about how you’re all wolves or something,” she says with a smile, thankfully, it seems she didn’t believe a word of it.

In fact, most of what David says is true, he just tells it in such a way that it sounds like fantasy. He really was a promising tennis player and set to go pro before he was kidnapped by our enemies at fifteen. We got him back in one piece, but his arms were broken and his career over. While in the hospital he was diagnosed with mental health issues, and he was never the same carefree kid again.

I sigh, deciding to partially confide in Kim so she doesn’t think more closely about his claims. “David has bipolar affective disorder and occasional bouts of psychosis, he doesn’t see the world in the same way as we do. Our surname comes from the Russian word for wolf and the tale of our ancestor is somewhat of a family myth. He was a talented tennis player before breaking both his arms in an accident, but that’s about the only truth in his stories,” I explain, deliberately avoiding discussing the kidnapping aspect.

She nods sympathetically, reaching out to gently stroke my hand. I don’t move away, which is unusual to me, and I’m perplexed to find the gesture comforting.

“That must be so difficult for all of you,” she says softly, her eyes understanding. With her grandmother’s problems, Kim can probably understand better than most what dealing with mental breakdowns can be like.

I nod, clearing my throat, not wanting to discuss my feelings about David’s health. Trying to find a medication that helps to stabilize his condition, but not to remove any personality is taking some time. “So, he wasn’t rude or aggressive toward you?” I ask, surprised.

“No, not at all, I think he liked me,” she admits with a smile.

I’m pleased to hear this, even if it was unexpected, I can see why David would like Kim. She’s got such a wholesome, kind energy, she was probably calming to him. David can be quite aggressive toward strangers, or at least pretend to be. He put the fear of god into one of our housekeepers. We have to pay her extra just to keep her quiet after she saw and heard too much about the family business thanks to David. I don’t like that Kim seems to have developed a bond with her either. She’s dangerously close to finding out the truth. I should quit while I’m ahead, let tonight be her last night, bid her farewell, and try to forget Kimberly Walsh. It would be safer for me, for her especially.

And yet I find myself saying, “Stay.”

Her brow furrows in confusion, “Sorry?”

“Stay with me a bit longer, another two weeks… more if you like.”

She bites her lip, looking pained. My chest tightens and I panic that she’s going to refuse, I contemplate giving her no option, kidnapping her.

“You know I have a life to get back to…” she says softly, but I can see she wants to say yes.

“Just one more week then,” I insist.

She considers it and I feel as though my heart will hammer out of my chest in anticipation. She nods and I feel like I could explode with joy.

“Okay, one more week.”

Chapter 20

Yaroslav

I’ve been so preoccupied with Kim that I haven’t had a proper meeting with my men since she arrived. That’s going to change today. Kim’s safely out of the house, away visiting her grandmother with a couple of my men for escorts, so there’s no chance of her walking in on this long-overdue meeting and hearing anything she shouldn’t.

My office isn’t large enough to fit us all, so I’ve gathered us around the dining table in the seldom-used drawing room. An assortment of drinks and light snacks have been laid out, so there’s no need for any maids to come snooping either. Artem, Vova, and my lawyer are present, as well as half a dozen of my most loyal henchmen. On speakerphone, my Uncle Innokentiy is joining us from Russia with a couple of our most loyal men there. David will be pissed off he’s been excluded, but after the stunt he pulled with Kim, I can’t trust him to keep his mouth shut around her.

The men all stand to attention behind their seats, “Pakhan,” they echo as I enter and take my seat.

“Please sit,” I command, waiting for a moment as they do so. Once the chorus of scraping chairs and readjusting seats subsides, I begin, cutting right to the chase. “Alright men, there are two main reasons I’ve brought you here today. Number one, the deal with the Gillihan Mob, and number two, Roman fucking Sharkozi.”

The men all nod knowingly, I’m sure this is no surprise to them. “As you are well aware, the deal with Thomas Gillihan is a make-or-break one for us. Unlike most mafiosos, the Gillihan Mob is unbound by family or a mother country. Their influence spreads throughout the South. If this shipment goes smoothly then the Gillihan Mob will be on our side. They value money above all else, and this porcelain is set to make us all richer than we could ever imagine. Gillihan is a powerful ally to have, with his help we can finally take down the slippery son-of-a-bitch Sharkozi. But he’s also a powerful enemy, one wrong move with the delivery and we’re fucked. He has some of the best assassins on his payroll, he won’t hesitate to take us all out over a deal gone wrong. So, I hope you have some good news for me Vlad?” I say directing my question to the man in charge of the team handling the shipment.

Vlad gulps nervously, he knows me well enough to realize that loyalty or not, his head is on the chopping block if he fucks this one up. He clears his throat before speaking, forcing himself to meet my intense gaze.

“Everything is on track, Pakhan. The porcelain arrived in Spain on time and is set to depart in a week.”

“Do you anticipate any problems or delays with this?” I ask, he knows better than to lie to me.

“No, sir,” he says shaking his head. He darts his eyes away from me and I sense there’s something he’s hiding.

“What is it?” I bark, I don’t need to say anything further, he knows I’ve sensed a weak spot.

“It’s all been taken care of now, Pakhan. I swear,” he says, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. “We ran into some unexpected difficulties leaving Poland.”

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