Page 10 of Pregnant Bratva Virgin

“No, you don’t. It doesn’t mean I won’t be working with you. I’m just going to be working on dead people now.”

“Yeah, doing the cool detective work,” Brady whispers, shaking his head, but smiling.

“I don’t mean to gloat—” I reply, wondering what’s going on.

“But go on, you will, won’t you?” Milton hounds, kicking back in his chair.

“Maybe a little. And I guess that’s a lucky croissant, Brady. I can’t believe it,” I say, floored at my quick climb. Therehas to be something deeper going on in the department, and I’m determined to figure it out. “Jackson looked worried,” I speculate, smoothing back my already gelled hair.

“Fuck, it is now,” he replies with a wry grin. “I’m proud of you, just don’t forget your detective buddies who buy you pizzas every Friday night. ’Mkay?” Brady adds, flashing me a smile.

“Hey, don’t get ahead of yourself, maybe you’ll be called up next,” I tell him.

“Nope. I’m going to stay right here in Central Investigations. We’ve got that big case of car thefts rippling across Chicago, and it’s getting worse. Especially on the South Side.”

“I’ve seen it. What, you don’t think you can rock with homicide?” I tease, knowing Brady’s queasy around dead bodies.

“Don’t try it, woman. Go get out of here and back to your desk to eat your croissant,” Brady commands as Milton laughs along with him, a little sadness washing over me.

“I’m going to miss you, buttheads; we’ve had a bunch of fun. I love you both.”

Milton touches his chest gasping dramatically. “You’re getting all mushy, Emily. I don’t know what to think about this. We love you too, right, Brady?”

Brady puts out his fist and I bump it with mine. “Sure do.”

“Okay, phew. I need to decompress and take this all in,” I say, taking a deep breath.

“Do it. See you, kid.” And to Brady and Milton, I am a baby; they’ve been in the department longer than I have by years.

Maybe one shitty situation doesn’t need to turn into a completely crappy month.Guy’s name who starts withR, who cares about you now?

Chapter Six - Ryurik

There’s a weird gloom hanging in the air, but I can’t put my finger on it exactly where it’s coming from, and nor do I want to know. To this day, I’ve never gotten used to the feeling, and it goes hand and hand with the job itself. But today there’s an extra layer of doom walking into the boardroom with me. Maybe it’s associated with Willy Dee, but I’ve got enough coverage inside the Chicago PD for them to turn a blind eye, but we don’t have everyone on the books, so it’s impossible to be 100 percent.

I’m walking into my 9:00 a.m. meeting with new club owner Jarvis from Manhattan, who wants to go into distribution with me, and it couldn’t be better timing. I need a new outlet to replace the gambling operation I had set up through the Chicago school district.

It’s annoying, but not a complete bust of a model. All I have to do is take it to a new location, but it’s a move I didn’t want to have to make, and maybe it’s what’s got me on edge. The tip-off came from the inside, and when I find out who from, I might have to use my gun again.

It’s too hot right now for me to do it, but somebody has to pay for me losing out on millions.

Jarvis stands up, shifting his shades to his head. “Hey, man. Good to see you. What’s going on?” Jarvis is every bit the flashy New Yorker type, short in stature, but what he lacks in height, he makes up for in dollar signs, and connections. I’ve checked him out, and he’s a successful club owner across the East Coast, with a great track record, so it’s worth a conversation.

“Not much, business as usual,” I tell him, giving him a small smile. We’re friendly, but not friends. There’s a few steps of vetting to go before I’ll seal in on the deal.

“I hear ya.” Jarvis looks up in the corners of the room. “Cameras?” he asks with a nervous chuckle as I grin at him.

“Yes. Of course. Comes with the territory. Are they a problem for you for any reason?”

“Nah, nah, just want to make sure what we discuss remains confidential, ya know?” he whispers, leaning forward, his eyes shifting in multiple directions.

“No problem about that. It’s you and me, and we both know the business I’m in. Your phone isn’t bugged if that’s what you’re worried about,” I say, snickering.

“No. No, I’m not saying it isn’t. Dimitri sent me your way, and you’re family, so you know what? Let me go ahead and relax. I think things are going to be fine.”

“They are. And yes, Dimitri and I are family. I understand you’re wanting to distribute new product in your Long Island club?”

Jarvis’s eyes light up as he rubs his hands together. “Yeah, man, I do. Long Island’s a playground for the white candy, and these guys are wealthy. New money. I think if we do this together it’s going to be a good thing for both of us.”

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