Page 24 of Pregnant Bratva Virgin

If I wasn’t so tied up with everything, I would hunt her down and try to find the best friend I had inside that place. She wasn’t sold on her chances of finding a family, but she sure as hell cared that I did. I always wanted the happy family I didn’t have. One filled with unconditional love, happiness, joy, and a safe landing, but I don’t see how that can manifest with a guy like Ryurik and me. For one, I’m a cop devoted to my work and putting bad guys like him behind bars, and he evades the law, making his money through shady business dealings and murdering people.

My kid is destined to be one messed-up individual. Fuck up plus. A wash of depression comes over me as I think some more about it.

“Hello. Penny for your thoughts?” a small voice asks, the old cliché dragging me out of time travel.

“Oh. Hey, Jeff. Sorry, you startled me. I’m sorry,” I say again, not wanting him to have any pennies to my thoughts because if anybody knew about the baby in my belly it would be a real-life horror story.

“You don’t have to be sorry. What are you working on right now?” Jeff’s a new colleague from the Investigative Response Team, and he’s been showing me the ropes. He’s cute in a wholesome way. Not a bad ass, complex way, like Ryurik. Although both have this shaggy-dog-hair look going on.

“Ah. I’ve been investigating the Willy Dee murder. This guy is a Bratva underboss, and I’m gathering intel.”

“Okay. He’s a giver, huh?” Jeff leans in, studying the tabs I’ve got open, but I feel heat under my seat, not wanting my little creepy fascination with Ryurik to get around the department. It’s lucky I’m investigating him, and it gives me the permission to analyze him so closely.

“Yeah.” I tighten my lips almost spilling the beans about seeing him at the fundraiser. It feels foreign not to tell my work colleagues about the inner workings of a case. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t gate keep so much.

“What type of donations is he making? Are they helping him clean up his money?” he asks, adding more speculation to the burning fire.

“You know, that’s what I don’t know. I’m just trying to establish his links to these foundations first, but you mightbe onto something. It would make sense to clean the money through the charities.”

Although I know the treasurer of Golden Heart, and she would never let that happen. But from the investigation I solved relating to the school ring of money laundering, I know not to underestimate anybody, including old ladies and nuns.

“Right. I would take a hard look at that angle. Because he’s not giving for no reason.” Jeff’s reasoning is sounder than me thinking Ryurik is a good, mushy guy underneath that layer of armor. What have I been thinking?

“Yeah. I’m looking into everything. What are you working on?” I ask, wanting to change the subject.

“Ah, kind of a heavy one. Clancy from narcotics was shot in the calf last week and he’s laid up in the hospital, so I’m chasing up that. I’m going to have to sit with you long enough for you to tell me more about this guy.”

“Shit. Clancy. He’s good, though, right?” Clancy’s a senior cop and has been part of the narcotics division for a long time.

“Yeah, but he was shot coming out of Sloane’s over near the South Side.”

“Sloanes,” I say slowly. “The Whisky Bar down the laneway?” I pitch, invested in his answer, still wondering why he needs to speak to me specifically.

“Yep. He stopped a drug deal, picking up the cash, but not before he got shot. He asked the dealer who his boss was, and that was when he first got ahold of him.”

Swiveling all the way around in my chair, my heart beats fast, because I think I already know the answer. “Who was it?”

“He said the Utkins. Now, there’s no extra information on which one he was talking about, but Ryurik is hot news on thestreet. I know he got off for the murder of Willy Dee, but if we can pin him through one of his drug mules, it would help.”

“Okay. Send me over what you have, and I can see what I can match up in the database and with my current case.”

“Good,” Jeff adds with a warm smile. “It’s good to have someone as sharp as you in the Central team.”

I chuckle, hiding my anxiety because if he knew I slept with Ryurik, my reputation as a detective would be tarnished for good. Although, if I was good enough, maybe I could have said I slept with him so he could pillow talk and give me information.

Come on, Wilson… that’s a long slingshot, and you know it. Keep your mouth shut. Nobody can know. Not even Ryurik.

“Thanks, but I’ve got a lot to learn yet.”

“Sure, but you’ll get there. See you soon, Emily.”

“Bye, Jeff,” I reply timidly, the game between Ryurik and I becoming just that bit more dangerous.

Chapter Fourteen - Ryurik

A few chilly Chicago nights later at Blindside…

I hang my arms over the back of the ’70s-inspired maroon velvet couch in the private room with my associates and cousins surrounding me. This isn’t a room I hire out for private lap dances for high paying customers. No, this room is for me and my own private functions, meetings, fuckery, and whatever else I want it to be. There’s a sliding panel that houses guns and other torture chamber tools should I need to exercise the right to use them, but from memory, I’ve only ever used the dressmaker scissors to stab a man’s hand clean through to the bone for owing me twenty thousand dollars.

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