Page 46 of Pregnant Bratva Virgin

Horrified by his admission, my mouth feels as if it’s dried up. “What are saying, Jeff? I don’t think you have a clue.” I don’t give all my cards away. I can’t. He had the chance to save me, but he chose not to. I study his shirt to see if I can spot the thread of a wire.

Jeff pats himself down, sensing that’s what I’m doing. “I’m not wearing a wire if that’s what you think.”

“Yes,” I reply tersely, Jeff holding his ground. “That’s exactly what I think you’re doing.”

“I can help you, Emily,” he says with urgency. “I swear I can get you out of that hole you’re in and make it so you’re safe again.”

Clenching on to my bag, I think about its contents. What I have on the inside is enough to send Ryurik inside for a long time. The USB is enough even if the trails of the evidence aren’t all there.

What do I have to lose? Ryurik and I aren’t in a real, loving marriage. This isforcedlike Jeff says.

If I really want to end organized crime in the city of Chicago, the Utkin’s would be a nice touch on my resume. All would be forgiven, and I could resume my position. It would only be seen as me going deep undercover for the role.

I could be a hero. Shutting down him, would be the catalyst to bring down the rest of the Russian mob dynasty.

Something to think about.

Chapter Twenty-Six - Ryurik

Taking my lighter, I wait for the orange flame to flicker, lighting the end of my cigar. It’s been a tedious day at the club, but everything’s back on track running smoothly. Downstairs, I watch from the top as the DJ sets up his turntables on level two. My head bartender is surrounded by a semicircle of entrusted staff preparing them for the night. It’s set to be a big one with international DJs coming in to play from all over the globe for a DJ contest, and there’s big money involved for the winner.

Blindside Metro is known for its Battle of the DJs weekend, and this is when we have record crowds on all three levels including the Chicago PD coming in to check we stick to compliance rules and regulations, not overloading the building past capacity numbers, and so forth. I’ve spent all week prepping staff as last year we had three near-death overdoses in two different levels and that wasn’t a good look for me or my operation.

Yes. There’s going to be drugs in the club, but I’ve got better controls and people in place this time to prevent any of that happening again. Billowing smoke fills the office as I look through the one-sided glass once more. All good, but there’s something more important on my mind, and I’m waiting on my messenger to deliver the news.

Setting down my cigar, I sip on my gin, recalibrating the takings from last night and adding more money to the safe. I’m a hands-on owner. I don’t trust anyone else to handle the takings, and if I’m ever short, heads will roll. Not based on anything other than principle. I don’t deal well with staff or people in general taking from me.

A solid knock on the door sounds off. “Come in!” I call out as Jeff Knowles steps inside the door, dressed in jeans and a plain white T-shirt. Nothing about him spells cop.

“Hey, Ryurik.” Waving around the smoke to stop it from hitting him in the face, I point to the chair in front of me.

“Hey yourself. Take a seat. Want a drink?” I ask, peering over at my surveillance setup as more DJs bring their equipment in through the service door entrance.

“Yeah, yeah. I could use a drink. Got any whisky, good man?” he asks, chuckling. Minus the difference in eye color and height, Jeff would do a good job passing for me. Maybe that’s why I had him act as my setup with Emily. It was the ultimate litmus test for loyalty, and I’m about to see if she passed.

“Sure do. Top shelf. Only the best in Blindside.” I head around to the back of the black marble bar, pouring Jeff a drink. “Ice?”

“Yeah. Chicago’s got some smoldering heat thing going on right now.”

Nodding, I chuckle. “Yeah, it does, but do we have any other problems? That’s what I want to know.” Winking at Jeff, I hand him his drink.

“No. You don’t have anything to worry about.” He swirls the ice, taking a long swallow.

“Oh?” My pulse quickens, the pendulum looking to be swinging in my favor. I hoped she would be as loyal as her actions and openness have shown her to be, but I couldn’t be 100 percent sure.

“I pushed her too. She didn’t give you up. She didn’t trust what I was saying to her. And she kept looking around and stuff. Right back into detective mode, I guess. Easy to slip into.”

With a big grin, I nod my head. There’s my loyal, trustworthy wife. Right where I want her to be. She didn’t betray me, even when I laid out the address of where my team buried the body. I left the door wide open for her to betray me, but she didn’t take the option to do it.

“Ah, she didn’t?” I want to hear more about how she handled herself. Hearing that she didn’t rat me out makes me want to give her the world. A deep part of me, believed she might, and then everything between us would have turned to shit.

“She thought I was wearing a wire and played dumb when I talked about knowing she was forced into a marriage with you.” Jeff shakes his head, seemingly impressed by Emily. As he should be, but I feel the heat of jealousy spark up again as I take note of the shine in his eye, he has for her.

Don’t even think about it. She’s my wife, Jeff.

Puffing out my cigar smoke, I’m enjoying his answers more and more. “And anything else?”

“Oh yeah. When I told her I could help her if she gave you up, she basically turned and walked back to her car.”

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