Page 65 of Bound to a Monster

I’m grinning as I stand on the sidewalk. This is a good day. I found a gym and a trainer, and maybe she’s a little intimidating, but I’m going to get sharp again for no other reason than I want to.

And nobody’s going to stop me.

“Carmela?”

Hearing my name is a big surprise. I look over at the street where two men stand near a black sedan. One is young and gruff with a bent nose and ripped jeans.

The other is my father-in-law.

“Oh, uh, hello, Mr. Federov,” I say awkwardly as the old Russian man stalks over.

He looks nothing like his son. Where Lev is chiseled and devilishly handsome, Oleg has the face of a boxer that’s been beaten one too many times. I’ve heard rumors that he was a mercenary a long time ago, and I believe them. Oleg Federov is about as intimidating as they come.

“Just call me Oleg,” he barks at me. “Does my son know you’re here?”

I bristle at that. “I was just signing up for fencing lessons.”

“Fencing?” He snorts and turns away. “Better than ballet, I guess. Come on, get in the car, I’ll drive you back.”

I don’t know what’s going on. I took an Uber over here and planned on walking home since it’s nice out, but I don’t know how I can turn Oleg down.

“What are you doing in the neighborhood?” I ask him once we’re settled in the back seat. The younger man is Oleg’s driver. He pulls out into traffic.

He ignores my question, which only makes me that much more suspicious. “I’ve been hearing some rumors about my son. From what I understand, he’s been very busy.”

“Lev’s been working a lot.”

“Coming and going at odd hours?”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“Is he taking meetings at his house?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Hear any names? You know the people he’s speaking to?”

I stare at my father-in-law, head spinning with implications. “Honestly? He hasn’t told me anything about his job. I assumed you knew since you two run the shop together.”

“That boy’s been up to something.” Oleg stares straight ahead, his expression hard. I don’t like the way his body is stiff, and I despise his line of questioning. “I want you to do me a favor, Carmela.”

“What kind of favor?”

“I want you to tell me what Lev’s up to. Yes, I know, it might seem distasteful, but I’ll make sure you’re well compensated. It’s for his own good, truth be told. That boy has no head for business.”

I take a steadying breath, but my heart’s up in my throat. “I don’t know. The idea of spying on my own husband isn’t very appealing.”

“Yes, well, the two of you aren’t exactly in love. Think of it like you’re making sure this family remains as harmonious as possible.” He glances at me, and there’s an implicit threat in the way he smiles. “Otherwise, I don’t know what might happen.”

I say nothing. I’m trembling slightly and don’t trust my voice. I don’t want a man like Oleg to know how unnerved I am, but I think he already knows and likely doesn’t care.

He must have followed me to that gym and waited for me to come back out just to make this pitch. Whatever’s going down with him and Lev, he clearly knows it’s coming at this point, and he thinks he can use me.

The car stops down the block from Lev’s house. “Better if he doesn’t know about this meeting,” Oleg says, eyes narrowed. “Think about what I said.” He shoves a business card into my hands. “Call me when you have something worth saying.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” I say softly and hurry the hell out of there.

Oleg’s car drives off. Once they’re gone, I shove the card into my pocket and hurry back to the house.

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