Page 77 of Brutal Promise

Anya joins us, dressed in a business suit. We hug, and I kiss her on both cheeks. “I have to rush out to school. I’ll be at your house just before noon to take Izzy out. I can’t wait to meet her.” Her vibrant eyes light up when she’s excited. I bet she’s looking forward to having a sister-in-law to pal around with.

At the moment, I’m not sure wherehomewill be. Russia would be too much of a culture shock for an American. I push Izzy but can’t push so hard that she runs away. Baby steps are the best strategy.

“I’ll text you her information and let her know. Take her somewhere nice for lunch and have a good time.”

“I will, for sure,” she replies. She gives her husband a kiss that would make a stranger blush, then grabs her coat and purse and disappears out the door with her guard.

“How’s married life?” I ask, but I don’t need to. My brother is glowing after that wet kiss.

Nikolay rolls his eyes, and his face breaks into a wide grin. He turns and heads to the kitchen. It wasn’t that long ago that we sat in this very same kitchen planning Anya’s rescue after her half-brother kidnapped her.

“You can’t be serious. I died a thousand deaths until we found Anya and killed her psycho brother. Now it’s you who has their hands full.”

Nikolay slides into the kitchen nook and looks me over with wise, scrutinizing eyes.

“You look well, brother.”

“Thanks.” I can’t stop from grinning.

“I can’t wait to meet this woman who has you smitten.”

“Mm. That’s just between us.”

He gives me an understanding nod.

“How’s your arm healing?”

“Fine. You know me,” I say with a shrug as I pour myself a coffee from the urn on the table.

“The girls will have fun today.” Nikolay takes a swig of his coffee, and his housekeeper clears the table.

“Are you sure you wanna use Izzy and the wedding to bait the trap? What if Izzy is shot, kidnapped, or, worse, killed? I know what it’s like to live in that fear, brother.”

Our eyes meet. “I don’t know any other way. We need to do this to flush out the enemy. They’re not making any mistakes. They’re not using technology, and even if they are, I can’t track every phone. There are too many suspects.”

He nods his head in agreement.

“I trust your instincts. I’m told the Russian contingency in New York City is looking into their tech man, Tito. More than twenty thousand has gone missing, and they suspect he has something to do with it.”

“Kirill?” Nikolay asks about my best friend.

“He swears he has no idea whom Tito is working with or covering for. Izzy and I would be dead if Kirill were on their team. Trust me, I’ve considered it myself, but he checks out.”

“Yeah, you and your trust issues and your rules.” He leans back in the chair and drapes an arm over the back of it.

“Right. Well, Izzy has me breaking the rules.”

“I bet.” He chuckles. “Do you trust her?”

“I do, for the most part.” I take a second to do a quick inventory and add, “I guess as much as I can.”

How much do I trust her? Enough to want a child with her. I’ve never wanted to have a child with anyone before. If I’m taking on that level of commitment, it would be fucked up to do so without some degree of trust between us. I need to start trusting my future wife. Trust will bring us closer, but changing my ways is challenging.

“You look tired, Dmitry. Staying up at night?” he asks, a knowing grin spreading across his face.

“Of course.” I chuckle. “She’s a sexy woman and very accommodating. Who wouldn’t want to stay up all night for that? I’d never wanted to live so badly until I met her. What can I say? I see a future with her.”

“Yeah.” He sits upright in his chair. “I understand. Don’t wait until it’s too late to say I love you. If you have it good now, wait for what happens after those words are spoken.”

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