Page 59 of The Mafia's Quadruplets

Valerian

The vibration of my phone makes it skim across the mahogany desk, the harsh buzz cutting through the oppressive silence of my study. I blink hard, my eyes burning from hours of staring at the mountain of financial projections and merger documents Alexei has been badgering me about all week.

“Sir,” he had insisted earlier, his usually stoic face creased with concern, “These require your immediate attention. The Steele Industries merger won’t wait forever.”

Now, as I massage my temple with one hand, the other reaching for the phone, I think how Matvey’s threats have consumed my focus lately. The screen’s harsh glow illuminates my face in the dimming evening light, and what I see makes my blood turn to slush in my veins. My fingertips go numb against the cool glass of the screen, and my jaw tightens until it aches.

The first photo shows Claire standing outside the flower shop, her golden hair catching the sunlight. She looks vulnerable, aneasy target. The second picture is of her and her parents entering the prison on a day they visited Jay, letting me know Petrov is now aware of that link as well.

The final image is the worst. It’s an intimate shot of Claire and me kissing through the window of my mansion. My muscles tense as the realization sinks in that the Petrov Syndicate hasn’t only been watching Claire, but they’ve also breached my property’s security.

The message is clear. They know how much she means to me, and they’ll use her against me.

Rage bubbles beneath the surface, but I force myself to remain calm. I take a calculated breath and call Dmitri.

“We have a problem,” I say, my voice low and lethal. “Double the guards, and I want every camera on my property reviewed. Now.”

“What happened?” he asks, his tone instantly alert.

“The Petrovs have been watching us. They’ve gotten photos of Claire at the flower shop and the prison, and...” I pause, gritting my teeth. I feel so violated I can barely say the words as rage fills me. “And of us at the mansion.”

Dmitri swears in Russian. “How the hell did they get that close?”

“That’s what I want to know. I want a full security sweep. Every inch of the property, inside and out, and I want it done yesterday.”

“Consider it done,” he says. “What about Claire?”

I close my eyes, picturing her face. “I’m bringing her home in a minute. She’s not safe out there anymore.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?” he asks cautiously. “Keeping her close might make her more of a target.”

“And leaving her out there makes her an easy one,” I snap. “At least here, I can protect her.”

There’s a pause on the other end of the line. “Understood. I’ll send a team to pick her up.”

“No,” I say firmly. “I’ll get her myself. Have the security team meet me at the flower shop in twenty minutes.”

“That could be just what…” He trails off, obviously accepting there’s no point arguing with me. “Sure, boss.”

I end the call and stand, straightening my suit jacket. As I move toward the door, Alexei looks up from his stack of papers.

“Everything alright, boss?” he asks with a frown.

“No,” I say shortly, “But it will be. Hold down the fort and handle any issues that arise with the Steele merger. I’ll be back soon.”

I stride out of the office, my heart speeding . How did the Petrovs get so close without us noticing? And more importantly, what are they planning to do with this information? As I step into the elevator, I pull out my phone and dial Claire’s number. It rings three times before she picks up.

“Valerian?” Her voice is warm and curious. “Is everything okay?”

“Claire,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I need you to listen carefully. I’m coming to pick you up from the flower shop. Don’t leave, and don’t talk to anyone you don’t know. Understand?”

There’s a pause, and I can almost see her brow contracting in confusion. “What’s going on?”

“I’ll explain everything when I get there. Just stay safe. Please.” I think to add, “I’ll be sure there are more people keeping your parents safe too.”

“Okay,” she says softly. “I’ll be here.”

I end the call as the elevator doors open to the parking garage. My BMW roars to life, and I peel out onto the street, paying little heed to the traffic around me.

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