Page 36 of To Have and To Hold

They both nodded.

I stood and reached for my water bottle. “I think I’ve had enough catching up for one day.” I gestured toward the food container. “If anyone wants that, I’ve lost my appetite.”

Chapter

Fifteen

Emiliano

Two of the residents came up to the front office after all the women went into the conference room with their lunches. Both residents had appointments out of the building that they’d scheduled. A look at Mia’s program confirmed the appointments were scheduled, but they would have to be missed. Other than here or the club, anyone connected with the Roríguez cartel was on lockdown. The news didn’t go over well. Nevertheless, they’re still safe within these walls.

When we were alone again, José asked, “What’s the word on Kozlov’s men?”

“They’re alive,” I replied. “For now.”

Horace took a bite of his lunch. When his gaze met mine, he lowered his volume. “Fucking shame they weren’t telling the truth.El Patr?ncould use them to get to Volkov.”

That was the plan. It was better not to have that plan widely known. At this point,el Patr?n, Rei, Nick, Dante, Adrian, and I were the only people who would know that the two men ultimately survived Rei’s interrogation. The capo’s connection with the Ivanov bratva paid off with translation.

Tonight, after dark, the men would be moved to a safe house with their wives. They gave up valuable information about the Kozlov bratva. As long as it could be confirmed, the Roríguez cartel would protect them.

Soon, the official word would be that Kozlov’s men died. Rei was in the process of finding two bodies to pass off as the Russians after an intense car fire. With the unrest between the bratvas, even the cops wouldn’t question the authenticity of the murders. It would be obvious that Volkov was cleaning house.

I looked up as Isabella stepped from the conference room. She stopped outside the doorway with her hand over her stomach and her face down. When she looked up, her complexion was pale, and her breathing rapid, as if she’d run a race.

“What the fuck?”

She turned my way. “I’m not feeling well.” She turned and hurried toward Mia’s office.

Horace began to stand.

“No,” I said. “I’ll check on her.”

“She’s my detail.”

Standing, I changed my tone. “I said that I’ll check on her.”

He lifted his hand. “Go ahead. Emotional little girls aren’t my thing.”

“She’s an adult.” That was the last thing I said as I headed down the hall toward Mia’s office, my proclamation running on repeat.

Adult.

Adult.

A spunky, beautiful, determined adult.

The office door was shut. For a moment, I debated barging in. As a newly appointed lieutenant, I could justify the action. Then again, Isabella was frightened of me in Kansas City; there was no need to give her a reason to fear me. Taking a breath, I knocked on the door.

“Horace?”

Turning the knob, I pushed the door inward. Isabella was a vision, standing facing the window with her long golden hair cascading down her back, falling in waves to just above her slim waist and her round ass.

She stifled a cry and took a ragged breath. “I’m ready to go back to Mia’s…” Her voice faded away as she turned to face me. Her cheeks had more color, but her makeup gave away the fact she’d been crying Her irises appeared almost black. “Em.”

I closed the door behind me and took a step toward her. “You want to leave already.” I crossed my arms. “I guess Dario was right.”

It took a second before recognition of my statement showed on her beautiful face. The earlier sadness morphed before my eyes into something akin to fear and then to anger as the muscles in her temples pulsated. “Dario, my father, Dante, all of them…” Her volume rose. “They sent me here with no knowledge.” She gasped for breath and slapped her hands on each side of her hips. “They sent me to the middle of a war with no weapons or realization that there was a war.”

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