Page 82 of To Have and To Hold

That would be eight of Volkov’s men, his mistress, and the big prize himself.

“Fuck,” Jano roared. “I want Herrera.” His nostrils flared. “Tell me about the women.”

“They’re pretty beat up and scared. Doesn’t seem as if they’ve eaten recently.”

“Where are the women?” I asked.

“Took them down to the south warehouse. They’re getting medical attention, but communication is a problem.”

Adrian stepped forward. “Russian?”

“Sí.”

I nodded.

“I’ll go down,” Adrian volunteered. “I’ll be able to get their information. Then what do you want done with them?” he asked Jano.

“Their choice. They go back to where they came from, or they make us money at Wanderland.”

Adrian looked at Jano, his eyes narrowing. “Could we have a word?”

The two walked away.

“The weapons?” I asked the chief on the phone.

“We confiscated them and brought them down here too.”

Adrian and Jano returned.

Jano spoke, “The women can either go back to where they came from or go to work for Andros Ivanov. Adrian had a point. Suddenly having Russian whores at Wanderland would be a beacon to not only the uniforms but also smaller bratvas. Ivanov will take credit for the raid at the abandoned house.”

There was something reassuring in a boss who was willing to listen. I never felt that way around Jorge. That doesn’t mean he didn’t take advice. We all nodded.

“We’re on our way,” I told the chief before disconnecting the call.

“No,” Jano said, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Go clean up and tell your woman that you have permission.”

My lips curled for the first time in hours.

My woman.

“You don’t need me down at the warehouse?”

He shook his head. “I’m headed home to blow off some steam and get some sleep. We’re halfway to our goal. Get this marriage over with, Em. I need your head in the game.”

“Lockdown?” I asked.

Jano nodded. “No change until the dust of tonight settles.”

“We just made Herrera weaker.”

“We’re cornering him.” His eyes opened wide. “What is the saying? Scared animals return home, regardless of whether home is safe or frightening.”

“You think he’ll go back to Mexico?”

“We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Chapter

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