Page 15 of Savage Boss

“Thank you for the information. I will stay vigilant.”

Boris eyed him. “You want me to stay, help you deal with the problem?”

Vlad thought about it. He was fully confident he could handle Petrov but working alongside his best friend once more was tempting. Losing Boris to his Russian legacy had been a blow. “Do you think he will strike soon?”

Boris shook his head. “I do not know, brother. Petrov is known for the long game. He has been stewing over this since you put his boy down.”

Once again, Boris was correct. Petrov was very good at a long game. He’d wanted to take Vlad’s seat of power in America, cementing an international base for his business interests, but hadn’t the physical capacity to take Vlad on. He’d waited years for his son to grow and learn the family trade before sending him after Vlad.

Vlad shook his head. “Go back to Russia, you have your own house to take care of now. Besides I could use a soldier in the motherland, watching my back over there.”

“Always,” Boris assured him.

“You should stay here at the house while you’re in town.” Vlad changed the subject.

Boris shook his head. “No chance I’ll be able to tear Laney away from Claudia. When I checked in on her they were gossiping about some hot casino owner.”

Vlad laughed. “So it’s like that. You should just tell her she stays here with you. Grow a set.”

Boris snorted and downed his second shot. “My wife is deadly, brother. I have learned not to disrespect the ninja.”

Boris wasn’t kidding. Laney really was a ninja. She’d grown up in the Yakuza and had been tasked with killing Boris. She hadn’t been able to complete her assignment, which had almost gotten her killed when her old clan finally got hold of her. Instead, Boris rescued her and her daughter and took them back to Russia.

“How long are you staying?”

Boris shook his head. “We stay as long as you need us.”

Vlad was happy to hear it. He picked up his glass and help it up. “To the man who always has my back.”

Boris poured another for himself and held it up. “To the man who has mine.”

They drank together and talked well into the night.

Chapter Eight

Vlad woke to his wife’s frowning face peering down at him. Her dark hair had grown past her shoulders and reached down to him in soft waves. Unable to help himself, he touched a silky lock, rubbing it between his fingers. Her frown grew fiercer.

“I had to get out of the bed to go to the bathroom,” she announced way too loudly, making him wince. “I don’t know how far from the bed I’m allowed to go but I’m telling you right now, I get to decide when and where to pee. I’m also hungry but I thought you might freak out if I tried to go downstairs by myself so you need to go get food for me.”

“If you stop talking, I will consider your demands,” Vlad grumbled pushing himself up the bed and then collapsing into a semi-sit against the pillows.

She looked at him suspiciously then buried her nose into his neck. “You smell rank, like stale cigars and vodka. Did Boris come over last night?”

“Correct, my little detective.”

She continued to scowl at him. Vlad didn’t mind. He found this particular expression of hers to be adorable. Like a fierce kitten who would claw a much bigger adversary, heedless of the consequences.

“Did you at least find a guest room for Boris before you passed out?”

Vlad shook his head, scrubbing a hand over his face. He was getting too old for the amount of vodka he and Boris had consumed the evening before. He couldn’t handle the side effects the way he used to. It seemed he was moving away from his vodka soaked Russian youth. He tossed the blankets back and carefully swung his legs over his side of the bed.

“Boris is staying with Laney in King Towers,” he told her as he got carefully to his feet, reaching for the wall when the bedroom began to swim and nausea rushed up his throat.

“Tell him we want them to stay here,” Jane pouted. “If I’m stuck on bedrest, I at least need some amusement. Bring me the Jin child; she’ll keep me occupied.”

“I can’t just bring you someone else’s child. I believe that is called kidnapping.” Vlad made his way carefully to the washroom. He left the door open as he stood over the toilet, tugging his sweatpants down and letting loose his morning stream.

“Then I want to work,” Jane said stubbornly. “I had a new case land on my desk when you locked me in the bunker.”

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