Page 84 of The Mafia's Fake Wife

“Is this about Nikolai?”

She’s too perceptive. “Yes, but don’t worry. Everything’s under control.”

“If everything was under control, you wouldn’t be telling me to stay glued to Valeriya, who is usually practically invisible.” Her voice takes on that stubborn edge I’ve come to both admire and find challenging. “Tell me what’s happening.”

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “We have new information about Casey. He’s been working with Nikolai for years as we suspected, but he seems to have been involved in the kidnapping attempt. Nikolai is planning something else, and Casey is involved. Anton is certain.”

“What kind of something else?”

“A hit on both of us.”

Silence fills the line, followed by a ragged gasp. “Because of the baby?”

“Possibly but probably not. Nikolai knows you’re pregnant, but I don’t think that’s the prime reason he wants to kill us both. I think he’s just done with this conflict between us and wants it settled decisively. You and our son are just damage he can inflict on me as he tries to bring me down.”

“How?” Her voice rises slightly. “How could he possibly know about the baby?”

“I don’t know yet, but I intend to find out.” I look at the photos again. “Casey’s been meeting with Nikolai’s top lieutenants.He’s accessed bank accounts and made cash deposits, likely on Nikolai’s behest, since he’s moved up in the organization. That doesn’t worry me nearly as much as…” I trail off, hesitating.

“What?” she asks firmly after a second.

“He bought a gun four days ago.”

“Oh, my god,” she whispers.

“Elena, listen to me. You’re safe. Valeriya and Fydor are watching you until your shift ends.” I want to demand she go home right now, but she’ll refuse. “The penthouse is the most secure location in the city since I’ve doubled the security detail. No one gets in without my direct authorization, so you’ll be entirely safe once you’re inside.”

She pauses for a second and exhales slowly. “Okay. I’ll stick closely to Valeriya and go straight home when my shift ends. When will you be there?”

“Likely before you, but I have some business to take care of first.”

“Casey,” she says. It’s not a question.

“Yes.”

“What are you going to do to him?”

I consider lying, then decide against it. We promised each other honesty. “I’m going to find out exactly what he knows and what he’s told Nikolai. I’d like to know what you want me to do with him at that point.”

“You promised you wouldn’t kill him.” She sounds unsure though.

“And I’ve kept that promise, but circumstances have changed. He’s actively participating in a plot to kill us—to kill our son.”

She’s quiet for so long I wonder if the call has dropped. Finally, she says, “I don’t care what you do to him. I just don’t want it to come back to haunt you with the feds. Do what you need to do to keep us safe, but I want to be there when you question him.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Yes,” she insists. “I need to hear it from him. I need to look him in the eye when he explains why he’s trying to kill me and my baby.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“It’s not a request, Damir. Either I’m there, or you don’t question him at all.”

I grip the phone tighter, smothering curses. “Elena?—”

“I mean it. I deserve to hear the truth from him.”

I close my eyes, knowing I’ve lost this argument before it’s even begun. My wife is so stubborn and determined. It’s one of the things I love about her, even when it complicates matters. “Fine, but you stay behind me at all times, and if at any point I tell you to leave, you leave. No arguments.”

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