Page 48 of The Payment

Chapter Eighteen

Tatiana

Ten days later, TAPUnited Logistics, Boston...

Tatiana stared thoughtfully out of her office window.The Boston Logan International Airport stretched before her, but her mind wandered to darker places.Almost two weeks had passed since that night with Jarek, when her world had once again shifted on its axis.

“Jarek finally agreed to the Atlanta trip,” she told Levin as he settled into the chair across her desk.“Provided he goes with.”

Levin’s face twisted with disdain, not bothering to hide his feelings for her husband.“Don’t tell me he believes we’re going there for a sexual tête-à-tête?”

“As if that would bother me either way.”The words left her mouth before she could stop them.Her inner voice screamed ‘Hypocrite!’as she recalled Jarek’s gentle touches that night and how his strong hands had traced her skin with utmost tenderness as he consoled her.Since then, he had transformed from the cold, calculating man she married into someone who watched over her with genuine concern.

“He’s been cautious ever since that talk I had with Gregor...for obvious reasons, and to be honest, I’ve been wary about it myself.”She paused, the taste of the next words bitter on her tongue.“My grandfather is a cruel mafia Don, first and foremost.I’ve known him all my life, and believe me, he’s not the kind of man who would take what I did lightly.You know the saying...you never walk away from the Bratva alive.”

“But you’ve never been IN the Bratva, Tat.Surely he’s not that vindictive?”

Her chest tightened as she recalled her parents’ tale of their desperate escape and Maxim’s tortured expression when he spoke about Gregor killing Nikolai’s wife, leaving her to die with their unborn child never taking a breath.The truth she had buried deep inside for so many years clawed its way up.

“That’s the problem, Lev.I’m not sure what he is or how he’s going to react anymore.”She met his concerned gaze.“I only realized in the past couple of months that I never really knew him...knewthem.They’re both wearing masks to the world, always have.”The admission hurt more than she expected.These people had raised her, loved her.Or had they?Did they even know how?

“One indisputable fact is that I know more about them than anyone, even than their mob alliances.Just like my parents all those years ago, I now pose a threat, and that is the problem.”She smiled wryly.

“As much as it pains me to admit it, Jarek might be right to worry.”Tatiana’s gaze drifted back to the bustling landing strip below.“Gregor’s reach is far, and his memory is long.”

The image Maxim had painted of Nikolai’s dead wife flashed through her mind.Now, she understood why Nikolai had stayed with the organization despite his hatred for his brother.He had remained close, watching, waiting—just as she should have done.In the end, Nikolai had followed the same path as his family.Gregor had struck when he finally threatened to walk out.The brutal murder of an innocent woman, her unborn child, then later, his own brother spoke volumes about the man who had raised her.A man she had called grandfather.

She caught Levin’s skeptical glance at her defense of Jarek.

“Maybe we should give him a chance, Lev.His protectiveness...maybe it runs deeper than his vendetta against Gregor.”

Yet, doubt gnawed at her core.Would Jarek have looked at her twice without his quest for revenge?Was their arranged marriage fostering real affection, or was she falling for another carefully crafted mask?

“I’m prepared to keep an open mind, but I sincerely doubt that I’ll ever trust him,” Levin said with his usual skepticism when Jarek was discussed.

Tatiana’s heart constricted at his words.She turned back to the window to hide the doubt she was also struggling with.

“Either way,” he continued, “it’s your call and your decision.Just don’t let sweet words and gentle kisses fool you, Tat.In case you forgot, he’s got one vicious reputation as the Dark One here in Boston.”

“In regard to financial manipulation and criminal investments, yes, I know.”Her voice wavered slightly.“I overheard him talking to Declan and Nevil the other night.One thing I know for sure is that they never kill without justification...and never anyone outside of the criminal enterprises.I mean, he has more than enough justification to kill my grandfather, yet that has never been part of his plan.”

“Let’s hope you’re right.”Levin leaned forward with his frown deepening.“Knowing the life you lived and how you hated being part of that kind of world, do you honestly want to bring a child into it?”

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