Page 144 of Bossy Hero

My chest swells as warmth spreads through my cells. “Thank you for telling me.”

I tilt my chin and lift my face toward hers in a silent invitation. Right before she presses her lips to mine, they thin into a radiant smile. Our mouths linger together, both of us content to enjoy the connection.

When I finally pull back, I say, “I’m curious. What was it that finally made you cave?”

“I’m on to you, Alan Lancaster,” she jests, arching a single brow. “You want to know so that you can do it again in the future, don’t you?”

“Do you blame me for wanting a get-out-of-jail-free card?”

She kisses me again, joining our smiles sweetly.

“Fine, handsome. I’ll tell you what you did to win me over.” She tugs in a breath and licks her lips. “It was how you didn’t chastise, tease, or punish me for getting emotional and ruining our meal. Silly for such a small thing to be an impetus for this, isn’t it? But nobody has ever been so compassionate with me like you were. Behaving in that way would have triggered a negative response from... you know who. Your reaction was so comforting. One of the many ways you’ve earned my trust. And I wanted to repay that in a way I could without sacrificing all my independence.”

Although she likely doesn’t intend for this conversation to circle to my earlier suggestion, her comments slingshot me back there.

“Yet moving in with me, retiring, or marriage would require a sacrifice like that, wouldn’t it?”

She nods solemnly. “Until recently, I thought it was too big of a risk.”

“And now?”

“The more moments we have like this, the more I see it differently. Even in this single conversation, I feel better about it. I was ready to storm out of here when you suggested moving in with you. And now, it’s not as scary a prospect. I don’t say that to get your hopes up. I’m still unsure if I’ll ever get where you want me to be.” She flutters her lashes, blinking away the pooling moisture. “Nonetheless, I’m beginning to want more with you.”

She shakes her head, eyes slamming shut. “No, that’s not right.” Her eyes open, and a renewed strength shines through them. “I’ve always wanted more with you. I’m beginning to feel strong enough to accept it.”

“In other words, someday’s finally on the horizon.”

Love dances vibrantly in her smile and lights up her eyes. “Someday has never been closer.”

Chapter25

Daylight's burning

Big Al

On today’s episode ofnew developments surprising nobody, it turns out there’s no record of anyone named Katia Bugrov living in the state of Florida.

Not now.

And not even a few years ago when Leo’s friend West worked for the cartel and interacted with her.

As we all suspected from the moment we saw the name on the board, it’s an alias Katia Sergeyevich used when doing business on behalf of Lenkov. Or on behalf of her father, the architect—Alexei Bugrov. Given she used his fake last name, I’m inclined to believe it’s the latter.

We already know Alexei is part of the bratva. He’s trying to take it down from within. It’s impossible to think he’s kept his hands clean for however long he’s been intertwined with Lenkov.

But who the fuck is he?

Why does he want to take down Lenkov?

More importantly, how do we convince him to meet with us or at least drop the bullshit riddles? He must realize we could finish this far more efficiently if he cooperated with us.

Mia raises her hand, cutting off the discussion around the conference room table. “Honest question here. Are we planning to obsess to this extent over every single communication we have with this man? I’d like to manage my expectations for productivity. At this rate, I’ll be in a retirement home before Lenkov is taken down. Tomer and Lettie’s children will have taken over for us all.”

Her sarcastic reminder of Lettie’s pregnancy news brings a swirling of excitement into my chest. I didn’t have a chance to see Lettie as an infant or a toddler. Or even a precocious young girl. But I’ll know my grandchild.

Fluffy feelings aside, Mia’s point stands, though. And it’s valid as fuck.

She’s typed and backspaced for the better part of twenty minutes while she, Shep, Tomer, Klein, and I debated our reply. The back and forth with the architect is causing a rapidly accelerating descent into madness. His riddles are exhausting.

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