Page 15 of Bluff

“My family?” Aleksei says.

I wrap an arm around Ainsley’s waist as she moves back to my side. I sit behind my desk, pulling her onto my lap and caging her in, while I work on my computer. I need her close to me. I’m hoping she’ll understand that when I said I was “taking one for the team,” I was upset and didn’t want my brats to know I was really into her.

I pull up the GPS locator for the necklace Aleksei was supposed to give Lyric. I need to get mine on Ainsley so I can track her if necessary.

“Did you put the necklace on her?” I ask Aleksei. I look up when he doesn’t respond. “Aleksei?” I raise my voice.

“What?” he snaps.

I glance at my screen. “I have her!”

I stand up and set Ainsley back in my chair. I’m going to help him get his wife back.

As I walk to the door, I look at Damir, who is standing right outside my office. “Watch her. She’s not to leave this building. Take her to my condo,” I order him and the other soldiers.

“No, I want to go.” Ainsley jumps up. “I caused this. Please, Mikhail,” she begs.

I pause. She’s safest with me, and I know she won’t relax until she’s sure her sister is okay.

“Fine.” I hold out my hand, and she places her small, soft one in mine.

“Let’s go.” Andrei stands in the doorway with more soldiers behind him. “Dmitri isn’t coming. I’ve ordered him to stay with his wife.”

We head down to the alley, where the SUV waits. After settling Ainsley in the back with Andrei, I slide into the driver’s seat, and Alek climbs into the passenger side.

“What’s this about a family?” he finally asks Ainsley.

She scoffs. “Now you want to know? Lyric found your father’s girlfriend and her daughter. She looks a lot like you.” She pauses for a moment. “My sister loved you so much, she married you knowing you didn’t love her. I had to get her away before you really broke her. I thought she would be safe.” She leans her head against the window, worry evident all over her body.

“I won’t tell you my feelings as your sister gets to know them first. Where did she think your friend was taking her? She wasn’t running from me?” Aleksei keeps questioning her.

Ainsley sits up straight and turns to look at him.

“No, she wasn’t running. She thought we were going to Laughlin. You should’ve told her before about your feelings.”

I turn into the storage unit facility where her tracker is coming from. Aleksei looks around, confused, not understanding why we aren’t going to Giovanni’s house. She was brought here after leaving his place. We all know what goes on in these units, and we need permission before entering. Andrei makes the call to Barone to inform him of our plan.

I pull around to the unit where Lyric’s tracker is pinging. Aleksei jumps out of the vehicle.

“Stay here,” I order Ainsley, and she nods, not fighting me. When I get out, Damir is standing at my door. “Don’t let her out of this vehicle.” He nods, and I lead the way behind Aleksei.

When I hear the gunshots, I take off running. I burst into the unit to find Lyric sitting on the floor, bleeding and crying. Aleksei is holding a bat, beating Giovanni with it over and over, yelling as he does.

“Take her out,” Andrei orders me, and I carefully lift her in my arms.

She yells for Aleksei, and he stops. He takes her from me and holds her, his body trembling.

I turn my back, giving them privacy while I make a call. I arrange to have this mess cleaned up as a favor to Barone.

When Barone shows up, Andrei tells him he needs to give up on Ainsley too. I agree to marry her within the next week and offer him my services. Using my computer skills for the Italians and offering the Irish a place at the table for a couple of big poker games is nothing compared to what Pakhan Vladimir asked of me.

Hours later, we’re finally home. Ainsley walks away from me and heads upstairs. It’s going to take a lot to convince her that I care for her. That I only keep pushing her away because of my fear of her being killed like my parents… or raped like my mother.

Chapter Six

AINSLEY

Yesterday was New Year’s Day, and I spent it with my sisters at Lennon’s house. Lyric forgave me and said she understood why I did what I did. She told me she and Aleksei are in love. I’m happy for them both.

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