Page 108 of Mountain Mens' Curvy Obsession

“A week sounds about right for us to get our bearings and assess our position,” Zoya says as we both look up. “I’m sure we will figure out a way to move forward.”

“I look forward to sitting at the table with you, Zoya,” Tatyana replies with a smile.

“You heard the ladies,” Lev barks. “Move out. Let the outside contractors do their jobs and head out the back door, unless you want to spend the rest of tonight getting every hole plugged by federal agents.”

Slowly and calmly, they follow Booker’s instructions and slither out through the back doors as Leo’s men are lined up against the wall. Chance and his partners secure every weapon and make sure it’s safe for the federal agents to come in, while I try to break out of my frozen state.

Nico keeps staring at Leo’s lifeless body, a puddle of blood spreading around him like a crimson aura.

“It’s really over, isn’t it?” he mutters as I sag against his side.

“Thanks to you, yes.”

32

Anya

It feels like a haze.

I don’t think I registered the moments in which Nico, Booker, and Chance got us out of that warehouse and back to the Asimov mansion—now cleared of all Sokolov men. Their former military friends patrol the grounds, while Sergei and Andrei instruct what’s left of my father’s fleet to prepare for a return to business under Zoya’s careful guidance.

Sitting in a chair in our tearoom, I rest for a while.

Hours pass as Nico handles what needs handling with the federal authorities, passing them everything they’ve collected in terms of evidence and information to help build an iron-clad case against the Sokolovs. My testimony will be the last nail in the coffin, and I am more than happy to give it, if it brings an end to everything.

“God, I’ve missed you,” Nico says as he walks into the tearoom.

He’s joined by Chance and Booker. They’ve removed their Kevlar and are back to their jeans and flannel shirts—my mountain men, returned to New York.

“And you’ve been sitting here, waiting, like a good girl.” Chance chuckles as he takes me into his arms as soon as I get up.

I lose myself in their embrace and shower each of them with ardent kisses, welcoming the warmth and affection. “I’m so sorry,” I tell them. “I had no idea what Breonna was up to. I really thought she was helping me.”

“It’s okay, baby,” Nico says, cupping my face in his hands. “We handled it. Maybe let us do things our way next time.”

“It’s not that I didn’t trust you—”

“You just didn’t want to see us get hurt; we figured,” Chance replies, his good mood back and a sparkle in his eyes.

We settle on the sofa, talking about what happened and what comes next. I find comfort and safety in their arms, in their presence, and for the first time in ages, I am tempted to believe there are better days ahead.

“We’re going to do our share in the courts,” Nico reminds us. “Testimonies, interviews, statements, the whole shebang.”

“I don’t mind. God, am I awful because I’m relieved that Leo is dead?” I mumble.

“No, not after what he did,” Nico says. “But it certainly gave me no pleasure to kill him.”

“I know,” I tell him. “But you saved me.”

He gives me a pained look. “I saw him reaching for his gun. I knew how spiteful he could be, how psychotic and unhinged, when he realized he couldn’t have his cake and eat it, too.”

“That fucker was ready to go scorched earth,” Booker mutters. “The world is better off without him, that’s for sure.”

“And the Sokolov syndicate will crumble without him,” Zoya says as she enters the room. “None of the other families will even consider them part of the Bratva anymore. As soon as you mentioned the presence of federal agents outside, Ivan Abramovic understood it was over for Leo Sokolov.”

Booker nods slowly. “Maybe that’s why he decided to go for his gun.”

“Death felt like his only option,” I whisper.

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