Page 11 of Surrogate for the Bratva
“Just trust me, Maxim.” When I was set on a course there was no deterring me. “April will give me my child and Maria will care for him.” It was the perfect plan, and it was finally coming together. “Once she is pregnant, I can turn my focus to killing Voronov.”
A knock sounded on my door and immediately Maxim was on high alert. He moved to the door, standing where it would open to conceal his identity and nodded.
“Enter.”
Ivan entered the room and looked around, clocking the ways in and out of the room, and then he frowned. “I thought Maxim was with you, Boss?”
“I am,” Maxim answered but he never appeared.
Ivan gave a short nod and stood tall, hands clasped behind his back. “Voronov has been making his presence known. AtClub Omen, one of our restaurants and several of the whorehouses. He’s not being discreet about it either.”
I nodded. “He’s taunting me.” Good. It played right into my plans for him. “Keep an eye on him and let me know if he does anything disrespectful.”
“Yes, Boss.” Ivan turned on his heels and left as quickly as he’d come.
“I like him,” I told Maxim as he closed the door. “He listens well, and he gets the job done.”
“I agree.”
Another knock sounded and I arched a brow. “Have I spoken too soon? Come in,” I grumbled, tired of the interruptions.
This time it was Mikhail, and he looked nervous. “Ivan says we are not to handle Voronov.”
I stared at the young man who thought he could come into my office and question my orders.
“He will make the Romanov Bratva look a fool.” He was red in the face and his chest heaved with the supposed disrespect.
“You have a lot to learn Mikhail.”
“But Boss.”
“No more,” I shouted. “Do as you’re told.”
His nostrils flared and his face flamed red but after a long staredown, he left.
“He isn’t wrong,” Maxim offered when it was clear there would be no more interruptions.
“I know but I have a plan, and I will not be goaded into acting. Let Dmitry play the role of bully, thinking that he’s getting under my skin. It will make his death that much sweeter.” And I planned to savor it because his death would not be quick.
“Unless you have to.”
I nodded. “Unless I must.” But first I needed April to agree. And waiting was not my favorite pastime.
“Don’t do it,” Maxim advised.
“Don’t do what?”
“Avoid the temptation to call her and pressure her. If the answer was no, she might have answered by now.”
He had a point. “Maybe she’s waiting for you to return as you said you would.” I arched a brow hoping that he could read my mind and go get the answer I needed so that I could move forward with my plans.
With a dramatic sigh, Maxim rolled his eyes. “I will get your answer and leave Mikhail for your protection.”
I stood quickly. “Maybe I will go with you.”
Maxim stopped and stared at me. “That doesn’t help you keep your true identity hidden, does it?”
“I’ll stay in the car,” I shot back quickly. “With the tinted windows up. Of course.”
