Page 31 of Alexei (Belles & Mobsters 4)

Bella’s eyes darted to the man standing next to her husband. Compared to us, Nico appeared like a clean cut businessman. He hid his ruthless and obsessive nature well.

“I didn’t ask her,” she finally answered. “But I get a sense she hasn’t told him about whatever she wants to talk to you about.”

“That will go over well,” I said wryly.

I knew how Vasili would act if Bella said something to another man rather than him. I knew how I would. And I damn well knew Nico would react the same way.

“Let me greet him. And at least give him a heads up,” I suggested. Bella nodded her head in agreement. Besides, I had an agent to work with and getting shot by Morrelli would interrupt those plans.

“Where is Adrian?” I asked, not seeing Tatiana’s husband anywhere.

“He had some kind of security emergency. You just missed him.” I nodded. He was a workaholic, so no surprise there.

I headed toward my brothers, Raphael, and Nico.

Nico was on vacation and Raphael came to visit his half-sister. My full-blooded sister. That’s right, the same womb made us full-blooded siblings. Raphael wasn’t so fortunate.

“Another fucking hour and you’d have missed the whole event,” Sasha muttered. “That busy stalking?”

I didn’t bother answering him and instead flipped him the bird.

“Nico. Raphael.” I leaned over and gave a high five to my two year old nephew. “Nikola, my man.”

He smacked his little hand against my big palm. His speech was slightly delayed and he rarely uttered words. If one of the families that took care of me when I was a kid was to be believed, I had had the same problem. I spoke my first word well after my third birthday. I assured Bella little Nikola would be fine.

He grinned and my chest squeezed. He was so small and innocent, the worry that someone would get their hands on him, a constant worry in the back of my mind. Ivan’s threat made that worry tenfold.

Why would anyone want kids? It was like having a heart attack on a daily basis.

I turned my attention to little Marietta and brushed my fingers across her chubby cheeks. She didn’t even stir. Sleepy head that one. When Nikola was that age, he’d wake up to a fly buzzing in the air. Not this one. She’d sleep through an invasion.

“Nico, your wife wants to talk to me,” I told Morrelli, my eyes still on my niece. Man, what I wouldn’t give to be able to sleep peacefully like that. I slept four hours a night at most. Memories always plagued me in the form of nightmares. I kept them at bay during the day, for the most part, but at night, they haunted me.

But no matter what, I’d ensure nothing disturbed my nephew’s and niece’s sleep. They wouldn’t live through what I had, or even Vasili and Sasha. Every single person in this circle lived through some shit. We’d protect the little ones so they’d never experience that kind of shit.

“What about?” I sensed tension in his voice.

I met his gaze, the gray of the wolf. It wasn’t the only reason they called him The Wolf.

“Ivan the Great according to your daughters,” I muttered dryly. Though I suspected it might be Ivan Petrov she wanted to talk about but there was no sense in alarming Nico until I got my confirmation. “Will it be a problem?”

His eyes darted to his wife who was still laughing with Tatiana, Nico’s mother, and Bella. Whatever they were talking about had all four of them on the verge of tears and holding their bellies.

“No, but I want to know what she says.”

I nodded. I expected nothing less.

“Do we have all the information on Agent Ashford?” Vasili asked.

“I bet he has more than just information,” Sasha blurted, smirking.

“You know her father is Senator Ashford. Rumors are he might run for president,” I told Vasili, ignoring Sasha. “Her brothers are the Billionaire Kings.”

“Get the fuck out,” Sasha drawled, though he didn’t sound terribly impressed. “The girl is from elite society and she settled for a government salary. I don’t know if I should be impressed or disappointed. Maybe she’s a nutcase like you, Alexei.”

Cutting his tongue out sounded more and more appealing.

“Damn, that name rings a bell,” Raphael added pensively. “Not the senator’s political career. I think he had some business with my old man at one point. Though I know Byron. He and his brothers are tough in business, but everything they touch turns to gold. Byron helped me out on a few real estate transactions in Miami, though I’m sure he made out with a hefty profit.”

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