Page 48 of Alexei (Belles & Mobsters 4)

As if on cue, little Nikola wobbled into the room. Agent Ashford’s eyes darted to the little man and her expression softened. Though Vasili’s posture tensed and one wrong move could cost the beautiful FBI agent her life.

I shifted slightly. Vasili never made rash decisions. But when it came to his wife and children, he’d kill without a second thought or remorse. In his book, it was better to be safe than sorry. I’d regularly agree but we needed Agent Ashford to get to Ivan.

And she was mine.

My brother and I watched in amazement as Nikola’s eyes darted to the young woman and then wobbled to her with a big grin. The kid never went to strangers. Ever! His chubby little hands came to her knee. She shifted so her sidearm was on the opposite side, out of Nikola’s reach and lowered down.

“Hey buddy,” she greeted him, smiling. “What’s your name?”

“Nikola.” Vasili and I shared a fleeting glance. He spoke. And to a stranger. “Up.”

Agent Ashford chuckled. “Bossy little thing, aren’t you?”

“Up.”

Jesus Christ. Three words in a span of ten seconds. The agent’s eyes raised to meet Vasili’s gaze. “Yours?”

Vasili nodded. My brother was good at hiding his emotions, but I could tell it bothered him that his son spoke to a mere stranger. Nikola said more words to her in less than a minute than he did to his parents the entire month.

“If I pick you up,” she murmured softly to my nephew, “I won’t be able to see how big you are.”

Nikola tilted his head as if he was thinking about it. “And you are such a big boy.”

She must have won him over because little Nikola grinned, nodding eagerly. Surprisingly, Agent Ashford had a way with children. It had to have something to do with her friend’s kid. The background check had revealed she was his godmother.

“Okay, Nikola,” Vasili interrupted their session. “Come here.”

A soft smile spread on Aurora’s lips, reminding me of the little girl from twenty years ago. She winked at the little boy and nudged him gently towards his father. Then rose to her full height once Nikola wobbled over to Vasili.

“With all due respect, Mr. Nikolaev,” she started, keeping her voice soft, as if she worried about upsetting his son. But her eyes were firm on Vasili and me. “This is work, and I’ll keep my weapon on. It is nonnegotiable.” Her dark eyes glanced my way for a fraction of a second, wariness in them. I bet she recalled the way I beat the man down who dared touch her ass yesterday. Her brows furrowed, yet her eyes remained on me. “As I walked through the compound, there were at least ten guards I passed who carried their firearms. So forgive me for being a tad bit hesitant to leave myself defenseless.” Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. There was no mistaking that the jab was for me. “Especially considering your reputation.”

Girl had some balls, I’d give her that. Maybe that was the reason she appealed to me so much. Women usually wanted me to fuck them, choke them, make them come, but in all of them, there was an underlying fear.

In Aurora, I sensed the hesitancy but no fear.

My sister’s chuckle sounded behind her and Agent Ashford whirled around, coming face-to-face with Isabella.

“You are absolutely right,” my sister agreed with the agent. “And I see you keep your weapon secured. That is all I ask. Little Nikola tends to grab everything.” Agent Ashford kept her eyes on her, nodding lightly. “I’m Isabella Nikolaev. We saw each other for a fraction of a second yesterday,” she continued, extending her hand to Aurora. “I know my husband can be a stubborn ass, but it’s all for the little ones’ safety.”

Aurora accepted Isabella’s hand. “Aurora Ashford.”

“Hmmm, Ashford, Ashford,” Isabella murmured. “Why does that sound familiar?”

Agent Ashford shrugged her one shoulder. “It’s a common last name.”

“Her father is Senator Ashford,” Vasili explained at the same time, lifting little Nikola onto his shoulders. “Speculations are he might be our president one day.”

“Ah.” Isabella glanced back and forth between her husband and Agent Ashford. Annoyance flashed across Aurora’s expression but she quickly masked it, then looked straight at my brother.

“Why don’t we get straight to the point?” she commenced. “I have a long day ahead of me and you are wasting my time.”

Isabella stifled her laugh, her eyes shining with amusement. Usually, people just had to look at Vasili or I, and they shit their pants. Not Agent Ashford. She’d be good for what we had to do to get closer to Ivan.

“There is a way to get closer to the person we believe is responsible for kidnappings,” Vasili explained while I observed them.

“And where is the suspect?”

I gave her kudos for trying, but she wouldn’t get any info. Not until that motherfucker was dead without any chance of resurrection. She had the resources and I had the knowledge to get to him. So we’d have to work together to get him

---