Page 152 of Shattered Altar (Makarova Bratva Duet)

ALEKS

“It doesn’t look like he’s stopping the investigation after all,” Demyan informs me. “Our back channels say everyone is scoping us out—local PD, feds, everyone in between. The fucking Fish and Wildlife service probably has some agents detailed to our case. Two Bratva locations in particular have been flagged.”

“Not surprised,” I say. “She told him about the fucking scarf.”

“Question is, why didn’t you tell the owner of the scarf?” Demyan asks.

I roll my eyes. “She’s got enough on her plate.”

“In another world, the two of you would be the perfect couple, wouldn’t you?”

For the second time in as many seconds, I roll my eyes. “Moving on. Which spots got flagged?”

“Don’t duck the question. The warehouses on Daley Street and Scottswick.”

“They think I’m going to be hiding kidnapped women there?” I snort. “I’d have to be the world’s biggest idiot.”

“Are you surprised? You are the big, bad woman stealer.”

“Apparently, that’s a popular opinion.”

“Good thing you don’t care about other people’s opinions,” he says.

“True. But I care about the consequences that come from their opinions.”

“The ol’ Catch-22 in action. How are you going to deal with this?”

I lean back in my seat. “Put pressure on Lawrence. He’s going to have to cave at some point or else he’s compromising his sister’s safety.”

“Are you sure you can bring yourself to hurt her?” Demyan asks.

“I can bring myself to do anything,” I snap. Then I relent. “But I don’t need to hurt her. No, this is a psychological game. One I’m going to win.”

“She’s not the shrinking violet she seems to be though,” Demyan warns. “Girl’s got some spunk.”

“You noticed, have you?”

“Nothing gets past me, brother,” he says, tapping his forehead. “I’ve also noticed something else.”

I frown. “Do I even want to know?”

He gestures past me towards the lake. I can only see a sliver of it from our vantage point, but the wheels of my father’s wheelchair are shining bright under the slanted sunlight.

The person sitting next to him is not Mike, however. I can see her long brown hair flowing down her back. She’s on the grass beside him, her knees pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them.

They’re cute, I must admit. Charmingly wholesome.

As if to complete the picture, Olivia tips her head back and laughs.

“Look at that,” Demyan says with a wry smirk. “Your wife and your father are getting along. It’s enough to make a guy tear up.”

“Where the fuck is Mark?”

“You mean Mike? That handsome devil is probably hitting on Melissa.”

“Come again?” I growl.

Demyan cackles. “You really don’t pay attention to your staff, do you?”

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