Page 140 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

My mother frowns. “What do you mean?”

“It was your plan to begin with,” I explain. “You were the one that suggested a meeting between Hargrove and me to iron out our little dispute.”

Her mouth falls open. “You’re going to ambush him? Take him out?”

“Precisely.”

She looks stunned. “Has the meeting been set yet?”

“No,” I reply. “I leave that up to you. See, Mother? Is there better proof that I trust you than relying on you to make this happen?”

She gives me a tentative smile. “I’ll have my work cut out for me.”

“I know he’s not very happy with you at the moment, but you’re nothing if not persuasive.”

She smiles. “I’ll make sure he agrees.”

“See that you do.”

She stands up and smooths down her blouse. In theory, it’s a delicate, feminine gesture. But she moves more like a soldier readying their armor for battle. I admire the tenacity.

Without another word, she whisks out of the room, bristling with purpose.

As soon as she’s gone, Jennifer locks the door and turns back to Demyan and me. “Are we sure this is going to work?”

“The first part worked out perfectly,” I point out.

“We don’t know what his next move will be,” Jennifer says. “He could do anything now.”

I shrug. “I can handle it. All we have to do is watch.”

“Aleks—”

“Don’t,” I say, cutting her off. “We needed to get the ball rolling. With my mother on the job, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”

She sits down next to Demyan looking uneasy. “I’m just saying, Hargrove shouldn’t be underestimated.”

“I’m not underestimating anyone. We’re in the home stretch, Jennifer. Don’t look so grim.”

She crosses and uncrosses her legs. I can see the growing restlessness in her. Apparently, Demyan can, too. We exchange a glance before he reaches out and puts his hand on her arm.

“Hey,” he says. “We’ve got you, you know?”

She knocks his hand off and glares at him. “You think I’m worried about myself?”

“No,” he says. “But I do think, after this mission, you need to take a break.”

“A break? I don’t—You don’t—” She turns to me. “Aleks, do you feel that way, too?”

All I do is nod once.

Jennifer jerks up to her feet, incensed. “Shut up. You’re pulling me out after this? You’re actually gonna—”

“You’ve done your service and then some, Jennifer,” I say gently. “It’s time to retire.”

“Retire?” she exclaims, getting even more worked up. “Retiring isn’t a ‘break.’ You want me to hang up my hat for good?”

“I—”

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