Page 141 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

“I’ve never let you down. I’ve never blown cover, I’ve never fumbled a case. I’m the best you have.”

I silently meet her eyes. She seems to buckle a little, sensing what I’m saying without saying it. She lowers herself back on the sofa, keeping her eyes on me.

“Rob was a different situation. And he isn’t a factor anymore.”

“So you’ve been saying,” I say. “But the fact is that you haven’t been the same since then. Tell me the truth: do you honestly love this job as much as you used to?”

“I… I don’t know,” she says, sagging forward.

“If you don’t know, then that’s your answer,” I say. “I’m not doing this to be cruel, Jennifer. I’m doing it out of mercy.”

She takes a deep breath. “I don’t know what I would even do, Aleks. This is who I am.”

“You’ll still be in the game. Just not as a spy.”

She looks up sharply. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t want you in the shadows anymore, Jennifer. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want you at my side.”

She frowns and glances at Demyan. “You mean…?”

“I’m going to be traveling back and forth from the Midwest,” Demyan explains softly. “My daughter’s there now, and I want to be able to spend time with her.”

“And,” I chime in, “while Demyan is away, I need someone to rely on.”

“Like… a Vor?” she asks tentatively.

“Exactly like that.”

“The rules say women can’t be inner circle.”

“Fuck the rules,” I snort. “I’m the don. I’m gonna make my own rules.”

She stares at me as though I’m speaking a foreign language. “You’re serious about this. You’re actually serious.”

“Are you up for the challenge?”

“What challenge? Using my own name instead of a fake one?” she ponders in amazement. “Sleeping with men because I want to, not just because I’m trying to manipulate them? Not taking my clothes off just to cause a distraction? Yeah, I think I am ready for all that.”

I can see Jennifer coming alive at the idea. Being my spy is all she’s ever known, but actually being part of the world, living her own life… it’s clearly something she’s more than ready to consider.

“Thank you,” she says softly. “This… It means a lot to me.” She shakes her head in disbelief. “I’m gonna start over.”

“We have to finish this job first,” I point out.

She smiles. “End of the week, remember, Aleks? That was your boast.”

“I don’t boast. I promise.”

“You understand what this means though, don’t you?” Demyan asks. “You’ll have to decide what you’re going to do about her.”

“I’ve already decided what I’m going to do about her.”

Both Jennifer and Demyan look shocked. He speaks up first. “Aleks, brother… are you sure?”

I nod. “This is the Bratva. Only blood can answer for blood.”

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