Page 91 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

“He was trying to make contact. He would have found a way to do that with or without you.”

“She doesn’t even really need security," she says, changing tack. "This is her brother we're talking about. Rob would never hurt her.”

“But Hargrove might. And as long as Robert is in his pocket, I need to play it safe.”

There's a long pause. Once Jennifer realizes there is no way out, she sighs. “What do you want me to say to him?”

"Nothing, if you don’t want to. That’s entirely up to you.”

“Great. Very helpful. This is going to be a fucking nightmare.”

“Be here at twelve tomorrow. The car will take you both to the restaurant together.”

“Which restaurant?”

“Some Italian place in the city."

“Giovanni's,” she breathes. “It was their parents’ favorite restaurant. I think it’s where they got engaged.”

It strikes me how much family history she’s been privy to. How much she’s still emotionally invested in the Lawrence tribe.

“You should have taken me up on my offer,” I say. “I gave you an out so you could be with him.”

“And I appreciate it. But we were doomed from the moment I accepted the job.”

“There’s no such thing as doom, Jennifer. Or fate, or predestination, or any of that bullshit. The world is what we make it. If you don’t like it, remake it.”

“Did you read that on a fortune cookie?” she snaps. “Forget it. If he kills me tomorrow… well, I’ll probably deserve it.”

“He’s not going to lift a finger against you or Olivia. That’s why I’m sending you.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it,” she grumbles. “How is Olivia, anyway?”

“Sad about her mother. Pissed at me.”

“Is that my fault?”

“It’s not not your fault.”

“So maybe you should send someone else tomorrow,” Jennifer says. “She probably doesn’t want to see me.”

“Nice try,” I laugh. “But she’s only acting out of insecurity. She feels threatened by our relationship. She has no idea I want to strangle you half the time.”

“The feeling is mutual. Particularly right now.”

I ignore her petulance. “She thinks we’re on the inside of something. And she’s right—we’re inside the Bratva, and there is no room for her here.”

“Isn’t there? Surely we can find space. The girl picked you over her family, for Christ’s sake.”

“A fact everyone seems fond of reminding me. She chose the baby, not me.”

“Yourbaby,” Jennifer points out. “Blood is thicker than water, Aleks. Remember? You told me that.”

“No, the Bible told you that. Everyone and their fucking mother says it.”

“I know, but when you say it, it’s different. You’re not talking about the blood in your veins, but the blood you spill alongside each other, the pain you share—that’s what makes family. Not what your DNA tests say. That resonated with me.”

“Then you’re welcome. I’ll send along an invoice for my services.”

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