Page 12 of Say My Name

I cross my arms over my chest. “What do you mean?”

“Well, she seems pure or something.”He snags a piece of bacon from the plate Greer places on the counter.

Greer smacks his hand. “Brunch is ready. Let’s head outside.” She ushers us all out of the kitchen, trying to lighten the mood as she places dishes in each of our hands to assist her in carrying the food outside.My sister’s done a complete spread—French toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, fruit, even chicken salad on croissants—and it’s amazing how she can pull it all together. I’m a train wreck in the kitchen and it’s why I employ a personal chef to do the cooking. Most nights, I eat at the club. Alone.

Roman pulls out the chair for Greer, and she takes a seat, thanking him. Once we’re all settled, I glance around the table, thanking the universe that I have these people in my life.

The Thorne twins grew up down the street from us. They stayed at our house more than their own. I don’t blame them. If I had their mother, I would’ve never stayed home either.

Isn’t it funny? I had the greatest mother in the world, but she checked out of life early and committed suicide. Whereas the twins had a shit mom who didn’t care if they were breathing and she’s still around, healthy as an ox.

Life’s unfair in those kinds of ways.

Ledger and Roman have had my back for as long as I can remember, and there’s not a damn thing I wouldn’t do for the two of them.

After Mom died, and my father was too busy to care for us properly, I took on the responsibility of caring for Greer. She was fourteen and could pretty much take care of herself, but I still watched over her. She’s thirty-two, only three years younger than me, and she’s still the same way. Yet, I still feel that older-brother need to protect her.

Perhaps because I couldn’t protect my mother.

“I heard your office is taking on a big case,” Roman says to Greer, snapping me back to the present.

Greer scoops some scrambled eggs onto her plate. “Mikhail Popov. He’s charged with killing Sven Kuzmin. Have any of you heard of it?”

I know the trial they’re talking about, but not the details.

“Russian mob stuff?” Ledger asks.

Greer nods. “I’m the lead council, and it’s a sticky situation. The D.A. is putting on the pressure to get him convicted and into the system. I’m not sure who’s gunning for him, but I know Mikhail worked for Igor Ivanov.”

My chest sinks at the sound of that man’s name. “There’s a major war happening between the Ivanov family and the Chekov family.”

“Didn’t Sven Kuzmin work for Yuri?” Roman asks.

I nod. “I think so.” Yuri Chekov runs the Chekov mob family and is an acquaintance of mine. I don’t normally deal with Russian mob bosses, but Yuri’s sons are members, and I always treat my members well.

“It’s a tough case. Mikhail shot Sven at point-blank range. Only one witness and hopefully that witness makes it to trial,” Greer says, as she butters her toast with shaky hands.

We all notice.

“Are you ok?” Roman asks her with more seriousness in his tone than I’m accustomed to from him. “I’d hate for you to be caught up in some mafia shit.”

Greer smiles reassuringly. “I’ll be fine.”

Suddenly, my nerves are on edge. I don’t think I’m buying what she’s selling. “Are you sure?” I don’t wait for her answer and fish my phone from my jeans pocket. I swipe my screen on and pull up Brandon, who’s in charge of security at the club, telling him to put two men on my sister. Just to make sure she’s safe. “I texted Brandon. He said he’ll put Mikey and Ronnie to watch over you.”

“No, really, it’s ok.” She tries to shoo away my concern, but I don’t buy it.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Roman says, his eyes trained on Greer.

“I’ll have a chat with Yuri to see what he knows about the case,” I say.

Greer shakes her head. “Don’t do that for me. You already have so much turmoil with Club Greed. I promise you; I’ll be fine.”

“I should talk to Yuri anyway, so I can ask him about the murders.”

“You think he might know something?” Ledger asks me.

I shrug. “It couldn’t hurt. I think we should do our own investigation, because cops are unreliable.”

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