Page 37 of Betrayed By the Mafia

“Media are saying these latest bombings are terrorist attacks, and they are hunting down the ones responsible. You and I, and our families, know this isn’t radicals. This is someone who is targeting your family.”

“Someone who has a lot to gain, especially if the Volkovs and Sorvinos either start fighting amongst themselves or simply fall away slowly.” I raise an eyebrow. I can see he knows what I’m implying.

“That someone is playing a dangerous game.” He straightens his tie, not breaking eye contact. “Luckily, my family has a truce with both the major families. I have no reason to harm them.”

I don’t believe him at all, but I also don’t suspect him. He’s handsome and charming, but I’m on guard. I give him a warm smile. “Well, whoever hurt me, is certainly going to have to deal with Evgenii. He doesn’t like it when people attack me.”

“Like a faithful little guard dog,” Mikhail chuckles before standing up. He knows he isn’t going to dominate me.

“I hope you make a speedy recovery, Shirley.” I nod and smile as he leaves before I relax.

Chapter 20 - Evgenii

I’m ordering what feels like my hundredth cup of coffee. I stand at the cart waiting, annoyed that Shirley thinks speaking to Mikhail is okay. I have one of my guards stationed close to her room, keeping an eye on her in case he tries to hurt her again.

“Evgenii,” I glance over my shoulder to the right to see my sister walking toward me, waving her hand. I look at the makeshift barrister. “Double my order.”

I turn as Natalia comes up to me and hugs me. “How is Shirley? I heard from the guards that there was an explosion.”

“She’s fine,” I say grumpily, and at her questioning look, I add, “Mikhail fucking Gobulev is busy talking to her right now.”

“Isn’t that who you previously suspected of interfering with the family business?” she asks, tilting her head to the side.

I glance at her curiously, “How do you know that?”

“You talk loudly on the phone,” she grins. “But seriously, if it’s that guy, she can’t be talking to him. He shouldn’t be anywhere near Shirley. I thought you two were giving it a try?”

I pay the barrister and hand her a cup of coffee. “I can’t control who she sees and speaks to, it’ll just make me look controlling, and she won’t want anything to do with me.”

“Well, I’m here now. We have an excuse to go to her room because I want to say hey,” she smiles brightly. “I’d love to meet my big brother's girlfriend.”

I roll my eyes. “Surely you’ve met before.”

She shakes her head. “Nope, and that’s shitty of you. You should have introduced me ages ago.”

I pause, and my mind briefly realizes that Natalia is never at church with us or at family lunches, and she doesn’t go to any events with us. I know she went to school with Kira and Tori but probably doesn’t know the rest of the family because they weren’t exactly friends. “Natalia, what do you do all day?”

“Ivan is busy helping me set up a business I can run so that I can get my own house or apartment and get on my feet and settled here in New York.” She sips her coffee. “So, are we going or not?”

I nod, resisting the urge to roll my eyes at my very private sister. I lead her back to Shirley’s room. Two doors away, my guard stops me. “He left. Nothing happened. They didn’t get too close or anything. In fact, she seemed to be giving him a hard time. Very stern.”

I smirk. “That’s my girl. Come, Nat.”

For the third time today, I knock softly on Shirley’s room door. “Hey,” I say quietly. “Uh…I’m sorry about earlier, but guess what?”

Shirley looks at me curiously as I continue, “My baby sister Natalia came to wish you well and meet you.”

Shirley looks slightly embarrassed and adjusts her hospital gown. “Oh, okay.”

Nat sticks her head in through the door. “Hey. Evgenii, move.” She forces her way between me and the door and walks over to Shirley, holding out her hand. “Everyone calls me Nat.”

“Hi, Nat, I’m Shirley,” she gives my sister a small smile, and I move further into the room, holding out the cup of coffee. “Want some?”

Shirley takes it gratefully. “Thanks. So, the doctor was here. He says I can go home tomorrow.”

I smile. “That’s good news, but I want you to promise you’ll rest. You were flung quite far and hard.”

Nat hushes me. “She knows she must rest. Shirley, tell me about the West Coast. It sounds fabulous.”

---