I’m relieved.
I’m relieved he took that burden from me.
“He protected me,” I say quietly.
“What?”
“Sergei. He protected me from having to deal with it.”
“You care about him,” Anton says.
“I don’t know what I feel. He’s infuriating. Controlling. He makes decisions for me and doesn’t apologize for it.”
“But?”
“But he keeps me safe.”
“That’s what a good husband does.”
“I have to go,” I say abruptly.
He offers a small smile. “What can I do?”
“I need names. I need to know who’s backing me and who isn’t.”
“Give me a week.”
“Thank you, Anton.”
He struggles to get to his feet. “Be safe. Yuri wants you dead. Now that his business has been taken offline, he’s going to be even more volatile.”
“Yuri was running the organ ring?”
“I’ve heard he’s increased the business since his arrival. And now he’s going to be scrambling.”
“I understand. I’ll be careful.”
He gives me a hug.
I step out of the apartment. Nelson sees Anton and nods once in the universal male hello.
I can’t believe Anton knew all this time and never told me. They were all watching out for me. All this time I had no idea I had a whole team of guardian angels sent by my mother.
28
Sergei
I’m in my office when Nelson’s text comes through.
She knows about the warehouse. Heard it from Anton. She’s calm. Too calm.
Here we go.
I knew this was coming. The fire made the news this morning—industrial accident, no casualties reported, investigation pending. The usual script when something needs to disappear quietly.
I hear the front door open. She doesn’t go upstairs. She’s coming straight for me.
I stand and pour myself a scotch, then pour a second and set it on the desk. Waiting.