AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Robbie took her to New Jersey, but?—”
“But what?” Maybe I’ll need to get my ass up sooner if something has gone wrong.
“He took her to Ricci, not the safehouse.” He watches me, and I get the feeling he’s assessing. Have I made myself look inept by working with the Mafia? I trust Artyom and his brother Robbie, but when word gets out, my other men might question my leadership.
I’d accused Igor of the same when he appeared to make a deal with Niko and Donovan. The one advantage I have is that everyone knows I was working with them in the FBI.
“Good. Let them deal with her. She fucking shot me.” I’m a dick for acting like she’s more trouble than she’s worth, but I can’t risk Artyom or any of my men questioning me at this time. Right now, my mountain home is torched and I’m laid up, all signs of weakness.
“What’s the damage?” I ask.
“Beyond your house, we lost two. Jacob and Eric. But we got six of theirs.”
I hate having lost men. Two good, loyal men. “Make sure their families are taken care of.”
“Already on it.”
“We need to get this shit done. Babichev needs to be gone at whatever the cost. Anyone who brings me his head will be rewarded. Pass that along, will you?”
“Anyone? Want this just with Bratva or beyond?” Artyom was asking if I wanted to let Mafia, mercenaries, and assassins know of my desire to rid the world of Babichev.
“Anyone. Everyone. I want that fucker dead.”
“I’ll pass it along. What is your plan right now?”
“I need to get to New York.” I need to check in with Niko and Donovan. I don’t like admitting I need help, but considering I’d been there for both of them when Don Abate and Don Fiori were fucking with them, I figure they owe me.
Imanage to make it a day before I can’t take it anymore and I need to get my ass in gear. Artyom and my men have salvaged money and guns from the safe, the only item having survived the fire. I hand over a nice wad of cash to Dr. Patterson as a thank you. He gives me some antibiotics just in case I need them.
Once free and Artyom is driving me south, I make a call to my contact at the FBI to make arrangements for Kate. Through him, a bank account is opened for her, and I fill it with two million dollars. Then I call Niko for a meeting. He indicates that he’ll be in New Jersey with Donovan. Knowing Kate is there makes me hesitate. It’s time to break all ties with her. She’s endured enough. She still needs protection, but at least with Donovan, she can see Lucy and Elena.
As Artyom drives us to New Jersey, as I make plans to make sure Babichev is terminated along with anyone who still wants to follow him or seek revenge on me.
“All his men have scurried for cover,” Artyom tells me. “I think their failure to get you and the woman has made them uncertain of Babichev.”
“Good.”
“Two have made contact with us, but…” He doesn’t finish, and I know that the two have been killed. We’re not in a place right now to trust anyone who just tried to kill me and mine.
“His army is dwindling.”
“Yes, although it’s not enough to not be vigilant. They’re regrouping now. We’ve heard rumors that Babichev was wounded… worse than you, but not dead, and he’ll likely survive.”
That gives me time to regroup myself.
When we arrive at Donovan’s home, I take a few painkillers to dull the fire in my side and allow me to stand up straight as I walk in.
“He lives,” Donovan quips as he opens the door for me.
I’m not in the mood for his jokes, but I give him a har-har. “Is Niko here yet?”
“Yep. In my office.”
“Quite a feat, moving this meeting here instead of Niko’s,” I say. “You must be getting big for your britches.”
Donovan snorts and pats me on the back. “It’s Lucy with the big britches. She’s the queen, you know. Besides, she figured you might want to check that Kate is okay. The woman is beside herself for shooting you.”
Donovan smirks, and I know he’s thinking of some snarky joke to say about my getting shot by her. I send him a look to tell him I’m not in the mood.
