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“Neenee,” she squeals again.
“Asher, I’d love to stop and play with her, but I need to see Danil about something, and then I want to head back downtown.” I hand Jade back to her, who raises her arms to me. I stroke her face. “Later, Jadey.”
Jade starts to whine, and Asher rocks her. “It’s okay. She’s going through a phase. Danil isn’t in his office. He’s outside in the back.”
I hurry away before Jade can full-on bawl, though I hear her as I retreat. I feel a guilty tug at my heart. Perhaps there is one woman who has me wrapped around her finger.
I walk out of the back and see Danil sitting on the deck with a cigar and whiskey.
“You celebrating?” I ask.
“I just closed a million-dollar deal. I have reason to. Don’t tell Asher I’m smoking at home, though.” He takes a deep drag of his cigar. We need more businesses to front for money passing through. You’ll need to invest in some more properties, little brother.”
“This isn’t why I came to see you, Danil. This isn’t a social call. I just spoke to Kervyn.” I sit down opposite him. “A family is making a move on local butchers. They’ve beat up one of the owners, threatening him not to come to me. We’re going to get him to pay us for protection, but I need to know who the family is. The Pachecos just don’t feel right for this.”
“No, they’re more drugs and assassinations than beatdowns for family-owned stores. Okay, I can take a look into it for you. I’ll ask my informants.” He kills his cigar and sprays deodorant over himself.
I stand up. “She’ll still smell it.”
“Yes, but she’ll think it's from work,” he grins, getting up from his chair. “Do you want to stay for dinner? We’re having lamb shanks.”
“As tempting as that sounds, I’ve promised to do a round at the butchers today, and when I’m done there, I want to go home and sharpen some of my knives.”
“You and that knife collection is creepy as fuck,” Danil says. “Gives me goosies thinking about it.”
“Be thankful you’re not on the receiving side then.” I give him a deadpan expression before he chuckles and smacks me on the back.
“Oh, I am thankful I’m not.”
We walk inside, and Asher is now downstairs without Jade. She comes toward us and then frowns. “Have you been smoking?” she asks Danil.
“I have to go, guys. I’ll catch up with you at Mama’s house later this week.”
I slip out the front door as Danil tries to explain the situation. It amuses me how much he loves his woman. I would never let a woman change me like that.
I join traffic, and it’s flowing a lot more freely, coming from the neighborhood and going to the butchery. I park and go in, going around the counter while Roger helps someone.
As I walk into the back, I hear her say her name.
Elena Sokolov.
What? The mafia princess herself.
This is too good an opportunity to pass up.
Debbie calls for Roger and I go to the back. As he walks in, I grab him.
“Roger, I’ll give you free protection if you let me deal with this woman.”
“You don’t normally work the front, and she wants to talk to the owner,” Roger says hesitantly.
“I’ll make it worth your while,” I say. “Just trust me.”
Roger nods. “Okay, it’s all yours.” I don’t wear a hair net this time, but I wash my hands and put on an apron.
I take my knives and some cuts of meat, and I go to the front.
I lay them out on the counter in front of her and start slicing.
