Page 83 of Obsession of the Bratva

“That.”

“What?”

“That smile.”

My smile widened. I laughed and the sound surprised both of us, but mostly me. Vera shook her head.

“I know you don’t enjoy the violence, Nico.”

“Of course I don’t, Vera. But some things are more necessary than others.”

Another sigh escaped her mouth, and her expression turned softer and more vulnerable. “I just got you back. I don’t want to lose you again.”

Every protective instinct I possessed woke up simultaneously, and I moved around the table, pulling her into my lap. I ignored her half-hearted protest in trying to swat me away.

“Nico.”

“Listen carefully.”

She rolled her eyes, which wasn’t encouraging, but I continued.

“I’m not dying.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do. I absolutely do.”

She stared and then laughed despite herself.

“Your confidence is unbelievable.”

“It is one of my best qualities.”

“Or one of your worst.”

“Rude.”

A reluctant smile appeared. Success. I wrapped my arms tighter around her and continued to hold her, breathing in her scent. Memorizing the feeling. Because despite everything I’d told her, I understood her fear. I shared it. Losing her once had nearly destroyed me, and I wasn’t eager to repeat the experience.

“Now that you are done with breakfast, I am taking you back upstairs so you can rest. Doctor’s orders.”

She didn’t protest as I stood up with her still in my arms and took her directly to my bedroom. After tucking her in and leaving her there, I made my way downstairs to my office. My mind was finally back in work mode and I was thinking and calculating several things. I was reconstructing everything.

Adrian wasn’t smart enough to do this himself, which meant Manny had helped him, and that gave me a clear reason to attack both of them. My phone rang, and I looked at the screen. It was Kliment.

I answered immediately.

“Tell me something useful.”

My brother laughed. “Good afternoon to you too.”

“What did you find?”

“We’ve confirmed financial transfers.”

My attention sharpened instantly. “From?”

“Adrian to Manny. It seems as if these two started doing business together right about the time Vera’s engagement to Adrian was announced, which only means that Manny was using Vera as a pawn in his game to get allies, business, and money.”