I laughed. “They’re not as scary as they come across. But it is their job to be intimidating and they’re very good at their job, if we’re being honest here.”
“Very good,” she said, wide-eyed just before we met Ivan at the door of the office. He stepped to the side to let us walk in ahead of him. I let Giana walk in first as I grabbed Ivan’s arm and wrapped it around my shoulders. I slid my arm around his waist as we walked into the office. Adrik smirked at me when we walked into the office.
Giana sat beside Armando, smiling shyly at me with Ivan as we walked past her. I felt bad for her. I knew Ivan enjoyed intimidating people, but I also recognized there was a deeper purpose for his gruff exterior He was a complicated man, but I adored him despite his prickly exterior. I trusted his demons to expose Giana’s bad side, if there was one. I wasn’t going to stand in the way of that. If Armando was interested in her the way I thought he was, he deserved to have someone love him for him, not for his money and power.
It wasn’t long and someone knocked on the office door, dropping off two keys for Armando and Giana, telling them where their apartments were located. They were on the 5th floor, not far from Ms. Jackson and Mr. Turner. I hadn’t seen them since we got back.
“I can show them where their apartments are. I haven’t seen Ms. Jackson or Mr. Turner since we got back anyway. I want to stop by and say hi,” I said.
Adrik looked to me, smiling. He nodded his head, then looked to Viktor and Ivan. “One of you go with her.” He stood and pulled me to him, kissing my lips gently. “I’ll be here when you’re done.” He kissed my cheek, then whispered, “don’t be too long.”
I felt my cheeks flush. I smiled at him, noticing the spark in his ey
I looked to Viktor and Ivan. “Who’s coming with me?” I said dramatically.
They looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and both walked toward me. “We haven’t seen Ms. Jackson or Mr. Turner either,” Viktor said.
“Aww, Viktor. You’re all soft and nougaty too. I love it.”
We stepped off the elevator, turning in the opposite direction from Ms. Jackson and Mr. Turner’s apartments. Armando was talking, as usual. Giana was quietly listening to him. I think she was the only one who was listening to him. It made me smile.
“Here you are. Do you guys need anything? Are you hungry? We can have someone grab you some food,” I asked.
Armando looked to Giana, who nodded her head. I smiled at her. “What are your feelings on sandwiches that will change your life?” Viktor and Ivan chuckled behind me.
Armando looked at me, his eyebrows raised. I looked surprised. “Tell me you know about Vinny’s, Mando?” He shook his head no. I turned to Viktor and Ivan. “You guys don’t share the gift that is Vinny’s?” my hands on my hips, trying to fake outrage. “Well, uh, no. No, we don’t,” Viktor said.
“That’s fair. That’s totally fair. I’ll allow it.”
I turned back to Armando and Giana. “Given this is a special circumstance, you’re about to be allowed access into the inner sanctum of gastro-intestinal heaven. Prepare yourselves. This will, in fact, change your lives.”
Ivan laughed. “You should head up Vinny’s next marketing campaign.”
Sephie
We left Armando and Glana to relax. Viktor made arrangements for someone to pick up sandwiches for them. They could eat and relax the rest of the evening. We walked to the other side of the floor to Mr. Turner’s apartment. I knocked on his door and waited. No answer. I knocked one more time. I looked at Viktor, “What time is it?” “5:50,” he said.
“He should be home by now,” I said, somewhat perplexed.
I walked across the hall to Ms. Jackson’s apartment and knocked bij her door. We heard movement inside, then she opened the door.
“Oh, my! Either I just died and you boys are here to escort me to the other side or you’re really standing there!” she exclaimed, clutching her chest.
I laughed. “It’s really us, Ms. Jackson. We’re real.” I walked to her, hugging her. I missed this woman.
“Get in here. You’re a sight for sore eyes. And I’m happy to see you too, child.” She laughed as she ushered us all in her apartment. When we walked in, Mr. Turner was sitting at her table.
“Miss Sephie! It’s better than wonderful to see you again!” He stood up to give me a hug. I always felt like he was the grandfather I never knew. I hugged him tightly. He offered his hand to Viktor and Ivan. “It’s good to see you both as well. I knew there had to be something to the reports that your boss had died. I just couldn’t believe it.”
Ivan nodded, cutting his eyes to me. “It did not go completely to plan, but ultimately it worked out.” He slid his arm around my shoulders as he was talking. I leaned my head against his shoulder. “Don’t make me have to kick your a ss in front of them,” I said under my breath. He coughed but held it together.
Ms. Jackson asked, “where have you guys been? You had to go somewhere to lay low for a while, I’m sure. Did you need people to believe he was dead?”
Viktor nodded, surprised at her response. They still didn’t know about her past. I would let her tell them about that, when and if she was ready. Even without her past as a spy, she was still a very astute woman There wasn’t much that got past her.
“But everyone is fine and alive? We haven’t lost any eye candy, have we? I have big plans for Bingo, you know.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.