We continued talking about possible outcomes for dealing with Ricardo and the remaining bosses, as well as the Mexicans. We ordered food while we kept talking. Misha and Andrei ran upstairs to make Sephie’s broth and get her antibiotic. She managed to eat a few bites of my food, but that’s all she wanted. During a lull in the conversation, Misha said in Russian, “I’m surprised you’re still awake, gazelle. Are you doing okay? Me and Andrei can go upstairs with you if you need to rest.”
“I’m okay, my adorable Russian guardian. At least for a little while longer,” Sephie said, smiling at him.
“How’s Martin?” Sephie asked Trino. “Why didn’t he come with you?” It was a seemingly innocent question, but I knew that Sephie rarely asked questions for no reason. I glanced at Misha, who got his usual faraway look that meant he was looking for Martin.
“Martin ha tes to travel, especially to the states. Especially in winter,” Trino said. He seemed slightly tense when he answered her, where he’d been completely relaxed before.
I noticed Andrei glance at Sephie. She said quietly, in Russian, “he’s lying.” Andrei nodded in agreement. Misha cleared his throat, signaling that he’d seen something but it was over. I glanced around the room, noticing the looks happening between Trino’s guys.
“Do you want me to pretend you’re telling the truth and let it drop or do you want to tell me what happened?” Sephie asked, inatter-of-factly.
Trino began cursing in Spanish. His guys were both amused and unsettled by Sephie’s question. One of Trino’s guys made the sign of the cross. He also 100% thinks Sephie is a witch. While he was cursing, Sephie asked Andrei, who was next to us on the couch, in Russian, “they’re disagreeing on how to handle the Mexicans, no?” He nodded his head in agreement.
Misha said in Russian, “he’s not if Colombia. I couldn’t see very clearly. I need Sephie or Andrei to see it clearer, but he’s not in Colombia.”
Sephie nodded her head, but didn’t say anything further. She was waiting to see what Trino wanted to do. When he didn’t answer, she instead asked another question. “Was Martin with you wher you took over or did he come after?”
“After. I took over by myself, basically,” Trino said.
She was quiet for a moment, like she was thinking of the right words to say. “You need to be careful, Trino. Martin has been loyal to you up until now, but this disagreement has caused a bigger divide between you than you realize. He thinks his solution is better, but he doesn’t understand the violence needed when dealing with certain people. It’s going to get him kiffed.”
I glanced at Trino’s guys again. More of them were now making the sign of the cross. Yep, they’re going to be scared of her from now on. Good. Trino looked shocked. “How…” he said, completely in shock.
“You would only be uncomfortable talking about him if you two had a disagreement. The only thing you could disagree on that is big enough to cause this much discomfort is the Mexicans,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“Told you,” Stephen said to Trino, winking at Sephie.
“Nice save, princess,” Ivan said in Russian.
“You’re right. Again. He thinks we can negotiate with the Mexicans. He doesn’t understand how they do business. They are not to be trusted. Ever. They understand violence, though. They’ve been quiet since I took over until Anthony and Lorenzo went to them,” Trino said. We could hear the anger in his voice.
“The Mexicans think they have a real shot at overthrowing you. Not sure what Lorenzo told them, but given that they’ve already made one attempt your life, they’ve been emboldened by whateve it was. They’re not going to give that up easily, which is why I think it will be easy for Sal to continue to stay in contact with them,” Sephie said.
Viktor cursed under his breath, then said in Russian, “I think there’s a connection between Ricardo and the Mexicans that I glossed over before. I need to go back and check, but I’m remembering seeing something.”
I nodded, saying, still in Russian, “we’ll look into it tomorrow. I don’t want to drag this out any longer tonight, for Sephie’s sake.” I could feel her getting tired, but she was still fighting it. Her ribs were starting to ache a little more than usual, which was a sign she’d been upright for too long.
“Remind me to always stay on your good side, Miha. I want to always be on your side,” Trino said, laughing somewhat nervously.
After Trino and his guys left, the guys went to their apartments, leaving Sephie and I to go to the penthouse alone. Once we were in the bedroom, 1 started to help her undress. She still struggled to get her jeans on and off easily with one hand. “Trino’s guys totally think you’re a witch now,” I said, laughing, I unbuttoned my shirt so I could put it on her for the night.
She laughed. “I might’ve enjoyed that a little too much. They were all so nervous. It’s too bad they don’t normally talk around me. I could’ve really creeped them out. Maybe I’ll scare Gus and Oscar next time,” she said, a devilish grin on her face.
“I am curious where Martin is if he’s not in Colombia. We’ll have to see what else Misha can see tomorrow,” I said, helping her into bed.
“I don’t think it’s going to be good news if he sees more,” she said quietly as she laid down on her good side.
“We’ll worry about it tomorrow. You need sleep, solnishko. You’ve been awake almost the entire day,” I said, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her as tight against me as I could. “It was a big day,” she said, yawning. I could feel her relax as she pressed her body closer to mine. Her breathing slowed and I heard her make her cooing noises as she drifted off to sleep almost immediately.
I woke the next morning to find she was facing me, still sound asleep. That’s progress if she can lie on her bad shoulder. I took a moment to watch her sleep. I’d missed being able to see her face when I first woke in the mornings. I brushed her curls from her face and felt her start to stir. I kissed her forehead, not really caring if she woke up yet. I’d happily lie here and watch her sleep. Twenty-one
It took her a few more minutes to finally wake up. Wi sweetly. Since she wasn’t ving on her good arm, sh touch. “I’ve missed this,” she said. opened her eyes, her gorgiou ched up and ran her fingers lights through my faria
“I’m surprised you’re lying on your had shoulder. And your the. It doesn’t hurt you? fated.
“Not unless I move too much. I don’t even remembe
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.