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Story: Climbing Everest

“Did you find Dima?” I ask, the hopeful tone a little too obvious. I really shouldn’t be excited over the prospect of helping my guys commit patricide, but if anyone deserves it, it’s Dima Sidorov. “Did something happen during the meeting with Roman?”

Pretty sure I’m the only human on this planet who can get away with calling the Pakhan by his first name, but only because I’ve known him since birth and spent more time at his house than my own.

“No. But…Madd has a gift for you,” he says, that frown still in place.

Stretching my arm forward, I place the phone in his waiting hand. “If it’s a gift, why do you look so unhappy about it?”

“Because…because Iamunhappy about it,” he says, abandoning whatever he’d planned to say at first.

“So…where is it? Where is he?”

I haven’t seen Brix or Madd since I got home from my doctor’s appointment and shopping. The appointment…took less time than I anticipated. And I feel like I should have a conversation with them, but from the second I walked through the door, Kato has been acting off.

“He’ll come get you when he’s ready,” he says, his eyes glued to his phone again before he starts tapping his thumb across the screen rapidly.

“Is he…home?”

“He’s home.” After a few more seconds, he finally shoves his phone into the back pocket of his jeans. It’s odd to see him in jeans. Since I’ve been back home, I’ve seen him in those expensive silk suits, sweats, and naked.

But in jeans and the buttery soft sweater…damn. What had I done to attract the three most attractive men on this planet?

When my gaze finally raises from his thick thighs encased in denim, the bulge in his pants, the way the sweater accentuates his beautifully toned body, and up to his eyes…well, the jerk is smirking.

“You were checking me out,” he teases.

Finally, my Kato is back instead of the Don.

“I’m allowed to check out my husband,” I say with a shrug. “So…what am I supposed to do while I wait for Maddox to fetch me for my surprise?”

This time, when he chuckles the smile stretches on his face and causes the most adorable crinkles at the corners of his eyes. “I would suggest figuring out where you’re going to put all that shit you bought.”

Chapter 37

Everest

Imight have gone overboard.

Most of the bags and boxes were downstairs, but there are still far too many in my room. At least it’s currently my room.

The constant noise coming from down the hall is getting on my nerves, but apparently, my guys decided to bust down the walls between a spare room and Madd’s room to make a huge bedroom complete with an Alaskan king bed to fit all four of us.

I’ve got to be honest – I kind of love the thought of the four of us sleeping together every night, of feeling their body heat against me, of feeling as though I’m wrapped in this cocoon of muscles and strength.

Of having a bedroom that is ours, not one as impersonal as the one I’ve been using, not bouncing between rooms. No, just like a regular married couple, I’ll be sleeping beside my men every night for the rest of my life.

The wedding is less than eight days away since today is quickly passing, and I’m not at all nervous.

Or at least I’m not nervous about getting married. It’s literally nothing more than a technicality and a reason to wear the beautiful gown I chose to wear as I walked down the aisle.

Not to mention the amazing reception I’ve planned for after.

Kato might have started out with a big show of possession, but I’ve turned this animal into a full-blown monster since I took the reins.

I suppose I should be stressed, going over every last-minute detail, but that was why Kato had originally hired the event planner and why I added more members to the planning staff. The only thing I want to have to do that day is get my hair and makeup done, wear the gown, and show up to the church.

Honestly, the only anxiety or fear I feel is over the fact we have no idea where my father has gone. No one has heard from him or my mother since the night of my reemergence in Cedar Springs.

How the hell did he simply disappear without a single person seeing him? While Cedar Springs is fairly large, there are so many factions and groups that someone had to have at least seen which highway he took or which direction he was traveling.