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Story: Climbing Everest

But this just adds more to my plate.

Really, though, I’m more than happy to work twenty-four/seven if it means tracking that son of a bitch down. It’s time to get our justice, and time for Everest to finally have a chanceto simply live her life without constantly fearing her father is somewhere out there waiting to finish the murder Viktor refused to commit.

The old Russian is another conversation I need to have with Everest. I highly doubt Viktor will swear his fealty to me and work for my organization, but the job is there if he wants it.

But taking a job with me, swearing his allegiance to me, would mean turning his back on his Pakhan. I don’t see that going over very well.

Brix’s expression turns…somber. That’s the only word I can put to it.

“She told Denis the doctor warned her she may never get pregnant or carry to full term. There’s a chance we won’t have the family we planned.”

“Nope. She said we can adopt ten kids if we want,” Maddox announces as he bounds into the room with Everest on his back like she did when we were kids. Except she used to almost always be on Brix’s back, since he was always a giant compared to everyone else.

I frown at Everest but she shrugs and winks at me. Maybe she was simply telling him what she thought he needed to hear. Maddox might be a little unhinged, but the psycho was also highly emotional and tended to love almost too hard.

Finding out one of his dreams of fatherhood was erased by that one night would have been a huge blow.

Got to be honest – I’m not exactly against adopting a gaggle of kids. We definitely have the resources and the space, not to mention enough love between the four of us.

One thing at a time, though.

Like marrying the love of my life.

Then tracking our enemy and ending this bullshit once and for all.

Wedding day. Fucking finally.

What Everest doesn’t know is that the three of us reserved a private cabin in Antigua for our honeymoon. We’re planning on ten days, but I’m not so naïve as to think something won’t come up while we’re gone.

If it does, I’ll just leave Everest with Madd and Brix while I deal with whatever fire comes up. No reason she shouldn’t enjoy the vacation.

The problem with not telling her is someone had to sneak around and pack the appropriate clothing and enough of it she won’t have to worry about having laundry sent out. I officially delegated that task to Ms. Galanos. She was in charge of making sure Everest would have everything she could possibly need while being away from home for ten days.

Feminine voices and giggling make their way through the house and straight to my heart. I’m still not Flora’s biggest fan, but it sounds so much like the old days with the way the two of them are gossiping and laughing.

Everest and Flora hired a whole team to get the two of them ready for the wedding and since I’m not comfortable with her being out where anyone can see her, there are currently half a dozen people in the living room and kitchen.

Some are doing the women’s hair, some doing their makeup. I think they’re getting their nails and toes done, too. There is even someone in the kitchen bringing snacks and drinks as needed.

And yes, I vetted every single one of them before I allowed any of them to so much as pull through the gate.

I should probably go shower and get ready myself but, unlike the women, all I have to do is comb my hair and don a suit after washing up. How long can that possibly take?

What amuses me is the fact Everest refused to allow any of the three of us to sleep with her last night. Since we couldn’t exactly sleep in different houses, that was the closest we could get to the wholenot seeing the bride before the weddingdeal.

We couldn’t sleep in bed with her, but she made sure to visit us in the living room last night and got spit roasted before heading off to sleep alone.

Oh, and we’re going to see her before we all climb into the same fucking SUV to head to the chapel.

My men should be there by now, sweeping the place for anything that could endanger my girl or our guests. And yes, we invited the Pakhan. I figured it would be rude not to considering his daughter is not only the maid of honor, but the only bridesmaid standing on Everest’s side.

I wanted to find her parents and those two fucks, Eriks and Mikhail, before today.

And failed. Not for lack of trying. I had every single person I could out there looking for them, even asked the Pakhan for help. Pretty sure my pride will be bruised for a while after making that phone call.

Thing is, though, even Roman Yegorov wants to see Dima underground. Not only did he fuck with the Pakhan’s only daughter’s best friend, but he went behind Roman’s back. Turns out not only did Roman not know about Dima’s extracurricular activities, but he wasn’t paying his Pakhan what was owed.

Big no no in any Family.