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But she looks so miserable and guilty that I take her phone as it buzzes again and I answer. “She’ll call you back in two.”

Then I hang up.

“Demyan!”

“Erin. Go shop, spend as much as you’d like. Buy some outfits for the girls and for you. Not just wedding stuff. Andget a little outfit for the wedding for Sasha, too. And things for the beach.”

“He doesn’t need designer. I don’t need designer.”

“Did I say designer?”

“No.” She still looks slightly stricken.

“Lyubimaya,” I say softly, pulling her to her feet and kissing her cheek. “Shop, have fun. Take care of the bills. Alina knows where I keep the card. I’m glad to see you forming such a close bond with my sister. After all she’s been through… it means a lot to me.”

Erin shrugs. “Alina’s a great person; she’s not exactly hard to like.”

“Go make your call.”

She does and I go in the en suite to get ready. I’m not sure if I have to go out, but I shower and put on a suit, just in case.

Erin did a quick change and she’s still on the phone when I come out. “…I’ll get Sasha and Alina and I’ll pick you up. See you soon, Kara!”

When Sasha, Alina, and Erin leave, I go to my study.

I make the calls I need to and I have a meeting to collect some payments, but as I head out, my phone rings. It’s Ilya who clearly disobeyed orders and left his chair behind because he isn’t here and I can hear the sounds of a bar behind him.

Climbing into my car, I say, “Speak. What do you have?”

“Good news. I spoke to Niko's brother, Vince.”

“And?”

“He’s agreed to hand over evidence you need in order to prove that Sergio was double-crossing you.”

“And this from a guy who hasn’t been interested in the business?”

There’s a pause, and Ilya sighs, then switches to Russian. “Vince didn’t want the dirty dealings or the path Niko washeading on. And Rocco’s empire? That’s part of Niko’s. He gave it to him to run for him. It’s one of those secrets no one ever thinks to dig for. Seems you played nicely into Rocco’s hands. He wanted to move into Chicago. He’s playing nice right now until he can solidify with Sergio.”

“And me?”

“They were hoping to marry you off and take you for all you have.”

“And they’d have the biggest crime empire over half the states.”

“So this marriage was under false pretenses?”

“Yes.”

Inside, something starts to lift. “Can we trust Vince?”

“He wants to play things more like you. The cleaner, more modern way. But it was made clear that wasn’t how his family was, so he played their rules or was out. He took the out and waited, since he was promised it if his time came.”

“As long as he didn’t kill any family.”

“Obviously. This is good, Demyan. The fallouts so minimal all it’ll do is shake the snakes from our trees. And then whatever Sergio has is open season.”

“Fucking phenomenal work.” I’m pumped.