Page 57

"So, Arina," I went to speak, glancing away from the tinted window, "Is Sevan still not that great?" I asked, quoting her previous words.

Arina briefly pursed her lips together, glancing from me over to Sevan.

Who seemed to actually anticipate her answer.

"She is... okay," Arina hesitantly settled on the new word.

"I'll take that," Sevan determined as I leaned further into her side.

"That is great progress," I said contently, feeling beyond happy that Sevan and Arina somewhat get along better.

"It is okay progress," Arina corrected me, using the same word as before.

Which naturally made me shake my head at her, feeling an amused smile grow on my lips.

"Okay progress," I agreed with her as I glanced out of the tinted window that Sevan was already staring out of.

I furrowed my brows as we grew closer and closer to my compound, noticing a matte black Mercedes Sprinter van parked out front.

"Sevan—"

"Arina you should go show your grandfather your new books," Sevan suddenly cut me short.

And I could tell by the sudden look she was giving me, to not say a word about that sprinter van while Arina was around.

Which naturally makes my stomach twist very badly.

Who is here?

"I think he is asleep," Arina sighed, unbuckling her seatbelt as soon as the car came to a slow halt, "I hang out with you guys more."

I drew in a deep breath at her words, feeling my chest grow with warmth at her desire.

Meanwhile, my stomach also managed to grow with more knots.

"We have a little bit of business to handle first," Sevan told Arina, choosing her words very carefully, "But we'll hang out with you right after," she assured her.

And I swear I almost let out a sigh of relief when Arina nodded once, sliding out of the car when the driver opened her door.

I made sure to watch every step she took to the double front doors, sliding out of the backseat with Sevan.

Who instinctively secured her arm around my waist.

The air was colder than ever—especially with the night sky and flurries of snow blowing in the wind.

But as I leaned further into Sevan's side, I couldn't help but be surrounded by warmth—staring over at the running sprinter van.

"Who is that?" I asked her as she guided us over to the van.

I assume she knows this person given her openly walking us closer.

"Ettore," Sevan said, keeping her voice lowered as we approached the side of the van where two men in black stood.

And I couldn't help but analyze every inch of them.

Along with the van.

Which they immediately opened for us.

It was as nice as I expected to be inside.

Leather chairs, one big shiny black table toward the back, a starry ceiling, and dimmed blue LED lights lining the edges of the van.

I noticed the man immediately.

He was rather hard to miss, given his tall form and muscular arms.

He looked strongly Italian with his dark hair gelled back, wearing a black button-down and matching slacks.

He appeared rather young for the age I assumed him to be.

He has been in this position for many years.

"Cortez," the man spoke, flashing us his bright smile.

Which felt almost alarming.

This is his act.

Sevan would not seem so cautious otherwise.

"Ettore," Sevan spoke as we stepped up into the van.

"And Koslov," Ettore glanced to me as we approached the table he sat at, "I have heard... interesting things about you."

I hummed as I sat down in the chair Sevan motioned me to.

While she sat beside me in the other chair, which I noticed was closest to the exit.

"I have heard nothing about you," I suddenly said as I grew comfortable in the leather chair, "You have no valuable reputation," I added bluntly.

Which didn't seem to faze Ettore.

If anything...

He laughed?

Like a full-on hearty laugh.

I gasped slightly, feeling her hand briefly squeeze my thigh.

And as soon as I locked eyes with her, I knew she was signaling for me to stop.

She wants to handle this.

"She's funny Cortez—I see why she's appealing to you," Ettore said with a deep sigh, still smiling as he lifted the short glass to his lips.

Which had a darker liquid in it.

I assume some kind of alcohol.

"Fanculo, I didn't offer either of you anything," Ettore suddenly said as he swallowed the sip he took, "Koslov, I hear you like cigars—Sevan I always have your favorite Hennessy."

I immediately shook my head, "I am not in the mood for cigar," I said, declining his offer.

Meanwhile, Sevan shrugged, "Pour me a glass," she said, which naturally confused me.

But I assume she plays nice with him.

"I'm on it," Ettore said, glancing behind us to the man who stood off to the side.

And almost immediately he began preparing Sevan a glass—while Ettore had the nerve to light one of the cigars in front of me.

He does that on purpose.

"So," he went to speak, glancing between us as he blew out smokey o's, "How was the night out?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, but remained silent as I focused on Sevan's hand on my thigh.

How she would gently run her thumb across my covered skin.

"The usual," Sevan said as the man set the glass of Hennessy down in front of her.

"And your date?" Ettore asked, taking another drag from the cigar, "I heard the jumbotron got plenty of action."

I felt my jaw clench at his words, which I could tell irritated Sevan given her motions that halted against my thigh.

"All is good now," Sevan determined, and while her tone sounded just as calm as before, I could hear the subtle edge it had taken.

She's trying to remain calm.

"Right, and so I see this is a thing now?" Ettore asked, glancing between us as he went to ash his cigar.

"Ettore this is my girlfriend," Sevan motioned her head from him to me, "Zinovia this is Ettore as you know," she said motioning her head back to the man, "I figured proper introductions would help us all out."

Ettore lazily raised his brows, "I already know plenty, trust me, Cortez," he said, lifting the cigar to his lips.

"I never put it past you," Sevan hummed, still not bothering to take a sip of her drink.

She does not trust him.

"So look," Ettore suddenly sighed, exhaling the small cloud of smoke, "Normally there are protocols to this—I would've had you both shot in the back of the head by now."

I narrowed my eyes at him, but refused to visibly react.

Or turn around.

My instincts practically screamed at me to.

But I refused to give him that satisfaction.

So I remained completely still—unfazed even.

"But Viviana Cortez seems to like you two together," Ettore suddenly spoke again, naturally making my brows furrow.

Sevan's mother?

She says something to him?

"She's involved herself," Sevan said almost distastefully.

Ettore smiled, "You're lucky she did," he said, putting out the cigar completely, "Otherwise I would've had Koslov taken out at the airport in Colombia," he added, which made me stall for a moment.

That must mean... Sevan's mother made a call to Ettore after I got out of her car.

So she does like me?

"Koslov would've been handled and you would've had the full capacity to continue on as usual," Ettore told Sevan almost nonchalantly.

Meanwhile, I was suddenly scrubbing every inch of my brain involving that airport.

But I was so... unfocused and frantically searching for my gate that I couldn't even recall small details.

I couldn't recall if there was possibly someone watching me.

I would've made the perfect mark.

And I would've been dead easily.

I drew in a deep breath, suddenly feeling Sevan's hand squeeze my thigh so tightly that it made me stiffen.

She's mad.

I can tell by her silence.

She's about to fuck up this nice act.

But Ettore seems like a good ally.

Possibly...

He seems to be on our side.

"So what is the point of this then?" I spoke before Sevan could say what was on her mind.

The tips of her ears almost looked like they are growing red.

"Well Nerissa Chernov threatens to out you to all of the mafia's—apparently she has some kind of confirmed source," Ettore explained.

"A mole," Sevan said, and I could visibly see her jaw tighten.

Because she had said all of this in Colombia.

There is a mole.

She called it and it turns out she is right.

"Yes, so I just need you both to handle that," Ettore determined, relaxing back in his seat, "Then we'll figure out where we go from there."

I shook my head, "We do a vote," I said before I could think it through, earning both Ettore's and Sevan's attention, "At the annual gala we let them vote."

Sevan shook her head at me, clearly unhappy with my sudden suggestion—which we hadn't thoroughly discussed with each other.

But it was already out there.

And Ettore didn't look... entirely against it?

"A vote," he repeated my words, clearly in deep thought, "I don't hate the idea."

I nodded once, glancing down to his left hand adorned by a gold band, "And then you focus back on your wife," I purposely added, and my words almost sounded like a threat.

Or who am I kidding?

They are.

I will subject my men to slaughter his whole family if it is the last thing I do.

Ettore remained silent, staring at me with an unreadable expression.

But it didn't faze me.

Even if it seemed to make Sevan stiffen, clearly able to read somewhat of what he was thinking.

Her grip around me seemed to tighten almost protectively.

At least until Ettore let out yet another deep laugh, grinning from ear to ear as he shook his head.

"Cortez she really is something," Ettore determined as he laughed yet again.

Sevan hummed tightly, "Don't laugh too hard now," she mumbled, her words holding nothing but a threat.

Ettore shook his head with a deep sigh, "I see why Viviana likes you two together," he determined, staring between us both, "You complement each other well."

I lazily raised my brows, "An opinion we didn't ask for," I said, growing tired of sitting here with him.

I want Sevan to myself.

"Right, well get this shit figured out with Nerissa and figure out the mole," Ettore determined, clearly growing tired of this conversation as well, "Everything should be good once you at least get that under control."

Sevan nodded once as she stood from her chair, causing me to stand with her.

"Hopefully I'll see you both at the gala—and not any earlier," Ettore added as one of his guards opened the door for us.

"Hopefully not at all," I purposely said over my shoulder, walking out of the warm van into the cold night air.

And as we walked up the short amount of stairs to the double doors, the sprinter van took off down the driveway—leaving us alone as we walked past the doors that opened for us.

"Via," Arina said as soon as we walked into the warm compound.

I furrowed my brows, noticing Ivan by her side as they walked further down the stairs.

"You both took too long so I decided to hang out with Ivo," Arina told us as she grabbed Ivan's arm, "We play chess and he said I can have medovik."

I immediately nodded, "Good, be in bed at decent time," I said, not bothering to fight her sudden plans.

Which was abnormal for me.

And both Ivan and Arina knew that—I could tell by how they furrowed their brows while Arina visibly glanced to Sevan who remained silent for once.

She's still mad at Ettore's presence I assume.

"Did business go well?" Arina hesitantly asked me.

I immediately nodded, "Very well—we are just tired," I said before she could worry, grabbing Sevan's arm as I walked past them both, "Goodnight," I called over my shoulder.

"Goodnight?" Arina said as she walked in the other direction with Ivan.

Meanwhile, I tugged Sevan along with me, remaining silent as we walked up the stairs together.

Even as we made our way down the hall it seemed to remain silent between us.

Until we were in my bedroom with the door shut behind us.

Then Sevan had plenty to say.

"You have to watch what you say to him Zinovia," was the first thing Sevan said, turning around to face me.

"He deserved every word," I said defensively, furrowing my brows as I analyzed her face, "You are mad?" I clarified, realizing she wasn't just irritated by Ettore, but me too?

I am confused.

"Yes, I'm mad," Sevan said, her voice nothing but serious with me, "I'm mad because every time he looked at you I contemplated numerous ways I would kill him if he did lay a finger on you."

I felt my brows furrow deeper, glancing down when she suddenly grabbed my waist.

"I'm mad that every fucking word you said challenged him," Sevan said, pulling me closer to her body, "And I'm even madder that I could only find you beyond fucking attractive the entire time."

I tilted my head, unsure of if she was mad or turned on by me.

Very confusing.

She is very confusing.

"So you are not mad at me?" I clarified.

"No," Sevan murmured, leaning down closer to me, "I want to be for your safety, but I can't be."

I felt my lips twitch up slightly, "So we are okay?" I asked her, unsure of if our night had been ruined.

"More than okay," Sevan didn't hesitate to say, leaning down to briefly kiss my lips, "And I'm about to show you just how okay."

I hummed as I tilted my head back further for another kiss from her, "I have some things I want to show you as well malyshka," I whispered faintly to her.

Sevan smirked slightly as she stared down so precisely into my eyes, "I get first honors," she said, leaning back down to kiss my lips, "Given I told you so and all."

I rolled my eyes as I lightly nudged her away, but Sevan didn't budge.

If anything she only began trailing soft kisses past my lips and down my neck.

"Da, there was a mole—you were right," I mumbled sarcastically.

Sevan hummed in approval, "I was what?" she purposely asked me.

I rolled my eyes yet again, "I am not repeating it again," I said, knowing that was exactly what she wanted.

"I'll take that as a challenge," Sevan determined, now guiding me back to the bed.

And somehow, someway, I knew she'd find a way to make me repeat my words.

Good thing these walls are soundproof.