Page 123 of Scarlet Promise

He breathes out in relief.

Then he looks at me. “I had an interesting talk with Pavel. He’s got a contact in Santo’s organization. Did you really tell Santo to leave me out of this takedown plan?”

I frown. “Of course I did.”

“It takes courage to stand up to someone like Santo,” he mutters. “Maybe you’re not a lost cause as a leader, after all.”

“It’s more I worked with him and pointed out you were not to be involved. Santo’s getting a good deal. But if you were collateral, he’d get nothing. So, you know. It works.” I stand. “I’d really like to see Alina now.”

Demyan nods, standing too. But as I take a step, he says, “There’s one more thing.”

“Which is?”

He keeps his face blank and emotionless, but I can see the cost of what he’s going to say in his eyes.

“Alina’s my baby sister. If you do anything to hurt her, I’ll make sure you pay.”

Ohda, that cost him. That was Demyan-speak for “welcome to the family.”

“Don’t worry,” I assure him. “If I ever hurt Alina, I’ll surrender on a sword myself.”

We walk down the hall and into the private room where mymalyshka’shooked up to machines, but she still looks like her gorgeous self. Her entire face lights up at the sight of us, her gaze lingering on me.

As I go to her, my phone buzzes, and I take her hand as I pull out the phone. “Fuck, it’s Santo.”

I answer.

“I need to see you now,” he says. “We have things to discuss.”

“Got it.” I hang up and kiss my girl, stroking her soft cheek. “Are you okay,malyshka?”

“Are you?”

“Me? Good. And so is Albert. I have reports and…” I pull up a text that Erin sent and open the photo. “See?”

She takes my phone and squeals. “Albert and Sasha and Nadya!”

I lean in and kiss her, pushing her lips apart with my tongue so I can dance and flirt with hers for a too-brief moment.

She’s still sweet and moreish on my tongue, promising me all kinds of dirty things.

But I end the kiss before Demyan lynches me.

He’s staring as I straighten up, but all he does is nod at the phone in Alina’s hand. “Everything okay?”

“Not sure,” I say, frowning. “Santo wants to see me.”

“Tell me about the arrangement you have with Santo,” he says in Russian.

“His men are helping me out, and he’ll help with the takedown for his own reasons as much as my own,” I say. “He wants some things, so…”

“What does he get in exchange, Ilya?” he asks.

I swallow because he’s not going to like this at all.

Alina slips her hand into mine, holding my phone with the Albert picture in her other. She squeezes my fingers.

“Territory,” I say, finally. “Some of my business.”