Page 70 of Scarlet Promise

Ilya

Hope it all went well, malyshka. Talk soon. X

It makes me smile.

Albert loves his walk. He hides behind my legs from other dogs, and he tentatively meets others. I think he mostly just loves the smells. He investigates a small bush, some flowers, and a chip packet someone dumped. We put it in the trash.

Throughout our walk, I let the news flit through me and allow my body and mind to process it all.

Like the blue sky, my mind clears, and though there’s sadness deep in my heart, it has softened and feels time-worn and familiar.

That sadness isn’t as sharp, isn’t anything but mine, and my love sits over it. There’s nothing to be sad or guilty about, I realize.

It surprises me a little, but it shouldn’t.

This is good news. And I’ve always wanted kids. Ilya’s going to be a great father. I know it.

And I want to tell him, but all I do is text him that I’m good. I’m excited to tell him, but it needs to be in person. I want to see his face. I want to experience it with him.

I’m less excited, however, for my brother to find out.

He’ll accuse me of being stupid, of Ilya taking advantage.

But one thing’s for sure. If our marriage hasn’t made the stubborn idiot see my relationship with Ilya’s not only real but permanent, then a baby sure will.

I hope.

Chapter Sixteen

ILYA

The nervous energythat sparks through my veins is off the fucking charts.

Some of it’s for Alina, who claims she’s good, but the rest is the need to bring down Simonov and Melor.

I want to make sure that I have them, quash them, make them pay.

Because once I do, once I make an example, take back control, and make my bratva a stable place, where I can grow my ranks and focus on money and my networks beyond what comes in from the Russian branch that functions separate to the American one, then I can prove to Demyan I’m worthy.

And get my Alina back with me.

It sticks deep in my side like a broken sword that I have to prove myself to the very man I’ve built up and been there for. But she is his sister, and I don’t really expect anything different.

I’ve spent the morning making calls, dragging in obscure favors, blasting apart ones I wanted to keep for other things. But if one of these pans out, then it’s worth it.

I’ll take the hit.

My phone buzzes, and I pick it up, hitting answer. “Isaak.”

“Just tying up loose ends for my transition when the time comes. For the trial run,” he says. “The excuse of me taking leave hasn’t even gotten a blink. I’m not sure whether to be insulted or pleased.”

I laugh softly and bring up a message on my computer, where I have some of my encrypted messaging services running through. Nothing from that lead. Fuck.

“They know how hard you work,” I say. “Anything more from Chase?”

“That’s why I’m calling. Nothing yet, but he says anything you get, send it to him. He’s going to send you some real dark web encrypted shit in an email. Follow the instructions, and you can communicate with him directly.”

“Nothing more on the burner?”