*Ivan*
Sephie came to me the next morning in the gym. Everyone else was preoccupied with other things, so she snuck over to me, a look of worry on her face.
“I kind of fucked it up with Massimo and Dario, didn’t I?” she said. I could see the look of genuine concern in her eyes.
I tried not to laugh at her, as I knew she was really worried. “No, princess. We just need to take extra precautions when it comes to you. Salvadori’s people are still actively looking for you and now I’m sure that Massimo’s people will be too. We just need to be more careful. You’re not to leave with any less than three of us, okay?” I put my hand on her shoulder, trying to offer some comfort, but also to make sure that she wasn’t going to argue with me either. She nodded her head, chewing on her bottom lip like she did when she would worry. “I think we also need to have a conversation about exactly what you know about all the other bosses, too. Especially Massimo. There have been a lot of people after that man for a lot of years. If any one of them find out you know what you know, they could come for you too.”
“Awesome. Let’s just set the whole city onto me. I mean, go big or go home, right?”
I laughed, shaking my head at her. “You know we won’t let anything happen to you, princess. There’s a reason we work for your goddamn prince and why no one ever gets close to him,” I said, a sly smile on my face.
She grinned at me. “I’ve heard stories, yes.” Andrei called for her from across the gym. She smiled at me, turning to go. “My giant trainer beckons me to lift heavy shit!” she said, as she jogged across the gym.
Her hip must be getting much better if she can handle more than a walk.
After we were done in the gym and ready for the day, I caught Boss alone in his office. “I’d like to go have a conversation with Max about keeping his mouth shut about Sephie. And not just because of Tori, either. This new situation with Massimo has me a little worried.”
He looked at me with an intensity that I instantly recognized. He was just as worried about Massimo, but there was something else there. “That kid makes me so angry, but she still feels loyal to him, so I can’t tell you to have as serious of a conversation with him as I’d like to,” he said.
*Ah, there it is*. *This might be the first time I’ve seen him jealous*.
I chuckled. “Listen, I’ve wanted to punch that kid since that night in the restaurant when he shook her too hard and then basically abandoned her for some mediocre woman at the bar.”
Adrik’s eyes went wide. “It’s not just me, then? I keep telling her that he’s an idiot. To the point that I’m actually starting to feel bad about it. He’s like her one friend her own age.”
“She’ll see him for how he really is in her own time, Boss. He was the only friend she had after a difficult time in her life. That kind of life experience can make you ignore things you shouldn’t just to keep from being completely alone. I understand her connection to him, but I don’t think it will last that much longer, unless he starts to realize what he’s doing to her every time he chooses another temporary woman over her.”
He looked lost in thought for a moment, but then smiled at me. “Sephie was right. You are wise beyond your years.” He laughed, then added. “She also said you just don’t want anyone to know it because you value your peace too much.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “She hasn’t been wrong yet, Boss.”
“Let me know how it goes with Max. Do you need anyone to go with you?” he asked, still smiling.
I shook my head no. “Andrei told me that he called them ‘trained killers’ when they saw him yesterday. He’s plenty scared of us and I can be very convincing when needed.”
He nodded his head. “Be as convincing as you need to be without hurting him.”
We’d had Max followed since the night we first met Sephie, just to make sure he stayed safe and that no one would try to get to her through him. We saw him try to hide her behind him in the parking lot that first night when Boss went back to give her money, so we knew there was at the very least a friendship there. Going back to give her money was Adrik’s excuse, anyway. He really just wanted to see her again. We all knew it, but we all played along. We’d never seen him act like that around a woman before, so we were all somewhat fascinated by it.
I knew his schedule, so I knew where to find him. He’d be at the gym, then he’d go home, shower and change in time to get to work just before the happy hour crowd hit. I waited outside the gym until he came out. I hated smoking, but it was a reasonable excuse to be standing outside, so I smoked a couple of cigarettes while I waited.
All of us had smoked off and on for years, Boss included. We’d all stopped since Sephie came to us, but none of us actively decided to quit. We just did. She never said a word about the habit to any of us. Whatever benefit we were getting from smoking occasionally was no longer worth it.
Max walked out, his head down. Man, this kid is never aware of his surroundings. I followed him to his car, where he finally spotted me in the reflection of his car’s window as he went to open the door.
“Holy shit, what are you doing there?” he said, turning to face me. He pressed himself against his car, like he was trying to get away from me.
“We need to have a chat, kid,” I said. I put out my cigarette, looking at him seriously the entire time.
“A chat about what?” he asked, even more nervous now.
“Sephie.”
“What’s wrong? Did something happen? Is she okay? I just saw her yesterday.”
“She’s fine. I would like to keep it that way. I’m going to be very clear here, kid. You are no longer going to mention anything about her to anyone. That includes Tori. Especially Tori. No one is to know that your grandmother taught her to understand Italian. No one is to know any details about her from this point forward.” I cracked my knuckles, knowing it would make him even more nervous. “If I hear that she’s in danger because someone found out that bit of information, I’m coming for you first. Are we clear?”
“Ye… yes. We’re clear. Is she in danger?” he asked, his fear overtaken by concern.
I looked at him for a moment. “She’s been in danger since we first met her, but you’ve been too busy choosing other women over her to notice.” I walked away from him before he could respond. He was still leaning against his car, completely stunned, when I glanced back before walking out of sight. Good.