*Adrik*
“We’ve got enough evidence for the police to lock Ricardo up for a very long time, but if the mayor is in Ricardo’s pocket, he won’t go through with it. We’re trying to work around that, if possible. It’s a good move for the people of the city to see their politicians appearing to be tough on crime. We’ve gift-wrapped the doctor that created brawn and now Ricardo for them. We’re just not sure this mayor will do anything with either, yet,” I said.
“You got the guy that created brawn?” Trino asked, surprised. “I knew you stopped their plan. I didn’t know you got the guy that created it in the first place.” He looked at Gus, like he was angry about not being told.
“I didn’t know either. I didn’t not tell you on purpose, Jefe,” Gus said, defensively.
I chuckled. “We kept it quiet. He’s a piece of work. We didn’t want word getting around that we knew who he is and risk him running. The police have been after him for 10 years,” I said.
“Why so long?” Trino asked.
“He’s been wanted for other reasons. He’s a doctor. He does backroom procedures for cash. He’s been doing procedures against people’s will for years, but he would use a specific anesthesia combination that wiped people’s memories, so nobody could remember what he looked like,” Ivan said.
“How did you find him, then?” Trino asked, curious.
“I remembered what he looked like. His drugs didn’t work on me,” Sephie said.
“Miha. Why did you go to him?” Trino asked.
“It was not by choice. But at least I could remember what he looked like. I gave the police a sketch of him. One of Sal’s guys who’s been feeding us information when it’s convenient for him recognized him and told us he was the one behind the brawn,” she said.
“So many coincidences that they become mathematically impossible,” Trino said. He looked at Sephie very seriously. “Miha, you were always meant to be with Jefe.”
She leaned her head back so she could somewhat see me. “I know,” she said sweetly.
We continued talking about possible outcomes for dealing with Ricardo and the remaining bosses, as well as the Mexicans. We ordered food while we kept talking. Misha and Andrei ran upstairs to make Sephie’s broth and get her antibiotic. She managed to eat a few bites of my food, but that’s all she wanted. During a lull in the conversation, Misha said in Russian, “I’m surprised you’re still awake, gazelle. Are you doing okay? Me and Andrei can go upstairs with you if you need to rest.”
“I’m okay, my adorable Russian guardian. At least for a little while longer,” Sephie said, smiling at him.
“How’s Martin?” Sephie asked Trino. “Why didn’t he come with you?” It was a seemingly innocent question, but I knew that Sephie rarely asked questions for no reason. I glanced at Misha, who got his usual faraway look that meant he was looking for Martin.
“Martin hates to travel, especially to the states. Especially in winter,” Trino said. He seemed slightly tense when he answered her, where he’d been completely relaxed before.
I noticed Andrei glance at Sephie. She said quietly, in Russian, “he’s lying.” Andrei nodded in agreement. Misha cleared his throat, signaling that he’d seen something but it was over. I glanced around the room, noticing the looks happening between Trino’s guys.
“Do you want me to pretend you’re telling the truth and let it drop or do you want to tell me what happened?” Sephie asked, matter-of-factly.
Trino began cursing in Spanish. His guys were both amused and unsettled by Sephie’s question. One of Trino’s guys made the sign of the cross. He also 100% thinks Sephie is a witch. While he was cursing, Sephie asked Andrei, who was next to us on the couch, in Russian, “they’re disagreeing on how to handle the Mexicans, no?” He nodded his head in agreement.
Misha said in Russian, “he’s not in Colombia. I couldn’t see very clearly. I need Sephie or Andrei to see it clearer, but he’s not in Colombia.”
Sephie nodded her head, but didn’t say anything further. She was waiting to see what Trino wanted to do. When he didn’t answer, she instead asked another question. “Was Martin with you when you took over or did he come after?”
“After. I took over by myself, basically,” Trino said.
She was quiet for a moment, like she was thinking of the right words to say. “You need to be careful, Trino. Martin has been loyal to you up until now, but this disagreement has caused a bigger divide between you than you realize. He thinks his solution is better, but he doesn’t understand the violence needed when dealing with certain people. It’s going to get him killed.”
I glanced at Trino’s guys again. More of them were now making the sign of the cross. Yep, they’re going to be scared of her from now on. Good. Trino looked shocked. “How…” he said, completely in shock.
“You would only be uncomfortable talking about him if you two had a disagreement. The only thing you could disagree on that is big enough to cause this much discomfort is the Mexicans,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“Told you,” Stephen said to Trino, winking at Sephie.
“Nice save, princess,” Ivan said in Russian.
“You’re right. Again. He thinks we can negotiate with the Mexicans. He doesn’t understand how they do business. They are not to be trusted. Ever. They understand violence, though. They’ve been quiet since I took over until Anthony and Lorenzo went to them,” Trino said. We could hear the anger in his voice.
“The Mexicans think they have a real shot at overthrowing you. Not sure what Lorenzo told them, but given that they’ve already made one attempt on your life, they’ve been emboldened by whatever it was. They’re not going to give that up easily, which is why I think it will be easy for Sal to continue to stay in contact with them,” Sephie said.
Viktor cursed under his breath, then said in Russian, “I think there’s a connection between Ricardo and the Mexicans that I glossed over before. I need to go back and check, but I’m remembering seeing something.”
I nodded, saying, still in Russian, “we’ll look into it tomorrow. I don’t want to drag this out any longer tonight, for Sephie’s sake.” I could feel her getting tired, but she was still fighting it. Her ribs were starting to ache a little more than usual, which was a sign she’d been upright for too long.
“Remind me to always stay on your good side, Miha. I want to always be on your side,” Trino said, laughing somewhat nervously.
After Trino and his guys left, the guys went to their apartments, leaving Sephie and I to go to the penthouse alone. Once we were in the bedroom, I started to help her undress. She still struggled to get her jeans on and off easily with one hand. “Trino’s guys totally think you’re a witch now,” I said, laughing. I unbuttoned my shirt so I could put it on her for the night.
She laughed. “I might’ve enjoyed that a little too much. They were all so nervous. It’s too bad they don’t normally talk around me. I could’ve really creeped them out. Maybe I’ll scare Gus and Oscar next time,” she said, a devilish grin on her face.
“I am curious where Martin is if he’s not in Colombia. We’ll have to see what else Misha can see tomorrow,” I said, helping her into bed.
“I don’t think it’s going to be good news if he sees more,” she said quietly as she laid down on her good side.
“We’ll worry about it tomorrow. You need sleep, solnishko. You’ve been awake almost the entire day,” I said, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her as tight against me as I could.
“It was a big day,” she said, yawning. I could feel her relax as she pressed her body closer to mine. Her breathing slowed and I heard her make her cooing noises as she drifted off to sleep almost immediately.
I woke the next morning to find she was facing me, still sound asleep. *That’s progress if she can lie on her bad shoulder*. I took a moment to watch her sleep. I’d missed being able to see her face when I first woke in the mornings. I brushed her curls from her face and felt her start to stir. I kissed her forehead, not really caring if she woke up yet. I’d happily lie here and watch her sleep.
It took her a few more minutes to finally wake up. When she opened her eyes, her gorgeous smile stretched across her face immediately. “Hi,” she said sweetly. Since she wasn’t lying on her good arm, she reached up and ran her fingers lightly through my facial hair. I closed my eyes, enjoying her touch. “I’ve missed this,” she said.
“I’m surprised you’re lying on your bad shoulder. And your ribs. It doesn’t hurt you?” I asked.
“Not unless I move too much. I don’t even remember turning over.”
I opened my eyes once more. I could feel the warmth she felt in her body when she thought about me. I was struggling against my own desire for her. She laughed quietly. “Me too,” she said, smiling at me. I leaned down and kissed her. Gently at first, but I couldn’t help myself. I deepened the kiss, pulling her to me. I grabbed her leg, putting it over the top of mine, holding her ass firmly. She moaned quietly, her breaths coming faster and harder. I knew I had to stop or risk her not being able to catch her breath. I cursed as I stopped the kiss, rolling onto my back so I wouldn’t be tempted to continue.
I felt her hand on my stomach and heard her say, “sorry,” quietly as she worked to catch her breath.
“You shouldn’t be. It’s not your fault you’re in this condition. You can bet Armando will pay for it later, though,” I said. I could feel my anger coming to the surface thinking about taking my frustrations out on Armando for doing this to Sephie. I glanced at her when she stayed quiet. She had her eyes closed again. “You okay, solnishko?” I asked, running my fingers lightly over her cheek.
She smiled at me, but didn’t open her eyes. She nodded her head, then said, “I can feel your anger very strongly. I think it’s turned my eyes dark and I don’t want to make things worse for you than they already are.”
I laughed, my anger disappearing slowly. I kissed her forehead. “You can open your eyes, love. You won’t make things worse.”
She slowly opened her eyes. They were still dark, but in the process of turning normal again. I’d never seen it as it happened before. It was fascinating. I could clearly see the dark brown, almost black color fade into the background as the normal three rings of color returned. “Did you do that on purpose?” I asked.
“Do what on purpose?”
“I could watch them change this time. I’ve never seen it as it happened. It was incredible. It was like watching the night sky slowly wake up and turn into day,” I said, still mesmerized by her eyes.
“That sounds really complicated. I for sure didn’t do that on purpose,” she said, laughing.
I kissed her gently. “You’re amazing.”