Fall(Romanian Mob Chronicles Book 2)(36)

Remarkable really, given I had been seconds away from death. In the years before, I’d call in for a hangnail, quit for even less, but as I stood in the painful silence of the foyer, my mind not yet comprehending what had happened, what would happen now, I decided to go to work.





Nineteen





Sorin



“How is she?” Vasile said after I entered Familie.

“She’s fine,” I said.

He narrowed his eyes at me, tilted his head slightly, and I prepared for the combating lecture.

“You left her?”

“I did. Someone’s watching the house,” I said, my voice flat, hoping he’d let the matter drop.

“And you’re okay with that?”

No such luck. “Vasile, you’re worried about my personal affairs when there is business to attend.”

“Anton is on his way, so we have time to talk.”

“Fine. Fuck it. You were right, brother. There is no place for them in our world. I can’t risk it…”

I glanced up at him, waiting for him to talk me out of what I was saying, but instead he said, “There isn’t. Not if you don’t make one.”

His words rattled in my brain, stirring shocked disbelief and hope so strong that it almost stole my breath. I ignored it though and focused on the disbelief. “How can I…?” I finally said.

“You can. I worry over them every moment of every day. But my life with out her, without that baby, it was no life. I think you feel the same about Esther,” he said.

“Anton is here,” Nicki called out, and as I watched him come into the back room, I put thoughts of Esther aside.

“Vasile, Sorin, on behalf of Clan Constantin, I apologize for last night’s…unpleasantness. Please be assured that all who were involved are being handled.”

“Appropriately I assume?” Vasile said.

“Appropriately and severely.”

“And?” Vasile said.

“Clan Constantin will make appropriate remuneration for the breach.”

“And is this coming from Christoph?” I asked.

His expression didn’t change. “Yes. He asked me to give you his assurances.”

“The kid? Do you have him?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“I’d like to handle him personally,” I said, determined to fulfill the vow I’d made when I saw him standing in Esther’s house and suddenly very excited about the prospect of doing so.

Anton nodded. “As you wish.”

He paused, clearly wishing to say something.

“What else, Anton?” Vasile said.

“Ms. Florescu?” he said.

“She will be missed,” Vasile replied.

“Very well. Sorin, drop by at any time. He will be waiting.”

“Good-bye, Anton,” Vasile said.

Recognizing he had been dismissed, Anton turned and left. And when we were alone again, I looked at Vasile, my blood starting to boil.

“I want to kill him,” I said.

“I understand. You will soon enough. And we don’t have to accept this. Christoph is responsible for what his clan does. We’d be well within our rights to escalate the matter.”

I knew what escalate meant, knew that it would give me a change to sate the bloodlust that simmered beneath the loss. I would have some measure of vengeance but knew more death would accomplish nothing. I wouldn’t have known that months ago, wouldn’t have cared. It was yet another way Esther had changed me.

“That won’t be necessary,” I said.

Vasile nodded and I could see pride in the movement and in the slight upturn of his lips. I knew he’d always worried about me and about whether I would ever grow up. I was happy that I’d given him the reason I had.

“Too bad about Anton,” he said a moment later. “He would do Constanin well.”

“We could recruit him,” I said, though my thoughts were still preoccupied with Esther, missing her.

Vasile shook his head. “He’s loyal. A rare quality. He won’t leave them, probably thinks he owes them everything. But enough about Clan Constantin. You say this to me all the time, and I never thought I’d get to say it to you.”

I raised my head. “What?”

“You look like you need a drink.”





Twenty





Esther



The day passed in a blur, and I even stayed on for a double shift.

I needed the money.

That was what I told myself. The other alternative was accepting I didn’t want to go home, be alone in my house, afraid of who might show up, and even more afraid of who I knew wouldn’t.

So on a deep sigh, I clocked out and headed home.

The man that had followed me here followed me home, not ever speaking but ever-present, watchful. And while I appreciated his presence, I was still skittish, reasonable I supposed but not something I enjoyed. Besides, seeing him also caused a searing pain in my chest. He reminded me of Sorin, reminded me that no matter what, I still wanted him with me.