Fire Bound (Sea Haven Sisters)(58)

“No. No, I’m all right. I just needed to hear your voice.”



“Gavriil wants to talk to you.” Lexi sounded dismayed, as if she didn’t believe Lissa.



“Come home.” Gavriil issued the two words as a command. “You don’t have to do what you’re doing for this family, Lissa. We’d much rather you be home with us and safe. Come home.”



She knew he didn’t want her going after Kostya and Uri Sorbacov. He had no idea about her uncle and his betrayal. Still, it was nice to hear a badass like Gavriil wanted her to come home. He was totally wrapped up in Lexi, not so much in the rest of those living on the farm. He hadn’t been there long and hadn’t developed his relationship with the others yet. Lissa did feel a connection with him. He saw her when no one else had, and that had meant something to her. She had trusted him with her past, and that meant something to him.



“Not yet, but don’t worry about me. I’m well taken care of.” That was to assure him his brother was looking out for her.

“Lissa…” Gavriil began.



“I have to do this. I have to. I’ll explain things when I come home.”



“Just see that you do. Come home, that is. If you need me for any reason, I’ll be on a plane. Give me the word and I’ll come.”



She closed her eyes again and pressed the phone tight against her ear as if she could hold Lexi and Gavriil close to her. Gavriil would be risking his life getting on a plane and coming to help her, but he still offered and she knew he would do it if she asked. “Thank you. I needed to hear you say that, Gavriil. I have to go. Just take care of Lexi for me. I have to know all of you are safe and when I get home, you’ll all be there.”



“We’ll be safe,” Gavriil said gruffly. “You’d better be the same.”



She hung up quickly before Lexi could get back on. She knew if she heard Lexi’s voice again she’d break down and cry and nothing would stop her little sister from getting on a plane and coming to her. Probably all of her sisters would come. And then all the Prakenskii brothers would come. She found herself laughing instead of crying, because that was what true family did, they made life so much better, no matter how bad the problem was.

Lissa set the car in motion. Chances were, Luigi wouldn’t be home yet. He wouldn’t come back until he knew for certain she’d done the job. He would pretend he was still ill in his wing of the house, and that gave her a little respite and time to decide just how she would face him.





9



Luigi’s cell phone rang as he sat down to dinner. Angeline scowled at him. “Don’t answer, honey, we haven’t seen you for weeks and this is our time together.”



“Shut the fuck up, Angeline,” he snapped. “Business doesn’t wait while you sulk. You like spending money and living in a fancy house.” He glared around the table at his sons. “I work all the time for her. She spends money and goes to her fancy-ass places and still she gives me shit.”



The boys glared at their mother, and she ducked her head, picked up her fork and pushed the food around on her thousand-dollar plate. With another curse, Luigi flung himself out of the chair, sending it crashing to the floor, snapped open his cell and with long, angry strides, left the dining room.



“This better be important,” he growled. “I’m eating my fucking dinner.” But he’d seen the caller ID and he knew exactly who it was and why she was calling. He knew, and elation swept through him. His niece had struck again – successfully. She was a torpedo: once unleashed, unstoppable.



“Luigi. Luigi.”



Hysterical sobbing. Luigi held the phone away from his ear, his smile widening. Yeah. His niece was a damn fine tool. He wished he could figure out a way to keep her alive. She was a better asset than any he had, but she was intelligent, unlike the idiot moron sitting at his dining table. He would kill one slowly and with extreme happiness. The other would be quick and with reluctance.



“Luigi. You have to come. Right now. He’s dead. My Cosmos is dead and I don’t know what to do. You have to come.”



Of course he had to go see the new widow. His body stirred in anticipation. He rubbed his crotch. “You call anyone else?”



“No, no one else. I know to call only you.”



Cosmos had trained the little bitch. She couldn’t move without direction, but when directed, she did whatever she was told. Carlotta was beautiful, absolutely beautiful, and in his stable of women, she’d command a huge price every fucking time. His grin got even wider. He absolutely loved his niece.