Stolen from the Hitman: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance(127)

“Somehow, Gregorovich knows I spared you, kept you safe, and killed Vasili,” I say as evenly as I can, but we have to go.

“Who’s Gregorovich?”

“One of the biggest bosses in New York.”

“Wait… was that the other Russian guy Vasili was talking to on the phone while he was torturing me?” she asks, fear quaking her voice.

Shit. So that was it.

“I guess that’s how he overheard it all when you came to rescue me,” she says, and she’s right.

“Rookie mistake,” I growl at myself. But my head had been fuzzy. It was a miracle that I pulled off the rescue at all with all the blood I’d lost by then.

“Aren’t we safe here?” she asks me as she pulls on her clothes. Unfortunately, I have no extra women’s things, so I do my best to offer her one of my oversized shirts to replace her bloodstained top.

“No,” I say firmly.

“But… you said it’s secure,” she says, clearly not grasping the severity of the situation. And how could she? I took her out of her simple life, where her biggest concerns were getting recognized at her job. She wasn’t made for my life, for the things I have to do.

I grasp her by the shoulders, holding her tight as I gaze down into her eyes.

“This isn’t a thug like Vasili. Gregorovich is a boss. He commands an army with the backing of a fortune. He’s less a criminal than a warlord. None of the usual rules apply anymore, Allie. None of them. He will find us here if we stay long enough, he’ll find us anywhere we go. Hiding is no longer an option. Running only works for so long,” I say, impressing upon her the seriousness of this situation.

But I see the wide-eyed fear and depression setting into her gaze.

“Then…then what? We just...give up?” she asks, her lower lip trembling, making me want to kiss and suckle it. Damn it, I can’t get distracted. Not now. I want to soothe and comfort her, but there’s only one way I know to do that.

“No,” I say firmly, lightening my grip on her. “I am going to take you back to the gang and arrange a meeting with the over bosses. If Gregorovich is going to wage war, I am going to call in the big guns,” I tell her firmly, knowing it’s the only course of action.

But her brow furrows, she disapproves immediately.

“But… you can’t take me to the gang again,” she objects as I take out a burner phone, a disposable thing I’ll use but once before discarding it. “Mikhail,” she says grabbing my bicep as I dial up a number I’ve not ever had to call.

I block her out as the call goes through, and a dark voice picks up on the other end.

“Yes?” a man’s voice says on the other side.

“I need to arrange a meeting,” I say, grim and simple.

“When?” he asks, knowing well that I would never call unless it was serious. Direly serious.

“Immediately,” I tell him and he goes quiet a moment, as Alicia tugs at my arm again.

“Mikhail!” she cries, looking panicked. So I put my arm around her and hold her close.

“You know the place. Tonight,” he says, and that’s it. The call is over.

“You can’t just dump me off with them! Not after what happened last time! I’m no safer with them than I am with you!” she pleads frantically.

“Get ready,” I stress as I finish up pulling on my jacket and then open a back panel behind the clothes in the closet. There I store some guns, ammo, a knife, and other equipment, everything I’d need to take out a small army.

She takes a step back, and I can feel the fear that jolts through her. She’s been with me so long, it feels like, but she’s still surprised by the ugliness I hide. A second later, though, and she’s back at my side, the momentary shock evaporated.

“Holy shit,” she curses, and the dirtiness of her words distracts me again, just for a second. I’m not at my best with her at my side, that’s really why I don’t want her there. Protecting her means putting a bit of distance between us so I don’t get fouled up when I need to work.

When I need to kill.

Strapping some guns and knives to my body, I’m wearing a heavier leather jacket to better mask their presence. I give her a small knife, strap it to her calf, and add two small guns, giving a quick rundown of how to use them. Then I guide her to the door, grabbing up some food from the cupboards along the way. It’s all non-perishable stuff, but some protein bars and bottles of water from the fridge will have to do. I’ve not eaten in so long, and I’m still getting over the injuries I suffered, so nourishment will be needed.

I take her on out of the building, down towards the basement garage. I open the door and very nearly guide her out first before my instincts kick in, and I hold her back.