“Where are they taking him?” I ask.
Artem checks the rearview mirror and tightens his grip on the steering wheel.
“To where he belongs.” He reaches across the center console and squeezes my hand.
A warmth spreads through my body beneath his touch. It’s a feeling of home and belonging. He breathes life into my soul, and all he has to do is be with me.
“I love you,” I say again when the car falls into silence at a red light.
He squeezes. “I love you, too, Babygirl.”
The light changes to green, and we drive off.
Together.
He thinks I don’t know.
Artem thinks I wouldn’t find out my brothers transported Janis back to Chicago in the cargo hold of our plane and then by sealed crate to Obsidian. He, like my brothers, actually believe I wouldn’t know that he was thrown into the Pit, a room my brothers have under their club for people like Janis.
Or that Artem spent a full night down there, and when he came back up his knuckles were bruised, swollen, and bleeding. None of these men really understand how much I can find out when I really want to. But when it came to Janis, Megan and Vee were helpful in filling in the blanks.
Vee still has friends working at Obsidian, and sometimes they see things they’re not supposed to. Sometimes those storiesmake their way to Vee. And this time, they made it all the way back to me.
But I’m not angry.
How can I be?
Evil needs to be expunged.
The women Janis sold have been found, along with a dozen others, and my brothers have assured me they’ve all been treated with humanity and respect. Cole’s aversion to the flesh trade makes me feel better that he’s going to keep his word about not letting it move into Boston.
“Are you ready to come down yet?” Artem peeks his head into the bedroom of our new house. “Kaz and Sienna are here.”
“Did they bring the baby?” I drop my brush and shove away from the mirror.
“What kind of question is that. Of course they did.” He looks like I’ve asked if the Pope was coming to dinner.
“Then why are you in my way?” I gently shove him as I pass through the door and hurry down to the living room where my brother is holding his little baby girl in his arms.
Sienna sits beside him looking exhausted but happy, watching.
“No, Tommy?” I ask as I breeze into the kitchen.
“He’s in the kitchen stealing all your cookies.” Kaz says with a proud grin.
“He can have all of them.” I push the soft blanket from the baby’s face and smile.
“What’s with you?” Kaz questions, eyeing me suspiciously.
“Nothing.” I sit on the love seat across from them and fold my legs beneath me. “Did Alexander tell you he’s coming next weekend?”
“He did.” Kaz nods slowly. “Ivan can’t make it, but he’s coming the week after.”
“If they’re going to come out this way so often, why don’t they just buy a place?” Artem sits next to me, draping his big arm around my shoulders.
“Alexander has the penthouse in the city,” I point out. “But it would be nice if they just moved here. Especially since Megan’s going to be having the baby soon. Nora would have someone to play with.” I point to my new niece in Kaz’s arms.
“New York isn’t for everyone,” Sienna says, looking over Kaz’s shoulder at her daughter.