It is at that moment that I decide I will slay every last one of Katherine’s demons, no matter the cost. Even if it never makes things completely right between us again.
I have to at least try.
She doesn’t know it yet, but Katherine McDonough is mine.
forty-five
Things have become uncharacteristically quiet over the past few weeks. There has been no sign of Christian. Even Kenzi hasn’t heard from him, and that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
A storm is brewing, and we need to be prepared for what it is going to bring. The cleanup of the Dashkov building commenced over a month ago and is nearly finished. Soon, we can start on the new construction. An eco-friendly high-rise without the added explosives.
It is a waste if you ask me, but Ava is adamant about not having any type of self-destruct mechanism this time. She tells me we will just have to come up with a less dramatic way of keeping our secrets from getting into the wrong hands.
Boring.
“What about acid?” Dima questions. “Have a vat of it in the basement to dispense with what we want to get rid of.”
Andrei shoots him a look that clearly sayswhat the fuck, man? I chuckle.
“And how would you get everything down there by the time the FBI shows up to your doorstep?” he asks, an edge of condescension dripping into his voice.
“Laundry chutes on each floor that lead directly down to the basement and into the tub of acid.” Dima winks at him playfully. “Duh.”
Andrei’s lips turn down in distaste, and he shakes his head. “And you call yourself a made man.”
Dima splays his palm across his chest dramatically, a scandalized look of shock splashed across his face. “I will have you know I am a very well-made man.”
I groan. This is why we cannot have people over. “Don’t you have things to be doing?” I ask him. Dima shrugs.
“Everything is set to go,” he assures me confidently. “I’ve got guns hiding in plants, under tables, inside cabinets, behind cushions. You name it, and there is a gun there to be found.”
“Good,” I praise him. “Now go do your rounds and stop mucking about.” Dima gets to his feet and gives me a half-assed salute.
“Sir,” he winks, “yes, sir.”
“Cheeky fucking bastard,” I mutter under my breath as he strides from the room. “One day I might drown him in a vat of acid.”
Andrei chuckles. “Just dump him down the chute.”
The two of us laugh easily together.
“How is Ivan doing in London?” I ask curiously. Since leaving him there to establish his reign as Pakhan, I haven’t heard from him much. Andrei smiles.
“He is doing well,” he tells me. “Ivan was born to be a leader.” He pauses, his gray eyes meeting mine. “Just like you.”
I shrug nonchalantly. “I would not be where I am today without Tomas,” I admit humbly. “He took me in and saw potential.”
“I thought it somewhat unconventional that his son, Vasily, is yoursovietnik.” He laughs.
“Vas is rather unconventional himself,” I admit with a fond smile. “I couldn’t ask for a better second.”
Andrei nods his head. “I must admit that your entire operation here is much different from most,” he muses. “Tomas himself always had grand ideas that were outside the norm, though, so it isn’t surprising.”
“There was a lot of pushback at first.” I take the last few sips of my whiskey. “Those who didn’t agree with it left, and those who were willing to follow me were rewarded. They may be soldiers, but they are also family, and I try to treat them as such.”
Pride shines in my father’s eyes as he stares at me.
“A leader is only as good as the men who stand behind him.”