Page 58 of Unbridled Fire
“I just...” I shook my head. “Marriage is a whole other level. Would you want kids? Can I still have them? I’m forty, for christ’s sake...”
“Okay, let’s table this before you freak all the way out.” His hand held my chin as he placed a sweet kiss on my lips. “First things first. Let’s get Dmitry settled in for tonight. After that, we’ll take it day by day.”
I gazed into his eyes, taken by his strength and calm-headed nature. Was he in love with me? Shouldn’t that be something we said before we discussed marriage?
“Katia,” he said, his voice mesmerizing as it surrounded me. “I’ve loved you for years. It’s not even a question.” Drawing back, he held out his hand. “Come on. Let’s get Dima situated.”
Stunned, I stood frozen as he shook his hand, urging me to take it.
Unable to speak, I placed my hand in his and followed him to the kitchen.
Chapter 21
Leo
Dmitry moved into my house as the next few weeks rolled on. He was an easy kid who didn’t require much, which probably made it easier for me to acclimate to having a full house. Katia would joke at night that if you gave him a pasta and Wi-Fi, he was otherwise out of our hair.
I remained mum on the marriage discussion, allowing Katia to get used to the idea. It probably seemed like we were moving at light speed to her. Of course, I’d been silently obsessed with her for years, so moving to the next step just made sense to me. Still, I didn’t want to push her and was content to let her catch up to me on her own timeline.
Dmitry and Alexis started working together on the program she created. Sergey had made it clear to Oskar that Dmitry was an integral part of his new alliance with Michael, and he wasn’t to be harmed. I had the feeling Oskar wasn’t thrilled at Sergey’s new partnership, but Sergey was the top boss, so he had little choice.
Marco Nunez, on the other hand, was a different story altogether. He was vocal in his rejection of Sergey’s alliance with Michael, and requested to meet with both of them in person. Sergey outright dismissed the idea, stating that he was not returning to America anytime soon. But Michael saw some benefit to meeting with Marco, convinced it might be the show of strength the narco-terrorist needed to urge him to return to Miami.
Michael and I met at our secret spot at Fort Tilden Beach on a quiet Tuesday morning to discuss.
“I don’t like the idea of you meeting with Marco in person,” I said, arms crossed over my chest as we stood beside the concrete wall built under the small beachside cliff. “He’s a wildcard who could end your alliance with Sergey before it truly begins.”
“I know,” Michael said with a nod. “But I can’t show fear, and not meeting in person looks like I’m hiding. I think one meeting where I make it clear that and Sergey and I want him gone is important. After that, if he doesn’t leave, I’ll have to take care of him.”
“Understood. Keep it clean. My new boss is all over my ass, and it would help immensely if Marco was taken care of in a very standard way. Car accident. Heart attack with no traceable drug remnants. You get the drift.”
Tilting his head, Michael studied me. “I don’t want you to lose your job or go to jail, Leo. If your boss becomes suspicious enough to open an investigation, I’m willing to cut ties. It’s going to hurt because I’m going to have to cultivate a new FBI informant from scratch, but you’ve got responsibilities now and I won’t put those in jeopardy.”
“That’s very altruistic,” I said, arching a brow. “I guess Katia told you I floated the idea of marriage.”
“She told Bianca, so it made its way to me.” Michael smiled. “She said you’re also contemplating becoming Dmitry’s legal guardians together.”
“Yeah. It will allow him to get his green card faster and offer some permanence in his life, away from Oskar.”
“I’m sure Oskar is pissed at his betrayal, so having him stay with you is much safer.” He patted my shoulder. “If you need a break, you can always send him to stay with me for a night too. Bianca would love to cook for him, and it can give you and Katia some privacy to figure things out.”
“I might take you up on that,” I said with a nod. “I’m trying not to push her, but I also know what I want.”
“She needs the push sometimes,” he said with a shrug. “I had to push her to become my accountant, and it worked out for both of us. She settles into comfortability sometimes because it’s safe, but you might be the person who teaches her that taking calculated risks doesn’t always end in disaster.”
“I hope so,” I muttered, rubbing my neck. “She deserves to feel that loving someone is safe.”
“That she does.” Michael glanced at his phone. “I’m heading to the Bronx, so I’ve got to get on the road. The meeting with Marco and Oskar is scheduled at the Atlantic Avenue warehouse at ten o’clock tomorrow morning.”
“My boss holds our morning meetings at a ridiculously early hour, so I can definitely be at the warehouse by ten. How many armed capos are you bringing?”
Michael grimaced. “If it were anyone but Marco, I’d just bring Nick, Joaquin and Enzo. But Marco will have plenty of men with him, and I’m bringing twelve of my best soldiers. Bianca needs me, and I don’t want to die before I finally get to spend a few decades with her.”
“Let’s hope it remains amicable and no weapons are pulled,” I said, knowing the chances weren’t likely, but choosing to remain optimistic.
“You don’t have to come, you know,” Michael said. “I can handle this one without you.”
“I’m in this now, and it will reaffirm my alliance with you in front of Marco and Oskar.”
