Page 87 of His Forbidden Obsession

Ambrose laughed. “Don’t want to see it through to the end, huh?”

“No, I don’t think we need that,” I said.

“All right, my cabin’s this way.” He motioned toward a narrow path. We followed him and all piled into the truck that sat in front of the cabin. He looked at Alina. “I hope your stomach’s settled now. It’s going to be a fun drive out.”

“How the hell do you drive from here?” Niko asked, looking all around. “I don’t see a road or even a path wide enough for a car.”

“That’s the fun of it,” Ambrose said.

I patted Niko’s shoulder. “Just buckle up.”

33

NIKOLAI

There were times—while tree branches slapped the car and we rattled over huge roots—that I wasn’t sure we would survive the drive. I did not want it to be Ambrose’s driving that killed us when we’d managed to kill my father and destroy Ivanov’s power.

We made it somehow. He took us to Remington’s family home out in Metairie. That’s where Dante was, and Remington had decided it would be the best place to meet and go over plans.

When we got there, I stayed back with Alina as Lorenzo raced inside to see his brother. Ambrose ushered all of us inside. Landry moved slowly. He was obviously still in pain, but he also seemed reluctant to join us.

“This is family business,” he said when Alina tried to help him up the steps. “I shouldn’t be here.”

“It’s medical business,” Alina said.

Ambrose rolled his eyes at the two of them as we stepped inside. The Theriots’ home was amazing. I felt like I was in a palace. It wasn’t like I’d grown up in a small house or without seeing luxury all around me, whether I was allowed to have it or not. But this home didn’t feel cold like my father’s house or other places I had been with family.

Remington came to greet us. He sent Ambrose and Landry in one direction so Landry could get examined.

“Lorenzo should be seen by the doctor too,” I said.

“I will see to that once we’ve talked. You two can wait in here.” He gestured toward a room designed as an old-fashioned home library with tall shelves, leather-bound volumes, and a rolling ladder.

It was a beautiful room, but I didn’t want to be stuck there while Remington talked to Lorenzo. I knew Lorenzo would tell me what happened in their meeting, but I wanted to hear it firsthand.

Before I could work up the courage to say so, Alina said, “I got access to Ivanov’s cameras, and I killed Dimitri for you. I should be part of the debrief.”

Remington’s eyes widened as he stared at Alina. “You really are a lot of trouble.”

“A lot of help too.”

He made an overly dramatic sigh, then motioned for us to follow him. We entered a bright sunroom with huge windows on three sides. Dante was sitting on the couch with Rafe on one side of him, Lorenzo on the other.

“Tell him he’s supposed to stay in bed,” Lorenzo demanded.

Remington smiled. “I am not here to be a nurse, but I don’t think sitting on a couch is going to kill him at this point.”

“If he pulls out his stitches⁠—”

Dante held up his good hand. “I am not laying in that bed for one more minute. We are going to sit right here, and you’re going to tell me everything that happened.”

“Let’s all have a seat,” Remington said.

I sat on another sofa with Alina. I didn’t want to ask Lorenzo to leave his brother’s side, but I was nervous facing Remington without being next to him. After everything I had been through, I shouldn’t be. I knew that for the most part, he was on my side.

“Do we have any word on Ivanov?” Lorenzo asked.

Remington shook his head. “The fucker is still evading us, but we will get him. He hasn’t got any protection except that which he can hire himself. The Koslovs have managed to cut off access to most of his accounts, so he’s going to have trouble funding himself in hiding.” He focused on Alina. “Do you have any idea where he would go?”