Natalia
Have you ever tried to swim down to the bottom of the deep end of a public pool only to find it’s too deep? You try and swim up, and there’s a moment, maybe two or three feet from the surface, when everything slows down, and you feel like you’re fighting the water. Like it’s trying to drag you drown while you use the last bit of oxygen you’re holding in your lungs.
That is how I feel as I open my eyes. Everything is out of focus, and my first thought is that I’m drowning. Then I take a breath, and I close my eyes again. I don’t know for how long. Time seems to be moving incredibly slowly. Everything hurts, and I want to feel for my baby. I want to know the baby is safe but I can’t lift my arms. The water is dragging me down faster than I can surface.
I open my eyes again, a little more in focus. I swallow and lick my lips. I close my eyes and drift off.
I open them again when I hear hushed voices.
“I don’t care that he saved her. She wouldn’t have gotten kidnapped if she hadn’t run after him.”
I try to focus on what they’re saying, but it’s hard. I squint to see who it is that Ivan is speaking to. He looks like Daniel.
No.
If possible, it’s an older version of Daniel with a thicker accent. It must be Ronan.
“Why are you being so stubborn about this?” Ronan asks. “You’re not averse to negotiating with enemies. I know because you negotiated with
Alessandro Sorvinho.”
“Exactly. Since we made an alliance with the Italians, everyone thinks we’re a free-for-all. That we’ll barter our people off for power. My power comes from how I oversee my family, not my marriage alliances.” “They don’t hurt.” Ronan shouldn’t have said that.
Ivan growls, “How do I know you’re not using Natalia? She’s not one for relationships. This obsession she has with your brother is something she’s never done. It’s completely out of character for her. You want to know why I’m being stubborn. It’s because I think you and your brother are using Natalia’s situation with the Sicilians to gain her favor, therefore trying to get me to lower my guard.”
“I’m not that ambitious,” Ronan says with a shake of his head.
“So you say, yet it is coincidentally your brother who is hired to kill my cousin, and it is coincidentally your brother who gets her knocked up. How can your brother be so smart yet not know who Natalia was when he met her in that bar? Hmm?” Ivan steps forward, but Ronan doesn’t back away. “Natalia is not in her right mind to make decisions. She’s never had a proper relationship before, and now that she is pregnant, she feels as though she doesn’t have options. Daniel has convinced her they must be a family, and she’s latched onto that. I am her family, her brother is her family, and we don’t need a bunch of interfering Irish dickheads coming into our lives.”
I’m alert now and frowning. He is making choices for me because he thinks I’m not of sound mind. He couldn’t be further from the truth. Okay, maybe I’m a little more emotional than usual, but I’ve never been more sure of a decision than I am of Daniel.
He loves me.
I know that.
I love him.
I know that.
I shift in the bed, but I shouldn’t have moved because it catches Ivan’s attention. He meets my eyes and then looks at Ronan. “Leave. You can tell your brother she’s fine if he honestly cares, but he’s not to see her.”
“I’ll be in touch again soon to negotiate. Once you’re calm.”
Ronan walks off, and Ivan watches him for a moment before he turns and walks toward me. He approaches my bedside and takes my hand. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Nat.”
“Because I’m not in my right mind?” I ask with a croaky voice.
Ivan fusses over my blankets. ‘You’re like a baby sister to me, and I know you’ve sacrificed a lot for this family. I just want to protect you.”
“Your protecting me is to keep me miserable and alone.” I remove my hand from his and lace my fingers together, resting my hands on my belly.
Ivan reaches out to stroke my face, but I pull away. “I love Daniel. I want to be with him. I want to raise our child together.”
“Natalia, the Quinns are the enemy of both mine and Alessandro’s families. We don’t know their true intention. Ronan is known for being a background player. He probably has this all planned out. You’re being used as a pawn. I know you can’t see it because you have this little crush….”
“I think I know what a crush is, Ivan, and this is more than a silly little crush. I’m not a teenager.”
“Natalia, you are not acting like yourself at all. Calm down, you’re unwell.” Ivan reaches for my face again, but I turn away from him.
“And how would you know how I am? I was gone for so many years. Receiving instructions and giving feedback through numerous connections. I’ve spent a lifetime training to serve a family that doesn’t even know what my favorite color is or what my favorite food is. Do you know those things?”
“You’re worried about whether I know your favorite color? And you don’t think that’s a bit irrational.” Ivan sighs. “Nat, I don’t want to fight with you. You’re still healing.”
“My favorite color matters because it’s a part of who I am. You know Evgenii’s favorite whiskey and Tori’s favorite gemstone.” I frown and look up at him. “I have done everything you have asked for since I was sixteen, and that still isn’t good enough for you to give me the one thing I ask for. My life is in danger, and Daniel is trying to sort that out. He’s done nothing but protect me. He came to save me, didn’t he?”
Ivan goes stiff, and I can tell his walls are up. “Drop it, Nat.”
“No, I love Daniel, and I don’t care if you accept it or not. I will try and see him.” I stare at him defiantly.
“I have a limit,” Ivan says, straightening his suit jacket. “Don’t cross it, or you and your little fling will regret it.”
He walks out, commanding the two guards outside not to let anyone in except him and our family. I watch him go, fuming that he is so stubborn.
He and I both know he is wrong, but he doesn’t want to back down. A leader never does. He has committed to this wholeheartedly, and I now need to consider if I’m ready to defy him and join the Quinns, turning my back on my Russian family. Or do I remain, knowing my place, and raise my child alone, turning my back on the first and only love I’ve ever experienced?
I feel the tears prick at my eyes, and I wipe at them furiously. I’m exhausted again and know I need to rest, but I’m hopeful Daniel will find a way around the guards to see me, so I fight to stay awake.
I can’t fight it for long, though. My lids flutter closed, and I doze, waking up periodically when nurses come in to check on me. None bring any secret letters from Daniel. I wonder where he is or if he got hurt rescuing me. I wonder if he’s angry with me and doesn’t want to see me again.
No, I know him.
Some doubt creeps in as I think of Ivan’s words. The world we live in is one of betrayal. As Ivan would say, we’re playing chess, not football, and it’s all about the bigger picture.
Is the bigger picture that Daniel is just using me to get to my family?
No, I know him.
I know people like him, like me. We don’t play by those deceptive rules. We’re the type to go in guns blazing and then ask anyone who survives our questions. Daniel wouldn’t have been the one they chose to deceive me if they wanted to get to my family.
I don’t think they would have chosen me as their target either. I’m not a relationship type; that’s why Ivan is so confused. There’s just something about Daniel; I see myself in him. Our worlds were married long before we met.
Evgenii sends word that I’m being discharged and that I’m told I need to rest. My brother comes to collect me personally, but I have nothing I want to say to him. They resigned themselves to the fact that I couldn’t love when I just chose not to.
I’ve since changed my mind.
Daniel
I sit at the bar sipping my whiskey, impatiently waiting for news about Natalia. Once I’d taken her to the hospital and Ivan had arrived, Ronan said it would be best for me to leave because my presence angered Ivan. If you asked me, Ronan’s presence angered the Russian Pakhan even more.
But I left Ronan to speak to him. Ivan will give Ronan a chance to talk. He’ll just try and have me killed, and then I’ll have to start a war between our families because I’d have to kill him.
I would if it wouldn’t hurt Nat. I know she disagrees with his choice to keep her from me, evident from the fact she tried to find me, but I know she loves him dearly, and if I hurt him, I don’t think she would be able to stomach looking at me.
I love her too much to see that hurt in her eyes-the heartbreak of the death of someone you hold close. I didn’t cry when my father died, but Ma’s death killed me. When she died, I stood at her funeral with little Jarryd in my arms, wondering what was wrong with the world. I promised myself then that I would never let anyone get close to me again because I felt so hollow, empty, and cold. I didn’t want to feel warm again because that could be taken away from me.
Jarryd pushes a bottle of whiskey toward me, and I realize I’ve been holding an empty glass for a few minutes now.
“She’ll be fine,” Jarryd promises me. “You’ll see; everything always works out.”
I nod. I don’t want to burst his bubble. He was too small to really remember Ma.
The door opens as I finish pouring another whiskey, and we both look as Robbie walks in, followed by Ronan. I start to stand, but Ronan holds a hand up. “Relax, sit down, and nurse your drink.”
“Nat?” I ask. Fearing the worst, I can’t utter more words. I can’t ask about the baby.
“She and the babe are fine, but Ivan isn’t budging. I need to work on him, but I also got intelligence back on who took her and where they’re staying.” Ronan goes around the bar, takes the bottle from the counter, and pours himself a drink. “I think tomorrow, you and Robbie can pay this Sicilian Don a visit. It’s not the main one, not that Russo character, but he’s in on it.”
I nod. “I need to end this, Ronan, but if I kill those Dons….”
“I’ve already arranged with their sons. We kill their fathers; they’ll take over the families and call off the hit. Apparently, the Dons have been slipping in the last few years, costing the families millions in their greed. The families are tired of being used as fodder and getting nothing in return, and they will back the sons.”
“Russo…”
“His secondborn was the one I spoke to. He didn’t like his brother much and considered what Natalia did a favor to him. But we must eliminate the Dons before they can do anything.” Ronan downs the drink. “Three are in New York, here to watch Natalia die, so they should be easy to track and kill. The other two are in Sicily, and their sons will sort them out once we send word that the ones here are taken care of.” “It’s bullshit politics,” I growl.
Ronan snorts, “Isn’t that the truth? But it’s the best deal I could broker, so as usual, you gotta get your hands dirty to solve the problem.” “Where’s the first one?” I ask.
“He’s staying at a beach house, ironically not far from Ivan Volkov’s main residence.” Ronan meets my eyes. “If she’s home, you could always…pop in and say hi.”
“You think Ivan Volkov will allow me to walk into his property and say hi to my pregnant ex-wife?” I snort. “He’ll shoot me first.”
“Don’t worry, Robbie here has a plan, and if she’s willing, you’re welcome to bring her back here. You have my word Danny-boy; she’ll be under our family’s protection at all times.” I can see in his eyes that he’s being serious.
“Why do you agree to let me be with Natalia? You hate the
Volkovs.” I down my whiskey and put a hand over my glass when he tries
to pour me another.
“Because I ain’t seen you happy since we were young, and while you may think it’s politics I’m interested in, I’m actually just interested in keeping our family together and happy.” Ronan smiles. “Go sleep so the whiskey won’t dull your senses. Robbie will be ready to roll with our guys first thing in the morning.”
I nod and get up. “Then the fun begins.”
The night passes dreamless, and I wake up instantly when the alarm sounds to get to work. It doesn’t take long before we’re in two cars with six of my brother’s best shooters. We’re going to the location, but I think about Natalia.
When we got into the cars, Robbie informed me that Natalia is staying with Ivan as Ronan said she would be. We check our comms and then sit in silence for the drive there.
We’re about ten minutes out when Robbie radios me from the other car, “What’s the plan, big brother?”
“Shoot every fucking Sicilian dickhead in the house except the Don. I have some questions for him,” I growl the words and hear my brother laugh.
Sometimes I do think he’s psychotic.
We move as a cohesive unit. We arrive and start shooting before anyone can get their guard up. Robbie drives through the gate, and we run in after him. My brother shouts like a cowboy as he takes out guards with his shotgun.
Definitely psychotic.
Aren’t we all?
We work our way through the house. We kill everyone; no one is spared. There can be no witnesses left. My men are more thorough than the navy seals could dream of being. I forgot how being in a fighting unit feels.
It feels good.
We reach the top floor, where a group of Sililian guards are defending a locked door. I smirk and look at Robbie, who chuckles. He pulls a grenade painted with rainbow colors off his belt, pulls the pin, and throws it. We all duck behind the walls, and the grenade goes off. Robbie and Deacon go first and clear the Sicilians before I follow and kick down the door. There are more guards, and they shoot immediately. Robbie pulls me back just in time as one of our other men, Lordes, throws a flash bang into the room. Once it’s gone off, we storm the room and shoot.
I move past the guards as my men take care of them and find the Don trying to squeeze his round ass out a window. I grab him and drag him back into the room. I point a gun at his head.
“Hello. Remember me?” I growl.
“Daniel. Mr Quinn. I can pay you a lot of….”
I shoot the ceiling, and he cowers as I point the gun at him again. “I didn’t say speak, although if you want to say something to me, why don’t you tell me where your little friends are hiding around the city? Clever not to stay all together. It would have been too easier to kill you then. Pity.”
Robbie comes to stand beside me. “He’s really not a good-looking lad.”
“They never are,” I comment. “Not from his generation, at least. Don Gianno, please tell me where the fuck Don Valentino and Don Russo are”
Robbie leans down with a knife in his hand and grabs the don’s ear before slicing it off. Don Gianno screams and holds the bloody mess that was his ear. Robbie stands up, dangling the ear. “Nice. I can add it to my collection.”
“That’s weird,” I say before kicking Don Gianno. “Robbie here likes ears, so if you want to keep the other one, you better talk.”
Gianno holds up a bloody hand as Robbie starts to lean down. “He’s at a hotel. The details are in my diary in the briefcase under the bed. Please,
I will leave for Sicily immediately, and you’ll never hear from me again.” “Well…I won’t hear from you again,” I say, raising my gun again. “You said I could live…” he squeals pleadingly.
I chuckle. “No, I said I wouldn’t let Robbie cut off your other ear, you dick.” I pull the trigger, and his body slumps to the floor.
“Can I really not take the other ear?” Robbie asks.
“I’m a man of my word,” I say. “Let’s go get Nat.”
Robbie has the perfect plan. He pretends to have a message for Ivan, and all the guards come to train their guns on him and Deacon, who goes with him.
While they’re all distracted, I make my way around the back.
I’m about to go over the fence when a gate opens to my right. I draw my gun but stop when I see Natalia.
“What are you doing?” I hiss.
“What are you doing?” she whispers, limping over to me.
“I came to get you. You’re safer with me,” I say, taking her in my arms. “Come on, you can tell me along the way.”
“I was sneaking out to get away. To you,” she says softly as we make our way around the property again. I hear Robbie saying he’ll catch Ivan another time as we climb into the car. He and Deacon get in, and he turns to look at the two of us. “Hi. I’m Robbie.”
“Hi,” Nat says. “Are you the rescue team?”
“And the better-looking brother,” Robbie chuckles as Deacon drives us home. Robbie talks Natalia’s ears off the rest of the trip, and I just keep an arm around her and hold her.
When we get to the pub, Robbie gets out, and we both help Natalia out of the car. I lead her into the pub, and she looks around wearily. Ronan looks up from behind the bar and smiles. “Natalia, I’ve heard so much about you.”
“I’ve heard about you too, but not from your brother,” she says.
“My reputation always precedes me, but I assure you it’s worse than I am.” Ronan comes around and takes her hands. “Aye, you’re definitely the one for my brother. I give you my word while you’re on this street, you’re under my protection and welcome in my family. Once we get these stupid Sicilian Dons sorted, I will arrange with Ivan and convince him to allow you and Danny-boy to have a proper marriage, okay?”
She smiles, and I’m glad she likes him. She giggles and looks at me. “Danny-boy?”
I frown instantly, and everyone starts laughing.