Page 77 of The Councilor

“I never have found it easy to fall asleep but tonight is very difficult.”

She sighed in my arms, likely returning to being terrified. It would take some time before removing the fear was possible.

“I’ll leave you alone. I just…” She eased off the bed from the other side, her back toward me. “I want you to know something.”

“Anything you want to tell me.”

“I don’t care what happens to my father. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. His own children needed him and he failed us. I won’t ever allow that kind of thing to happen again. Kill him if you need to but I ask you one thing and one thing only. If you find out my brother and sister are in danger, I will give all I have and every bit of my soul for them. Please keep them safe.”

Her words saddened me more than I could voice. “I promise you that I will protect them as I will you. You have my word.”

She stood slowly and sighed. “I’ll hold you to that. If you fail me like almost everyone else in my life, I’ll find a way to kill you.”

As she grabbed her things, heading from the room, I knew she was being serious.

The woman was very special and the Neanderthal in me continued to feel possessive. Yes, she was mine. All mine.

Brighton Beach.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been here. I loved the townhouse-style home directly on the beach but in my opinion, the houses were too close together. While I appreciated having Russian-style bars and restaurants within walking distance, I did appreciate other cultures. Still, that didn’t mean we were locked behind the doors. That I refused to allow to happen.

The small shops appeared to have had limited change, so many of the buildings needing renovation. Yet as had always been, people were sitting out on their porches or in front of the shops keeping watch.

And you better believe every single one of them had at least one weapon in their possession. My companion had observed the area with keen interest, even sitting on the edge of her seat most of the time once we’d arrived. I was certain news of my arrival had already flowed through the community. To me, that was both good and bad.

When I pulled into the driveway, Raphaella whistled. “This is different. The entire area is utterly fascinating.”

I chuckled and cut the engine. “Yes, more so than you know.”

“Did you grow up here?”

“Various places. But I lived in the area for a little while after moving here from Detroit.” My father had come here from off the boat, the area like a dream come true for him and my mother. As a kid growing up so young, it had been good to have other Russian-speaking kids nearby and in my school. But I quickly learned being Russian in New York placed families into the thug category. It tad taken me years to shrug it off, learning English and doing my best to cut out some of my accent.

I’d succeeded, which was when my father had felt too good for the area and we’d moved to the Hamptons. A big move. A difficult one. People were not forgiving in the quaint yet wealthy town. At least that’s what it seemed like, stares from almost everyone anywhere we went finally giving way.

But only after my father made certain they knew how important he was.

Maybe that’s partially what was needed.

“Detroit. You are full of surprises,” she said.

I had to laugh. “I assure you no one enjoyed being there. He had a cousin who sponsored our arrival from Russia so we felt an obligation to stay for a little while.” It was funny the things you started thinking about later in life.

“Well, New York suits you. I can’t wait to see inside the house.”

Raphaella’s comment broke me out of my trip down memory lane. “Stay in the car until I talk with Ivan.”

“Are they going to remain in the house?”

I had to laugh. “No, my little lamb. Several teams of soldiers will canvass the perimeter. I have tight security here, tighter than Fort Knox.”

“Okay.”

She didn’t seem convinced. Then again, I wasn’t either. For some reason, I continued to have a bad feeling that Vadim and I were reaching too close to home for the person responsible. Why was it nagging me that it could be someone from my past? I didn’t prosecute people. I defended them. Still, I couldn’t ditch the sensations like bugs crawling all over me.

I climbed out, shoving the key fob into my pocket. Ivan immediately eased from the SUV, nodding as he walked in my direction.

“Is the house secure?” I asked and continuously scanned the surrounding area. The location directly on the beach prevented most traffic, aided by the council running the area. They owned part of the actual city council, which acquiesced to the requests more often than not. Still, there were enough vehicles and people it concerned me.