Page 6 of Psychological War
But Dimitri would most likely murder me for touching her. It wasn’t until after we rescued her that Mila finally began to trust me.
Thankfully, my size never deterred Tobias. I was larger than most men at six foot six, weighing 270 pounds. It also just meant I was perfect to be Dimitri’s enforcer. Dimitri’s the Pakhan, the Bratva leader. He was ruthless. Just not as ruthless as I am.
“What kind of snack?” I asked him to sit down on the countertop. Something I learned about myself once Tobias arrived was that I’m a big push over. But only to him. Tobias could ask me for anything, and I would get it for him. Which he knew because last year he asked for a BB gun. And me being the best uncle I got him three. Mila did not like that one bit.
“I think…” He tapped his chin as though he was in deep thought of what he wanted. “COOKIES!” he shouted.
“If you want cookies, I think it’s best if you don’t yell,” I smirked. Turning around, I headed for the cookie jar Mila tried to keep hidden away.
“You know you’re smart.” Tobias giggled.
Grabbing two cookies, I held one out to Tobias and shoved the other one in my mouth.
“You need milk, little dude?” I asked, grabbing the gallon from the fridge, pouring myself a small glass.
“Yeah,” Tobias said around a mouthful of cookie.
“I know you’re not talking with your mouth full,” Killian said, walking into the kitchen and snatching the rest of the cookie from Tobias hand. Tobias glared at Killian before swallowing.
“You’re being a bully,” he growled. When Tobias got like this, he reminded me so much of Dimitri. He’s the perfect mix between Mila and Dimitri.
“It’s okay little dude, I’ll get you another one.” Already doing so, I handed him another cookie and a small cup of milk. “Are you coming in here for a reason or just to steal a four-year-old’s cookie?” I glared over at Killian. Killian was the third friend in the group. While I’m the enforcer, I also handle most of the men. Killian handled all security. He was in charge of watching all the accounts and books. He was also a genius, scary smart. Killian was the best hacker/computer nerd out there. For someone who was as smart as himself, he was also the dumbest. A year after Dimitri and I met, we were sitting at a club back in Boston, where Killian decided it was a good idea to march up to the table and demand a job from Dimitri. I was surprised when he hadn’t killed Killian on the spot for it. But he proved himself to be smart and the best hacker. Therefore, he did get a job and slowly became one of our closest friends.
“Both.” Killian grinned over at Tobias inching to steal his cookie again.
“You try to steal my snack again, I'll sic Uncle Zaney on you,” Tobias threatened, shoving more of his snack into his mouth. “And he’ll kick your ass.”
I couldn’t help laughter escaping my lips at Tobias’s swearing and using me to beat Killian’s ass.
“Tobias Volkov!” Killian gasped, acting as though he was hurt. “Zane couldnotbeat my ass.”
Tobias fell into a fit of giggles. Ever since he was born everything around here changed. At first, I hated it. I hated the change. But around the time he was three months old Dimitri was out with Killian. Mila had asked me to watch him while she took a quick shower after he got sick all over her. I was scared shitless. I may be a ruthless killer, someone who could blow someone else’s brains out. But watching a three-month-old, who waited until his mother was showering to shit his own brains out… Those ten minutes Mila was out of commission, Tobias managed to shit so much it got all over his clothes. A blowout they call it. Which of course, somehow, he thought he was completely hilarious. I was running around with a shitty baby trying to find where the diapers and wipes were. But once he was laughing after I got the situation under control, I found myself smiling and laughing with him.
Ever since then I was okay with the change around the house.
“We’re taking a trip,” Dimitri announced as he walked into the kitchen. “Mila wants to go visit home again. And Luca has been asking about setting up a meeting.”
“What is the meeting about?” Killian asked.
“I’m not really sure, but I think it has something to do with Leonardo, Finn, and Donato’s deaths.”
“Donato was killed along with Matteo four years ago.” Four years ago when Matteo took Mila, we found Donato as well. There was a rumor going around that there was a man called Ghost who was taking out the Cosa Nostra. After Finn, Leonardo and Donato were brutally murdered, and Luca took his remaining close men underground. I don’t know why he decided now was the time to come back to the land of the living.
“Yes, and from what he’s saying he believes Ghost is going to come back once he makes his appearance again.” I sat back against the kitchen sink as Dimitri walked over to his son, picking him up. It was odd at first watching Dimitri, the man who hated any physical contact like myself, show so much affection towards his wife and son.
“Hate to keep asking questions, but what does that have to do with us?” Killian always had questions about every little detail.
Dimitri shrugged as he carried him towards a set of stairs. “I don’t know, which is why I need you to hack into his accounts to see what he’s been doing. See what you can find out, anything at all.” Turning his focus towards me, he said, “When we arrive I’ll need you to follow the lower rank of his men and see what they're doing.”
Grunting, I nodded my head in agreement. I was better at watching and following people than most other things.
“When are we leaving?” Killian asked.
“Mommy wants to leave today.” Tobias cheered in his father’s arms. Tobias was the only four-year-old I knew who loved traveling as much as he did. Though he’s also the only four-year-old I knew.
“And where is Mommy?” I asked quietly.
“Packing.” He giggles. Of course he also knew that we were taking this trip. He also knew before any of us did. The first year Mila walked around eggshells around us, even after the number of times all three of us told her she was safe. It wasn’t until Dimitri accidentally dropped one of her pieces of artwork in the house that she let loose. I cringed remembering the little fireball she became.