Page 46 of Deadly Devotion
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Out? As in, leave the mansion?”
“Yes,” I said, smiling at her reaction. “I think it’s time you had a change of scenery.”
She hesitated, then nodded, a small smile on her lips. “Okay, give me a minute to get dressed.”
I watched as she climbed out of bed and crossed the room to her closet. She chose a pair of jeans, a soft, buttery yellow sweater, and her favorite black boots. There was something simple yet captivating about how she dressed, a combination of elegance and practicality that suited her perfectly.
Ducking into the bathroom, she quickly washed up and emerged looking radiant. After sliding on her jean jacket, we were ready to go. She promptly called Sandy as we walked through the mansion, reassuring herself that Sandy was safe.
Dimitri and another one of my men were already waiting by the SUV. As always, they would follow us in a separate vehicle. Protection is a constant necessity in our world.
I watched Talia from the corner of my eye as I drove to a nearby café. A soft smile appeared on her lips as she gazed out the passenger window. “I love this time of year,” she whispered. “Do you like pumpkin spiced coffee?”
“Yes,” I laughed, finding her question out of left field.
“Good, then we can be friends,” she teased.
Friends?I don’t think I’ve ever been friends with a woman. And Talia is no exception. Somehow, she has wormed her way into my heart, claiming it for herself. We continued to drive silently, my mind reeling with conflicting thoughts about this gorgeous woman beside me. What my heart wanted was in conflict with what my mind thinks is the right thing to do.
We arrived at the café, a quaint little place tucked away from the main streets. It was quiet this early in the morning, the perfect spot for a private conversation. Settling into a corner table, I ordered coffee and breakfast. Talia seemed to relax a little, enjoying the normalcy of the moment.
But as we sipped our coffee and waited for our food, I noticed her expression change. She was staring at a man across the café, her face growing pale.
“Aleksandr,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “That man... I’ve seen him at the club.”
I followed her gaze and immediately recognized the man. Tommy Lansky, a captain in the Italian mafia. Two of his men stood guard behind him, their eyes scanning the room.
“You’re safe, Talia,” I said firmly, placing my hand over hers. “He’s here to talk, nothing more.”
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, flicking from Tommy to me and back again. Placing her hands in her lap, she leaned back in her seat, squaring her shoulders.
Tommy noticed us and made his way over to our table, his men following close behind. He pulled out a chair and sat down, a slight smirk on his lips.
“Aleksandr,” he said in a smooth, confident voice. “And this must be the famous Talia. I’ve heard a lot about you.” He held his hand in greeting, but Talia just stared at it.
She glanced at me, uncertainty in her eyes. I gave her a reassuring nod. She quickly shook Tommy’s hand and then folded her hands in her lap again.
“Tommy,” I began, leaning forward slightly. “Talia was at Club Echo the night my brother was killed. She saw and heard things that you need to know.”
Tommy’s expression grew serious. “Go on.”
Talia took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. A drop of sweat trickled down her forehead. “I was working thatnight and saw Vic and Mikhail alone in a room. They were arguing about money, gambling money, I think. Vic was furious, accusing Mikhail of owing him money. Vic asked Mikhail if he thought Mr. Lupani was his private wallet. Then he told Mikhail if he didn’t pay up, he’d add more money to the owed amount.” She cleared her throat, took a sip of water, and then continued. “That’s when it got violent... and Vic pulled out a gun.”
She paused, her eyes distant as she relived the memory. “He shot Mikhail.”
Tommy listened intently, his face unreadable. When Talia finished, he nodded slowly. “I’ve had my suspicions about Vic for a while now. Stealing the gambling money... It fits.”
He turned to me, his expression hardening. “Aleksandr, I’m sorry for what happened to your brother. You have my blessing to deal with Vic as you see fit. He has crossed the line, and there will be no interference from me or Mr. Lupani.”
“Thank you, Tommy,” I said, feeling relieved. “Do you know where he is?”
Tommy nodded. “He’s been hanging out at a place downtown, a run-down warehouse near the docks. Be careful, Aleksandr. Vic is dangerous, and he’s desperate.”
I looked at Talia, her face pale but resolute. “We’ll take care of it,” I said, shaking Tommy’s hand.
Tommy stood up, his men falling in behind him. He left us in a silence that felt heavy with unspoken words. I turned back to Talia, staring at her coffee, her hands still trembling.
“Are you okay?” I asked gently.