Page 25 of Niko's Printsessa
“Or, he doesn’t know where she is and he’s trying to push her presence.”
She shivers. “Is Pop okay? What about Zoya?”
“Extra security has been added to everyone, Bec.”
“Summer and Tali?”
“Of course.”
I ask, “You still don’t think this has anything to do with Rocco Netti or his death?”
“It’s hard to tell. Becca was an intricate part in saving those girls and getting them the assistance they needed. Maybe some sleazeball sold their girlfriend or daughter and wants revenge because they never got paid.”
I look to Becca, “Do you have all the girls’ information?”
“Most of them. We had a couple who left the very next day. We tried to reassure them, but they were terrified and in the country illegally.”
Andrei orders, “Get Ino all the information you have. Maybe we need to look at this from another angle.”
She nods at the phone, “Okay.”
“Nik, I heard you’re going with Sergei tonight.”
“My knives are sharpened.”
“Becca, can you stay out of trouble?”
“Kind of hard to attempt an escape with Uncle Max and his men guarding me," she grumbles, "and you knew I’d never cause issues for him or Anya. You’re playing on my guilt.”
She’s right, and we were counting on that. Maura, Aunt Zoya’s best friend, is Anya's mother, so Anya and Becca grew up together. Max was a part of Boris’s crew when he married Maura, which was probably the only reason Zoya was allowed to keep her friend. Like many others, Max was thrilled when Andrei became Pakhan.
Her voice changes to a plea, “Andrei, please, I want to go to the distillery. Can’t you make that happen? There’s so much to do before the grand opening.”
“The distillery is the last place I want you.”
“I feel like a grounded teenager,” she huffs.
“The quicker we find the fucker, the quicker you can get back to your life. Instead of whining about it, try thinking of anyone who’s got a beef with you.”
“Believe me, I’ve racked my brain over it. You’re the Pakhan, I’m a nobody. If I had any idea, I would’ve throat punched the loser already.”
“Did you piss off any boyfriends?”
“I don’t do boyfriends. You know that.”
“Maybe if you did and settled down….”
“Stop. Just because you and Sergei are in matrimony bliss doesn’t mean it’s in the cards for me.”
“I could marry you off.”
She gasps, “Don’t even joke about that, Drei. You promised me.”
“I would never. Summer would kill me.”
“How is Summer?”
“Doctor has her on bedrest. Something about high blood pressure. They are going to induce her if she doesn’t deliver soon. She’s enjoying being spoiled.”