Page 50 of Echoes of Sin

“Oh, thank god!” Brooke gasped.

I addressed her friend, “Lara, could you take Karina upstairs please,” the woman did as I asked.

“Karina,” Brooke cried softly, as if she was too exhausted to scream.

I grabbed Brooke’s arms and brought her to her feet, kissing her cheek before I pressed my forehead to hers. “Brooke, I need you to go to your room and get cleaned up. Go with Lara and Karina. Can you do that?”

She took a step back, shrugging out of my hold, and instantly the air between us cooled. “I’m fine.”

“Listen to me, you’re in shock. Go get cleaned up and then sit with our little girl. I need to deal with this and then I’ll find you. I promise. I’m not going anywhere.” I knew she needed the assurance, and I was happy to give it to her because it was the truth. “Please.”

She looked from me to her brother, and then at the two dead bodies in her living room. “You’ll come back?”

I smiled. “Just try to get rid of me.” I winked and walked her to her bedroom, leaving a too quick kiss on her sweet lips.

In the living room, Ryan approached me first while Dmitri was busy gathering the identifying items from the bodies. His broad shoulders were squared, his expression unhappy. “Ilya.”

I flashed a smile. “So much for the off-duty police officer.”

His lips twitched, but I knew he wasn’t ready to let himself laugh. “I am always on duty.” His words carried an additional weight that I immediately understood.

“Duly noted,” I said seriously. “And thank you, for taking care of Oleg’s man.”

His expression turned thunderous. “You should have taken him out first,” He nudged Igor’s body with his foot.

In his place, I would have said the same thing. “Oleg was his boss, with him dead he would have a split second to decide whether to retaliate or swear allegiance to his pakhan’s killer. That would have given me ample time to deal with him—luckily, you arrived saving me any moral dilemma. Besides, Brooke would never have forgiven me if a bullet had come anywhere near Karina. Oleg was the priority.” He didn’t need to know why. Not yet.

“Does she know that?”

“Yes,” I answered.

Ryan stared at me for a long time, trying to test my strength or see down to my soul, I wasn’t sure. “She doesn’t seem to hate you anymore.”

“That is good, because I love her. And she loves you, which makes you my family whether you like it or not.”

“I don’t.”

I laughed. “I didn’t think you would. And that’s why I need you to get the hell out of here.”

He crossed his arms, looking very much like a lawman. “Excuse me?”

“You are going to make me say it?”

He nodded. “I am.”

“You want to call this in,” I guessed correctly. “If you do that, there will be no hiding your connection to the bratva. Oleg is well known in many jurisdictions across the world.”

“And?”

“And his dead body inside your sister’s home will mean the end of your career. No promotions or special details, this is where you will stay. Also, it may put a target on your back, putting your family at risk.” My words started to penetrate his stubborn brain. “That is not what you want or deserve.”

“And when you and my sister figure your shit out?”

I smiled that he had confidence we would figure it out, and then I shrugged. “My father wasn’t as well-known as bratva, just a businessman. The rumors will persist, but I will continue to chalk them up to American ignorance, believing all Russians to be mafia or spies.”

He continued to glare at me, so I decided to open up to my—hopefully—future brother-in-law, “I have someone who can ensure this is covered up.”

“You’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?” he said shaking his head in disbelief.

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