Page 62 of Little Fury

“Okay. “

“I’m going to assume Alexi’s name came up when you asked who sent them?”

I don’t answer. Instead, I raise my hand and tip it side to side, just like my buddy from last night.

“What do you mean, kind of?”

“Alexi and Enzo,”I say leaving it hanging there for him. I sit quietly, letting him think about it.

“Well, that's not great if they’re working together.”

“Not great for me, no,”I confirm for him.

“Okay, Parker is back in a couple of hours. I'll let you know what we can find out.”

“OK, I need to talk to Parker. Can you have him call me when he gets back to the ranch? Also, I wired you some money for Sebastian for the cleaners last night. Can you get it to him for me?”

“I can do that.”

“Great. Okay, Harry, I gotta go.”

“I’ll let you know what we find out.”

I nod at him and end the call. I sit back in my chair and look out at the ocean. I’m going to miss this place when we leave. The development of Enzo being in bed with Alexi may complicate things for me. While I’m 99% sure Alexi is using Enzo so that if he succeeds in killing me, he can lay blame at his feet, so Marcus doesn’t ever find out about his hand in it.

I realized a couple of years back that my relationship with Marcus wasn't exactly something his father or the Sokolovs were particularly fond of. Marcus has always listened to advice from his mother’s family except where I’m concerned and, by association, the Ranch. I was never leaving the Ranch, so neither was Marcus. Enzo never cared or even bothered to check on his son until Mila’s family decided they should check on the Russian princess’s only child.

Mila’s father may have doted on his daughter, giving her anything and everything, but after she died, out of grief, they left Marcus with his father and left the country. I believe they honestly thought the boy's father would raise and love him. They were very wrong, but I’ve seen Marcus’s grandfather with him. I see the way he looks at him. He sees his daughterin Marcus, and he would never have left him with Enzo had he known just what that asshole was.

We will be in New York in two days, and the minute we arrive, Marcus won’t wait to pay his father a visit. Enzo will happen fast. Then, it will take a few days for the lawyers and banks to transfer everything to the younger Rossi. I find I have no feelings about the older Rossi and what Marcus and I are about to reign down on him. The only change I would make would be to just kill Enzo. Marcus wants him to suffer, I think that will be very messy; but I am here to support only.

Iwork for a couple of hours, only stopping when my phone rings and I see Parker's name appear.

“Hey.”I say as I answer,“Give me one sec.”I grab my headphones and turn them on. I hear the Bluetooth click on.“You there?”I ask.

“Yup, I’m here.”

“How’s things Parker?”I ask as I make my way out of the house and head towards the water. It’s a very calm afternoon,

“Things are good. What’s up, Ava? Tell Parker what you need,”he asks me. I hear keys clicking in the background, telling me he’s working while we chat.

“I need you to find me some candidates.”

“What type?”

“I need a you to start, as well as my own Wes, Theo, and Sebastian,”he laughs.

“I figured you would. I’ve started a list.I have a few names you and Marcus will each like, so you will have to decide who works best for you guys.”

“Actually, Parker, I need them just for me. I have a feeling Marcus will be receiving a few of his family members to fill those roles.”

“Okay, then. Let me see. I have a couple of guys in mind for each of your specifications.”I can hear the air quotes when he says“specifications.”As I walk in the surf, enjoying the feel of the water on my feet, I can’t help but laugh.

“And you've fully vetted them?”

“Ava Landry!!!! You did not just insult me like that,”he says, his voice raised, clearly annoyed. I know he would never do a half-assed job.

“Sorry, I know you wouldn’t give me names if they weren't solid. Just not thinking before I spoke.” I tell him, my apology sincere.

---