Page 38 of Savage Bratva King

“I wasn’t. It seems that you have a very different image of yourself to the one you present to the rest of the world.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, you act like you’re a demon in an expensive suit, but Marvel can see right through you. You see, Mr. Ivanov, dogs can’t smell guns. They smell love and fear and hate and they share their affections accordingly.”

“What can he smell on you, Miss Sedric?” I can tell when her eyes widen momentarily that the innuendo isn’t lost on her.

“Something that you might not understand. Kindness and honesty.”

Movement in the corner of my eyes claims my attention, and I find Ivana striding towards us across the neat lawn. She wears her customary black leathers, the green flicks at the corners of her eyes elongating them and giving her an air of intended wickedness.

A low growl rumbles somewhere deep inside Marvel’s chest, and he stands, placing his body between Ivana and Gianna.

“Down, boy.”

The dog doesn’t even acknowledge my command. His ears, usually large and proud, are flat against his head, and his haunches are lowered, ready to attack. He starts barking before Ivana is within touching distance.

She glares at him. “Shut the dog up, Pakhan.”

I bristle. “He is simply doing his job. What is it?”

“You should come.” Her eyes roam from Marvel to Gianna and finally settle on me. Then she turns around and heads back to the house.

“I should go.” I have no idea why I’m explaining my movements to Gianna, but I guess a small part of me wants her to know that, given the option, I would stay. “Come, Marvel.”

The dog doesn’t move. He sits down at her feet and watches me with his mouth open in what is unmistakably a wide grin.

“Can I have a bit longer?” Gianna’s eyes are wide and clear. “Please?”

“I’ll bring the dog back inside.” Tamara joins us, and Marvel immediately springs to his feet again, protecting his new friend.

“Fine.”

I follow Ivana inside, leaving the dog to settle the logistics of getting him back to the house. I can’t help smiling. It’s obvious who is going to win, and it won’t be Tamara.

Ivana is waiting for me in my study with my sister Victoria. She doesn’t sit down. “The Irish are retaliating.”

Another piece of the plan sliding into place. Not long ago, I ‘persuaded’ a member of the Irish clan to defect to my team; he proved himself useful by orchestrating Gianna Sedric’s abduction, while I made certain that Xander Amory would be able to trace his sister-in-law’s disappearance back to them. Now, I can sit back and watch this little distraction from the comfort of my own business, while the asset is in my garden playing with my dog.

“Is that all?” My mind is still outside; this is the reason why I have people like Ivana to see that my orders are carried out.

“The shipments.” She pauses, watching me coolly. “We have already missed two days.”

“We can proceed as planned with tonight’s shipment. I’ll send Sergei to oversee the delivery.”

“Perhaps we should postpone,” Victoria says. “There is too much at stake with the asset here.”

“Everything is under control.”

“Everything? Xander Amory hasn’t even begun his counterstrike yet.”

“And we will be ready when he does.”

I know Victoria is only doing her job, making sure that the lines I cross in the name of the Ivanov business are blurred beyond recognition when the Chicago Police Department comes to look at them. But Gianna Sedric is in my care, and I’m bristling at the thought of any interruptions from anyone… Including my own sister.

“What about the printzessa?” Ivana’s voice is all cold metal and barbed wire.

“What about her?”

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