Page 105 of Heritage of Fire

Nik

The drive into work on Wednesday is bothersome. Everything and everyone is annoying me. I can’t seem to think straight—even though it’s imperative I do right now.

Tomorrow.

The raid on EV’s meeting is tomorrow night, and today we need to go over the plan with Salvatore’s second, Matteo. Luka won’t be going with us to take out the Eight for obvious reasons, but I’d be lying if I said this doesn’t worry me.

Luna’s words about kids yesterday didn’t scare me because she might want children. They scared me because I might want them, too. With her. And that’s something I can’t be distracted with right now.

A car swerves in front of me and I curse the driver, pulling right up to his bumper to piss him off. I’m jittery and irritated, and all I want is to go home to my wife. She deserves so much more out of this life than waiting up until past midnight for her husband to come home.

Luna knew something wasn’t right last night. Seeing her choose a ring for herself—it felt like she was choosingme, and it yanked my heart wide open. I wasn’t expecting the want andlonging to grip me so hard—taking me by the head and pulling me under—but it did.

I’ve never felt closer to understanding my mother than I do right now. Always coming second to the pakhan where my father was concerned, having to leave her own home when my father required it for Bratva business, and raising a son in a world she had no control over. Do I want that for Luna? How can I possibly give her the life she deserves?

After darting around several cars and taking the shortest route possible, I make it to the office building in record time and shift into park next to Ivan’s vehicle.

As I’m reaching into the back seat, fumbling around for my blueprints, my hand snags on Luna’s sweater. I pause and trace my thumb over the soft cashmere material. The way she’d worn it last night with the first few buttons open at the top flashes through my memory.

Bringing it to my nose, I inhale her sweet scent, and a subtle moan escapes my mouth. The memory of laying her down between the sheets the other night gives me chills that aren’t associated with the upcoming raid.

Every interaction with Luna since has been meant to convey what I feel for her. To show her how much I value her.Mine. My wife. I’m growing more and more mad for this woman. Her pleasure is my new favorite thing.

The building is bustling with early morning activity. I don’t wait for the elevator, instead opting to clear my head with the thirty-five floors of stairs. I plow through the door leading to the stairwell and start the jog to the top.

With each echo of my shoes hitting the concrete steps, I school my thoughts. I’ve always been able to compartmentalize my emotions, and I refuse to enter this meeting with Luna at the forefront of my mind. This is one of the most significantraids we’ve ever attempted, and I can only hope every other Cosa Nostra and Bratva player involved has his head on straight.

Natallia greets me with a silent nod, but I don’t offer up my usual banter or winks—I can’t be that person right now. It’s like she knows, because she goes right back to her work, likely concerned with Igor’s own involvement during this raid.

Luka stands as soon as I enter the room. Our eyes meet and his jaw ticks, his focus extra sharp. “Nikolai, this is Matteo.” He gestures to a bald, built-looking man who’s scowling at me from the corner.

Matteo moves forward and extends his hand to me, and I shuffle my tube of blueprints around to take it.

“Where’s Salvatore?” I ask.

Matteo’s nostrils flare and a small grunt breaks his silence. “Mr. Buscetta is not coming, as he has other matters to attend to.”

I frown. Other matters? “Like what? Does he not care that eight of his men will be eliminating another organization tomorrow?” I ask.

Luka shoots me a look, preventing me from continuing my line of questioning. “Salvatore is following leads on Isabella today but will be stationed with me tomorrow,” he says, scrolling through his phone a moment before turning it over on his desk.

“Right,” I deadpan.

I’m annoyed Salvatore isn’t here to avenge the daughter he left to the wolves. I pop open the tube’s top and pour out the large rolled sheets—blueprints of the restaurant the Eight will be meeting at.

“I had to get physical copies because this building’s schematics aren’t in digital form.” Matteo moves next to me as I open one of the rolls and assists by adding a paperweight to each corner. I point out the main entrance.

“According to Kieran’s man, the Eight will have the entire restaurant closed down, and because they’re not meeting at the EV club, we can assume they’ll be carting in security. The main entrance will likely be the most fortified, so I suggest we take this back entrance through the kitchen.”

I flip to the site plan and point out the small service-access alley that butts up against the back door. “Thisis our best option for access,” I say.

Luka points at the park across the street. “The park is where I will be with Salvatore then. It will give us enough distance while also allowing us to monitor your progress.”

“Is the plan to take out the power?” Matteo asks, surveying the drawings of the building’s interior.

“Does the Cosa Nostra have experience with night optical devices? Can your men handle the raid while using the equipment?”

“We can handle it. But if I may offer a different perspective?”

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