Page 130 of Wrapped in Perfection

I put my hands in the air. "I'm not suggesting that."

Silence ensues. We lock eyes, both trying to figure out who to pin his death on. Then it hits me.

"Zamir. He's the fall guy. Let the Rossi family fight it out with the Petrovs."

Maksim shakes his head. "It could backfire, and Zamir could gain more control. It puts our people in more danger."

"What if it's the way to destroy Zamir?"

"We can't risk it. You know what happens if Zamir gains more power."

"If we—"

The buzzer rings. Maksim goes to the intercom. "Yes?"

"We have a package for you. It requires your signature. Do you want me to send the man up, or would you like to come down?"

"Send him up," Maksim orders. He turns. "Every move we make has consequences. Both our problems need to go away, but we cannot afford to be careless."

"I agree. But the longer this goes on, the more danger this puts everyone in, including Anna. Lorenzo is a loose cannon. He's cocky. It makes me nervous."

"His arrogance will be his downfall. When the—" the elevator dings, and Maksim goes to sign for the package.

"What is this?" Maksim asks.

"I'm just the delivery guy," a younger man's voice claims.

"Thanks."

Maksim comes back into the room and sets a box on the table. It's not an ordinary box. It's white and expensive looking. There's a fancy, red bow around it.

"Secret admirer?" I tease.

"No idea who would send me a gift."

"Are you seeing Jade again?"

Maksim shrugs. "You know how she is. Doubt she sent me something."

Maksim furrows his brows and tugs at the ribbon. It falls, and he takes his knife out of his pocket, flips it open, and slices through the tape. He opens the flaps and pulls out bubble wrap then sharply raises his hands in the air. "What the fuck!"

The hairs on my arms stand up. I step forward and glance in the box. "Fuck sake! Whose arm is that?" A man's hand and arm, up to his elbow, is in the box, frozen from death, and the stench flares in my nostrils.

Maksim reaches into the box and pulls out an envelope. He opens it. He growls, "Mother..."

"What does it say?"

"Sign while you still are capable." His eyes turn to slits.

"We can't wait. He's escalating," I bark.

Maksim picks up his phone. "Tolik. I need everything you have on the Rossi family and then I need you to dig some more. And put Obrecht on Lorenzo, starting now."

Obrecht moves between New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. He goes where our family needs him, tracking down the most dangerous men who threaten any Ivanov. His data will enable us to decide when Lorenzo meets his fate, and who else around him needs to experience our wrath.

"Move him out of Atlanta. Transfer Kaapo there. He can handle that matter. This snake is more pressing," Maksim demands and hangs up.

"I'm putting Anna on lockdown."

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