me the picture and told me about the dead gorilla. I want to help you. I don’t want you to leave Russia, after that.”
“Don’t worry about me leaving, Fatuma. It will take a lot more than a dead gorilla to scare me away.” I gripped the bag harder.
With a sad expression, she held my gaze. “If the person who put that symbol on your wall, is involved with the people who follow this book. . .then they are a nasty group. Keep your lion close. Don’t face them on your own.”
“I won’t.”
“It’s in English. I was never able to truly understand it all.” She gazed uneasily at the bag. “Don’t read this in front of people or even outside. You never know who is a part of this group. These people don’t want their information to get out.”
“Okay.”
“Fatuma!” A black woman with long gray braids peeked her head out into the hallway. “We have to finish up.”
“Give me a few minutes.” Fatuma hugged me. “Come back, Emily. You must have dinner at my house this week. Bring your lion with you.”
Boris shook his head. “Mother, she will be very busy—”
“I can definitely come by.” I left her hold. “I’ve been thinking about that Fufu since I ate it.”
She beamed with pride. “All love my Fufu.”
We left after that. I couldn’t help but feel joy with the shelter. While I didn’t know how much Fatuma and Boris’s sister could handle. They had proven to be efficient and caring. As soon as things calmed down, I planned to give them more money and begin other projects in Kapotnya. It was their district after all. They would know the things that were necessary to help the locals’ lives.
When we got to the limo, Boris stopped by the door. “Where do you want to go next?”
“I was thinking last night about the mess with the gorilla.” I sighed. “Kaz wants me to handle things in Kapotnya and not deal with that, but Yuri is from here and he died over me. It wouldn’t hurt to go to his place.”
“It wouldn’t.” Boris nodded. “I wanted to go by and check out his room, but the emergency of Paris came. And then when we returned. I didn’t have the time.”
“Then, let’s go to his house next.” I headed to the limo. “After that. . .Abram’s brothels and the krokodil houses.”
“What will we do with both of those situations?” Boris asked.
“Shut them the fuck down,” I thought of Kaz’s warning to be careful, “if we can.”
“We’ll need people.”
“Get them and guns. Have everyone meet us at the first spot we will go. Do you know the locations?”
“I’ve lived here all my life. I know all the locations.”
“Good. But first Yuri. We let his murder go unsolved for too long. Now it’s time to take care of business.”
“Okay.” Boris frowned. “The only thing is. . .Yuri lived with his mother.”
I considered that information. “That’s fine. We don’t want to bother her. In fact, I would love to help her, if she needs it. Yuri did good by me. The least I can do is give his mother money and check on his relatives.”
Boris stopped.
I did too, waiting for him to say something important.
He gave me a sad smile and gazed at me for half a minute.
I swallowed. “O-kay. So, let’s head out.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
What was that about?
We walked off.
Boris opened the limo door.
I climbed in the car.
Max followed, suspiciously quiet throughout the entire ordeal in the shelter.
Boris shut the door and raced off to the van.
“Yep.” Max nodded his head. “Boris is definitely in love with you.”
“What the hell? Nothing happened just now.”
“Come on, Em. His mother loves you. You gave him a whole new life. His neighborhood is better. You’re fucking Joan of Arc to him. If you needed his heart or lungs, he would personally cut the organs out and hand them to you.”
“Max, I’m ignoring you. And by the way, keep this theory from Kaz, please.”
“You think the lion doesn’t know Boris is crushing on you? Shit. He knows.” Max took out a joint from his pocket, looked at me, and then cursed. “Damn. I guess I can’t smoke weed around you anymore. Not good for the baby?”
“Not good.”
“Man, I can’t wait to see him or her. I wonder what you’re having. It will be my niece or nephew. And in the college years, we’re going to be smoking together.”
“You better not. By the way, Baba says I’m carrying a boy, but don’t tell Kaz. He