Til Death Do Us Part (Kornilov Bratva Duet #2) - Nicole Fox Page 0,45

it. Thanks, but I got it.”

Petr congratulates me again on the alliance before we hang up, and even now, knowing he is lying to me, it sounded genuine. Petr had me perfectly fooled.

I switch to my texts and message George.

Find out who Petr is meeting with. ASAP.

Seamus is sitting with his back against a brick wall, facing the dining room of the restaurant. It’s not surprising after the assassination attempt last night. I’d be nervous, too.

I take the seat across from him and grip his hand in a firm shake. “Good to see you again so soon.”

“Sorry for the late notice,” he says. “I just thought it would be best to talk in person.”

“Of course, what have you found?”

Molly was nervous about her interruption at the dinner last night. Admittedly, I was nervous, too. My alliance with Seamus was tenuous, and if it looked like I couldn’t control my wife, what would he think?

Luckily, Seamus is familiar with strong, outspoken women. His wife is the same way.

Plus, Molly was right. Keeping the waiter alive and questioning him served a far better purpose than quick vengeance.

Seamus sighs and rolls his eyes. “Just as you suspected. It was Fedor’s doing.”

“He knows I am trying to take him down. I should have guessed he’d try to interfere.”

“It isn’t your fault,” Seamus says. “My men somehow let the man he hired through the doors. I need to increase security.”

How did Fedor know where we were meeting? Obviously Fedor found out, but how?

“Do you have any idea how our meeting location got out?” Seamus asks, giving voice to my own thoughts.

I shake my head. “No idea, but I plan to find out.”

Petr is my first thought. He knew where the dinner was being held, and if he is betraying me, he could have told Fedor.

Still, I don’t want to put any suspicion on Petr until I’m sure. I don’t want to jeopardize a relationship between Petr and Seamus if I don’t have to. Plus, part of me is still desperately hoping Petr is loyal and this has all been a huge misunderstanding.

A waitress brings us each an espresso and asks whether we want anything to eat, but Seamus dismisses her with a polite refusal.

“Sorry, but I can’t stay long. Niamh is expecting me home soon.”

“I need to be getting home soon, too,” I say. Even though my “home” is empty. Molly is at her house.

“Niamh can’t stop talking about Molly. I’m afraid our wives are becoming best friends.”

“Is that bad?” I ask.

Seamus raises a brow. “They are going to share all of our secrets with one another. Soon enough, they’ll be working together to control us.”

“There are worse things that could happen.”

Seamus laughs. “Too right. We should get them together again soon. If we don’t, Niamh is going to drive me crazy with asking. She has already drawn up ideas for how Molly can redecorate the library.”

“We’ll have dinner soon,” I assure him.

We finish our espressos shortly and part with a shake and a promise.

“To our alliance,” Seamus says.

I grin. “And our friendship.”

I’m halfway home when the idea of going back to my empty apartment feels too depressing to cope with. Before I know it, I’ve turned around and am driving to Molly’s.

I knock three times and then let myself in with a key.

“Hello,” I call from the entryway, not wanting to startle her. However, my words are lost to the sound of music. Loud music.

I follow the sound to the living room where Molly and Hannah are standing in the middle of the room … with microphones … singing.

After the crazy few days I’ve had, it takes me a second to understand the happy scene in front of me. Two friends singing karaoke doesn’t jive with assassins and traitorous friends and brothers. They can’t coexist in the same story.

They are singing a duet, and Molly throws her head back during her part, eyes closed, belting it out to the ceiling. Half of the notes are off-key and shrieked, but she is passionate and loud and … happy.

Then, Molly turns towards me, and her eyes go wide, and her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She lowers her microphone and covers her face with her hand.

She is adorable.

Hannah carries on singing, pointing at Theo and encouraging him to dance, until she notices Molly has stopped and then notices me. As soon as she does, Hannah spins around and turns off the karaoke machine.

“Sorry to interrupt,” I say.

“Well, you did interrupt,” Molly says, walking across the room, her