Dirty Passions An Interracial Russian Mafia Romance (The Lion and The Mouse #5) - Kenya Wright Page 0,110

want to kill the ones terrorizing my mouse?”

Jean-Pierre nodded. “She’s my friend. They put dead animals on her bed. They threatened her with racist taunts. I would like to handle this personally.”

“And you think that when you kill her enemies, my heart will warm to you and you’ll finally get that kiss that you’ve been dreaming of?”

“Oh, Kazimir.” Jean-Pierre stepped closer. “I want more than a kiss.”

“I bet you do.”

“I want peace.”

“Then give me the names!”

Jean-Pierre lifted his hand and wagged his finger. “Patience is a virtue.”

“And Eden is paradise.”

Jean-Pierre’s face twisted into rage.

“Did you know that since the moment Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, man has desperately been searching for that location. They believe Eden is still here on this planet.” Kaz circled him, prowling like the creature he’d been named after. He took his time and then stopped in front of Jean-Pierre again. “Scholars have searched for Eden. Some have looked at the head of the Persian Gulf, in southern Mesopotamia, where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers run into the sea. But do you know what?”

Jean-Pierre looked close to killing him. “What, Kazimir?”

“I know exactly where Eden is—your paradise. She’s in a large house in Nice, overlooking a beautiful ocean with some lovely aunts of yours.”

Giorgio got to Jean-Pierre’s side. But it didn’t look like he was there to help fight. He appeared more than ready to make sure Jean-Pierre didn’t charge and attack.

Kazimir scowled. “These games run both ways, little pansy. You do anything to jeopardize Emily and my child, and nothing will save you, not your cousins, or the Corsican. And believe me. All paradise will be lost. I will flatten your country. I will kill everyone you love. Your cousins. Your men. Your aunts. And especially your flute player.”

“Violin!” Jean-Pierre’s face reddened. He breathed in and out, adjusted the top of his tie, and then cleared his throat. “It is a goddamn violin.”

I walked over to Kaz and Jean-Pierre, before the situation got worse. “Okay. Everyone must relax.”

They both turned my way.

“J.P. wants to help us find the monkey head guy.” I looked at Kaz. “For that, J.P. wants forgiveness.”

“And perhaps a new nickname,” Jean-Pierre muttered.

Kaz grumbled, “I won’t be muscled by a guy that drowns himself in perfume and has taken great care in disrespecting me—”

“I admit kidnapping your mouse wasn’t a good idea.”

“You did more than kidnap her. She lost one of our twins.”

“I didn’t know she was pregnant.”

“Oh.” Kaz roared, “Would it have changed things?”

Jean-Pierre blinked. “Perhaps.”

I got to Kaz’s side and held his hand, hoping he would calm down. If he made a move for Jean-Pierre, Louis would pull the trigger. Out of all the cousins, Louis was the last one that should have been holding the rocket launcher. Everything about Louis meant business. There would be no middle ground with him. For once, I missed Rafael’s funny, laid back sense of humor.

I leaned Kaz’s way. “Baba talked about a King of Diamonds protecting me.”

Kaz groaned.

David quirked his brows at me but kept his gun steady.

And Jean-Pierre looked utterly confused.

“I know this isn’t how you do things, but. . .” I swallowed. “He has the names—”

Kaz turned to me. “Give him free reign to kill my brothers?”

Jean-Pierre smiled. “Lucky for me, they’re not all Bratva. Perhaps, I’ll let you handle the one.”

Kaz growled, “Who are the others?”

Jean-Pierre didn’t flinch. “I want free reign in Russia to locate and secure them.”

I jumped in. “You get free rein to grab the men, but you don’t kill them. If you bring a bunch of dead, skinned up bodies our way, how the hell do we know they’re the ones that did it?”

Jean-Pierre nodded. “I’ll bring them to you alive.”

“And able to talk and see. A tortured man will say anything.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I want proof that they’re the ones involved.”

“You’ll have your proof and the men. I just need your lion and his people off our backs.”

I looked at Kaz. “Thoughts?”

“You think you’re up for the task.” Kaz continued to glare at Jean-Pierre. “I’ll give you free rein, but like Emily said, I want evidence and the men wrapped in a pretty bow.”

“A pretty bow?” Jean-Pierre smiled. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Don’t be cute.” Kaz took my hand. “You have forty-eight hours.”

Jean-Pierre quirked his brows. “Forty-eight hours may be difficult to manage.”

Kaz shrugged. “That’s all the time that Eden has.”

Jean-Pierre didn’t appreciate that answer. “That’s not a threat you want to say. We both know