Dirty Passions An Interracial Russian Mafia Romance (The Lion and The Mouse #5) - Kenya Wright Page 0,153

call.”

“We will have more men, but first there will need to be conversations.”

“With who, Kazimir?”

“The Sicilians. It’s in their best interests to work with the brotherhood to get a hold of what’s going on in Calabria.” I shrugged. “Whoever helped Pavel is doing this against someone else. I’m guessing they’re preparing to fight Cosa Nostra. Therefore, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Tension appeared to ease away from David. “And either one of those groups will have the lay of the land and local resources.”

“And they will be happy to give them to us.”

“We just have to make sure that we don’t get killed in the process.”

I winked. “The Italians will act accordingly. They don’t want any problems with the brotherhood. They saw what I did to Paris. No one wants a bomb in their country.”

David took his hands out of his pockets and leaned against the railing. “What about the Nigerians?”

“Black Axe will be trickier. We have no real history with them. It will be hard to predict their moves.”

David looked out at the water. “I would like to always be by your side, when you handle either group.”

I nodded. “Besides my mouse, you’re the only other person that could stand next to me.”

“It’s an honor. Besides, Baba said that you would prevail as long as I was by your side.”

I smirked. “We can’t ignore Baba.”

“No. We cannot.”

I patted his back. “Get some rest, David.”

“I will.”

I headed away, stopped, and turned around. “I almost forgot. I always take care of my friends. When you get to your room, you’ll find a little treat inside. Maxwell and Boris have the same gifts. I was unsure of what to get Blue. Tell her that she will be rewarded too, once I can figure out a nice package for her.”

“A treat?”

“A very naked and beautiful female treat.”

“I like those sort of treats.”

“You deserve it. May you all have fun with your guests this evening. And then get lots of rest, eat good, take your vitamins, and all of that. Soon, there will be war and I need everyone at their best.”

David chuckled behind me.

With a heavy mind, I made it back to my suite. I couldn’t get our conversation out of my head. He had brought up great points.

“What about the Nigerians?” David had asked.

“Black Axe will be trickier. We have no real history with them. It will be hard to predict their moves.”

Somehow, we had to outthink Fela. It would be difficult. Since the first moment of monkey heads, he had been setting up the board. He was more ready to play than I was.

Baba’s words returned to me. In her reading before the plane took off, she had pulled out an odd card.

“And here is your last card, lion.” Baba had turned over the card. “The three of cups.”

On the card, three men stood in a circle. All of them raised their cups high in the air as if they were toasting some celebration. Each man looked to the other with appreciation, honor, and respect.

Baba tapped the card with her jeweled stick. “There needs to be a creative collaboration with this mission in Italy. On this card, you are one of the three men.”

“And who are the others?”

“One would be the Italians. I believe there is a group down there that is in desperate need of your help.”

“Me too.”

She gazed at the card and smiled. “And then of course, there’s the French.”

“No. I do not want to see any of them again.”

“It looks like they will come and be of help.”

“I do not need Jean-Pierre and his cousins help.”

“Look at the card, lion.” She tapped it again. “The three men are strong. There is a sense of lifting each other up and celebrating each unique contribution to the group.”

“Perhaps, you should re-shuffle the cards and start again.”

Baba ignored me. “Look at these flowers. The ground is layered with flowers, fruit, and a pumpkin, symbolizing the celebration of an abundant harvest and the goodness in life.”

I frowned at her.

“It is what it is, Kazimir. Unite into three and you will be strong.”

I didn’t want to ignore Baba’s advisement. However, if I saw Jean-Pierre again, I was sure I would try to kill him. For now, I would have to spend the ride down Italy’s coast, thinking of a way to avoid the French’s involvement.

Is there a way?

I entered the master suite’s living room. It was empty. I knew she wouldn’t be in the office. I headed to the bedroom and