Dirty Passions An Interracial Russian Mafia Romance (The Lion and The Mouse #5) - Kenya Wright Page 0,69

man shook his head and spoke in fast Russian.

“You heard him.” David walked over. Within a second, David grabbed the steward by his shirt collar and hauled him over to Kaz. The steward dropped to the ground, placed his hands in a praying position, and begged for his life.

My phone rang.

What the hell? Is that Jean-Pierre again?

I pulled it out and answered, “Yes?”

Humor coated Jean-Pierre’s voice. “Surprisingly, the staff is innocent. I would advise you leave them alone.”

My heart sped up. “Are you enjoying the show?”

“I am.”

Kaz spun around and glared at me.

I swallowed. “If no one on the staff is guilty, then point us in the right direction.”

“I would kill all the men watching the cameras, but unfortunately that may cut off my feed. But a good friend always says the right thing even if it could harm him personally.”

I looked at Kaz. “Jean-Pierre said everyone here is innocent. We should go for the men watching the cameras.”

Kaz sneered. I knew he didn’t want to listen to Jean-Pierre, but the last thing he wanted was to kill innocent staff members. Especially since many had been around for a long time and served his mother.

Kaz gestured for the crying steward to leave and held his hand out. “Give me the phone. I would like to talk to your friend myself.”

Jean-Pierre spoke on the other line, “I’m not interested in speaking to the lion at this time. He doesn’t look welcoming at all. I will only deal with you.”

I backed up and gripped the phone hard. “Then, give me more information.”

Kaz frowned.

Jean-Pierre continued, “Once Louis hit the lion’s security system, we were able to go back. It appears you’ve had a few more presents before. Monkey heads. A chimpanzee—”

“Whose doing it?”

“Do you know any Latin, Emily?”

“What?”

“Quid pro quo, little mouse. That’s Latin. It means something for something. That’s how we do this.”

I frowned. “What do you want?”

Kaz stepped right in front of me.

Jean-Pierre spoke, “I want France safe.”

Kaz tried to take the phone.

I held my hand out to block him. “Fine. I may be able to do that. Tell me who it is.”

“Good, but that’s not it.”

“What else?”

“No war between the Russians and French.”

“That’s it?”

“No. In my monitoring your house’s footage, I noticed something quite interesting.” Jean-Pierre’s voice shifted from chipper to mad. “It appears you have a masked guest under your house. I would like to take him off your hands.”

“A masked guest?”

His tone shifted to dark and dangerous. “I want the Devil.”

My frown deepened. “I understand.”

Kaz didn’t look pleased. Once I relayed the message, my lion would be even more pissed.

“Leave the staff alone. I’ll meet you in a few days and show you the footage,” Jean-Pierre said. “Until then, try not to kill any innocent people. I don’t enjoy watching it.”

The phone clicked.

Goddamn it.

Kaz held his hand out.

I gave him my phone.

“You’re done talking to him,” Kaz growled.

“He’s helping.”

“Is he? I don’t trust him. Jean-Pierre will only do for himself and his people.”

“Speaking of that,” I sighed. “He won’t give me the footage of who’s involved unless we give him three things.”

“What?”

“France safe. No Bratva-Corsican war. And. . .”

Kaz wore an evil smile. “And?”

“He wants the devil.”

“So, an exchange?”

I nodded.

Shaking his head, David came close to us. “I know I don’t have a vote, but after the last exchange with the French. . .my heart isn’t excited about this.”

Kaz pocketed my phone, took his out, and dialed. A minute later, he spoke, “Misha, I need you. Yes. They did it again. This time it’s worse, and the French are still hacked into the system.”

I looked up at the ceiling wondering where Kaz’s security cameras were in the room.

Minutes later, Kaz hung up the phone and marched out of the servant quarters. “David, get all the men monitoring the footage. Put them in the cells below the house.”

“Okay.” David headed away.

Kaz gestured to my guys. “Boris and Maxwell, help him.”

Everyone else walked that way.

Kaz took my hand. “Mysh, come with me.”

I looked up at him. “What are we doing now?”

“You and I are going to your building. Misha said that’s the only place on the property with no cameras.”

“Why are we going there?”

Kaz growled, “Because we need to talk without your creepy friend watching us.”

“Makes sense.”

Scowling, Kaz said nothing else.

Chapter 17

Mafia Politics

Kazimir

A pregnant gorilla with mice? The sign of Babylon?

Only death would come in these next days.

And it appeared Jean-Pierre had slithered back into our lives again, trying to gain favor with my mouse once again. Smart, but very