follow through with that commitment, but he knew if her leopard pushed her to run, she would do so. He didn’t want that threat hanging over his head. Not when he knew what was coming. Or who.
Drake Donovan had brought the news that Sasha Bogomolov in Florida had sent him word that there were rumblings in the Russian communities that Lazar had been making inquiries. Joshua had told him that Lazar himself had reached out to him, asking questions about Mitya, Fyodor, Sevastyan and Gorya. He wanted locations and how many guards. He was offering big money for information.
Mitya didn’t want to share that news with Ania until he had cemented their relationship. She thought him bossy. He wanted her to know there was a reason he needed to be bossy. Her safety was paramount. To complicate matters, there was the very real threat to her. If her grandfather had taken a notebook Amory had filled with damning information about Jake Bannaconni and Drake Donovan, who had asked for the information? Who had hired Amory in the first place, and why? The notebook had been sent from New Orleans to the Anwars in Houston, but it had never arrived. Her grandfather had been the driver.
What kind of coincidence was it that at the same time, her father had made a delivery to the Caruso family from New Orleans? Had he bothered to look at the notebook? He knew it was simply a small book being sent. Would that have aroused his suspicion? Had one been sent to both families?
Where was the notebook now? Where would her grandfather hide it? Had the Anwar family become suspicious of Drake Donovan and Jake Bannaconni? It wasn’t as if most criminal elements knew Donovan was no one to mess around with. And Bannaconni was notorious for bringing down businesses. He’d hit a few mob-owned businesses, but the majority he took apart were legitimate. That left the question, what else was in that notebook?
Was there evidence against Fyodor? Or Mitya? Joshua? Even Elijah? All of them had banded together to take down the worst of the crime families. In a way, for Mitya, it was to try to make up for some of the horrendous crimes he’d committed working for his father. He knew it was the same for Fyodor.
Mitya was very aware he was born to be a vor. He’d been raised to be the kingpin. To rule a lair. He knew no other life, nor was he suited to any other. He had tried to be a bodyguard. He didn’t want the temptation or corruption power could bring. He saw what it had done to the leaders of the lairs in his world back home. He saw evidence of it here in his new home as well. Friends turning on friends.
“Mitya.” Ania sat up slowly, pushing back her heavy hair, the action lifting her breasts as she scooted to put her back to the headboard. “What’s wrong? What did Dymka tell you?”
“He wants to make things right with her.”
“You’re very agitated.”
It was merely an observation, not an accusation, but for some reason, his temper flared. Instantly, he realized Dymka was ashamed and didn’t want his woman to know what had been said between the two of them.
If you want her to understand and allow you close to Jewel, I have to make her understand.
Mitya continued to pace, trying not to look at Ania. The covers were pooled around her waist, but she’d lifted her hands to her hair, trying to tame the mass. He couldn’t help but stare. He liked her breasts. He liked how perfect they were. The soft mounds, the tight little buds that grew even tighter for him when his mouth was on her. Her legs shifted under the blankets, drawing his attention there. His body responded in spite of the fact that he was every bit as agitated as she’d observed.
Tell her. She will despise me.
That is your judgment on yourself, not hers on you. Mitya hoped he told the truth.
He returned to the bed, standing close to her, his hands on his belt buckle. He slowly stripped off his trousers, thankful he’d removed his shoes earlier. “He was jealous when the other leopards were surrounding you in the bakery. And furious with Jewel when she rose. He didn’t understand that she had no control over the timing. He also didn’t understand that a female—”
He broke off realizing he was getting into murky waters. His shirt floated to the