Mine to Keep (NOLA Knights #3) - Rhenna Morgan Page 0,95
said. “About what?”
“He said somethin’ about you bein’ familiar with a Russian. What’s that about?”
“Oh. That.” Talk about your can of worms. If she’d been tongue-tied before, now she was just struck stupid. What the heck was she supposed to say? Or for that matter, not supposed to say? “He’s my...well, he’s my boyfriend.”
Probably not the definition Roman would have agreed with, but in light of the situation and her father’s health, explaining more likely wasn’t the wisest course of action.
“You got a man?”
“Yeah.”
“Since when?”
Since Kevin screwed up and got everyone in this mess.
Again, not a good message no matter how accurate. “It’s newer. Good, though.”
“Good like that same ass wipe who stole from ya?”
A sharp bark of laughter ripped up her throat, startling Kevin enough to make him moan. Bonnie shook her head. “Roman’s nothing like him. Actually, nothing like anyone I’ve dated before. He’s smart. Made a life for himself out of nothing. Has a really good family that’s been super good to me through all of this and has helped me try to find you guys.”
His eyes narrowed. “He good to you?”
Warmth blossomed inside her and that same groundedness she always felt around Roman settled in her belly. “Really good.” She ducked her head and chuckled, thinking of the afternoon after she’d met Mr. Frannelly. “He took me to a restaurant earlier this week. Had the cook make me three different kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches just because he knew it was my favorite.”
“No shit!” Her dad smiled and patted her hand. “I might like this guy.”
“Yeah, you’d like him. A lot.”
Actually, he’d love Roman. Though, she kind of dreaded her dad finding out how Roman had also rented out the entire five-star restaurant to get her those grilled cheese sandwiches. Her dad might be sorry for how he’d raised her, but finding out a man she was serious about was loaded was like taking a newly recovering alcoholic to the bar.
“You think he’ll find a way to get Erick to let us out of here?” her dad said.
Oh, he’d find a way. Even if he did it with guns blazing. “Yeah.” She sighed, suddenly more tired than she’d been in weeks. “He’ll find a way.”
Her dad tilted his head and studied her face. “When’s the last time you slept?”
“Hell, I don’t know.” The clock on the nightstand showed 8:34 a.m. “Got up yesterday around this time, so about twenty-four hours, I guess.”
Her dad patted the mattress next to him. “How about you lay down and get some rest while you got a chance. Nobody’s botherin’ us right now. Best thing you can do is rest up for when you need some energy.”
“What about you?”
He laughed at that. A sad laugh that was more irony and pain than what he probably realized, but a laugh all the same. “Got enough sleep comin’ my way. Right now, I want my girl to lay down and take a load off. I’ll wake you up if I hear someone comin’.”
He was right. God only knew what they’d have to deal with in the future, and if she wanted to be ready, she’d be smart to sleep.
She crawled onto the other side of the bed, piled up the pillows and lay down on her side. “You sure you’re okay?”
With a contented sigh, he patted her arm. “Yeah, kiddo. Best I’ve been in a real long time.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
One punch against the heavy bag. Then another. Over and over until the ache in Roman’s arms, shoulders and chest disappeared and there was nothing but the raw fury seething inside him. Seventeen hours since Bonnie had been taken. Too long since he’d heard her cry out and failed to keep her safe.
Someone was going to die.
Brutally.
All he needed was a name and a location. Then he’d get his woman back and annihilate the kozel who’d dared to touch her. Who’d foolishly ordered the attack that had put bullets into two of their soldiers.
He would have his vengeance.
For Bonnie.
For Luke and Sam. Even for poor Jennette who’d been hauled out of the business the same time Bonnie had been taken.
But it wouldn’t negate his failure.
He’d known better. Had caved to his koroleva’s desires rather than listen to his instincts. Had made too many assumptions about their opponent and failed to put enough men on standby. For all of those reasons, he deserved to suffer. To bleed until he could bring Bonnie home.
In the mirror opposite him, Evette stepped into the doorway of Sergei’s private gym,