“Your opinion doesn’t matter.” I stand beside Boris. “It’s two to one.”

Yan points a finger at Boris. “I’ll stand by when Boss gets your balls.”

“I’ll gladly let him if he stays alive.”

Both guards glare at each other, but even with Yan’s stoic expression, I know that deep down, he realizes this is our only chance to rescue Adrian.

That is, if he’s still alive.

The thought of his death brings a new wave of tears to my eyes.

No. I would know if he’d died. I would’ve felt it in the corner of my heart with his name engraved on it. That corner has been bleeding since he left.

“Mommy?”

My attention snaps to Jeremy, who’s rubbing sleep from his eyes and approaching me slowly. He’s wearing his pajamas with spaceships drawn on them and his hair is disheveled.

His chin trembles as he stares up at me. “Why are you crying?”

I wipe my eyes with the back of my hands and crouch so I’m eye level with him. “It’s nothing, my angel. Mommy is just a little sad, okay?”

My heart skips a beat at how I said ‘okay’ and I’m about to correct myself when I recall that Adrian isn’t here. There’s no vocabulary police to worry about and that brings a new surge of heartache.

Jer pulls the sleeve of his pajama top down his palm and dabs it against my cheek. “It’s okay, Mommy. Papa and I will make it better.”

It takes everything in me not to break down then and there, because those words? They’re the truest I’ve ever heard. Adrian and Jeremy have always made it better.

No matter how hard it’s gotten, having them by my side has always helped, even when I was too blind to see it.

“Where’s Papa, Mommy?”

I hug Jeremy to my chest, smoothing his hair. “He’s not here, my angel, but Mommy will get him back.”

24

Lia

I’ve never thought about meeting my father before.

When Grandma told me who he is and what he does, I thought I was lucky to have never been in his path and decided to keep it that way.

I didn’t even try to learn his name or dig around to find out about him. Partly because the thought of him brought back painful memories of Italy and my parents' death. Partly because I didn’t want to get caught up in that type of life.

After I learned that Adrian has gotten close to me because of who my father is, it hurt so badly that I wished he’d never had me. I wished that my real father was the kind Paolo Morelli, who took care of me and my mother. I wished I had no relation to Lazlo Luciano.

Now, it’s different.

Now, I’m well aware that he’s possibly my last chance to keep the love of my life alive, to fight for my family and protect it.

Adrian has always been our shield, and I realize now how much I took that for granted. I even forgot what type of horrors await us out there without him.

Now, it’s my turn to save him.

“This is bad,” Yan grumbles as we stand in front of Lazlo’s house in one of Brooklyn’s exclusive sections.

We flew here as soon as we could and it took us thirteen hours I don’t have to spare. I’ve been trying to call Adrian, Kolya, and Fedor, but all I’ve gotten are their voicemails.

Yan attempted to placate me, saying that they were probably in a meeting, but I nearly had a breakdown every time I couldn’t reach them. The only thing that kept me together was Jeremy.

My baby boy is back home with Boris and Ogla, who surprisingly also agreed with my plan.

Yan is the only one who didn’t and has been grumbling at me all the way here, even when he insisted to tag along.

“If you hate this so much, you could’ve let Boris come on your behalf.”

He scoffs. “No way in hell. I told Boss I would protect you with my life and that’s what I intend to do. Also, don’t even think about exchanging me with Boris. One, he’s boring. Two, I’m younger and better to look at.”

“I wasn’t.” I smile at him. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”

“You won’t ever get rid of me, even if Boss throws a jealous fit and ships me back to the Spetsnaz. I’ll find a way to crawl back here.”

“You say that as if I would let him.”

He gives me a lopsided grin. “Of course you wouldn’t.”

I stare up at the huge house. Its walls are tall, allowing no view inside, and several cameras blink in every corner. My father is inside this place somewhere.

It’s still surreal to think that I have a living parent.

“Are you ready, Yan?”

“I’m supposed to ask you that. The Lucianos are brutal, Lia. Lazlo and his brothers have been ruling the Italian families in New York with an iron fist and they won’t hesitate to shed blood if it serves their agenda.”

“You forget something, Yan. No matter how brutal they are, I’m their blood and that should count for something.” At least I hope it does.

“We will see.”

“What should we do now? Is there a bell?”

“There’ll be no need for that.” Yan tilts his head in the direction of a blinking camera. “They already saw us.”

Sure enough, the gate creaks open with a loud, haunting sound and I jerk before I anchor myself in place.

A guard with a pointy face and a bulky frame that dwarfs his suit comes outside and stands in front of us with his shoulders squared. When he speaks, it’s with a pronounced Italian accent. “Mrs. Volkov, to what do we owe this visit?”

Good. He recognizes me. Yan said they would, that no matter how much Adrian has kept me hidden and out of the limelight, everyone in the crime world makes it their mission to know about his family.

Squaring my shoulders, I speak in a firm tone. “I would like to meet Lazlo Luciano.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible without a personal invitation from the Don.”

“He would want to meet me.”

The guard remains unaffected. “Still impossible, Signorina.”

I step in front of him, meeting his impassiveness with a glare. “Listen to me. I came here to meet Lazlo and I will not leave until I do.”

He stares at me but says nothing.

“I’m his daughter,” I whisper. “Tell him I’m his illegitimate daughter with Rachel Gueller.”

The guard narrows his eyes.

“What are you waiting for?” Yan spits out. “Do it.”

“I do not believe you,” the guard says.

“I couldn’t care less whether you believe me or not, but I assure you that you will be sorry if he finds out I came here and you turned me away just because you refuse to fucking check with him.”

The guard stares at us for a heartbeat before he turns around and heads inside.

“Is it done?” I whisper at Yan.

“He’s probably calling him. It’s all up to Lazlo now.”

Only a minute passes, but it feels like an eternity until the guard comes again. “The Don will see you now.”

My heart thumps as I share a look with Yan. The guard leads us inside, but before we can go into the mansion, he shakes his head at Yan. “Only the signorina.”