Chapter 321


    Chapter Three Hundred Twenty-One


    Adrik


    “We’ve got enough evidence for the police to lock Ricardo up for a very long time, but if the mayor is in


    Ricardo’s pocket, he won’t go through with it. We’re trying to work around that, if possible. It’s a good


    move for the people of the city to see their politicians appearing to be tough on crime. We’ve gift-


    wrapped the doctor that created brawn and now Ricardo for them. We’re just not sure this mayor will do


    anything with either, yet,” I said.


    “You got the guy that created brawn?” Trino asked, surprised. “I knew you stopped their n. I didn’t


    know you got the guy that created it in the first ce.” He looked at Gus, like he was angry about not


    being fold.


    “I didn’t know either. I didn’t not tell you on purpose, Jefe,” Gus said, defensively.


    I chuckled. “We kept it quiet. He’s a piece of work. We didn’t want word getting around that we knew


    who he is and risk him running. The police have been after him for 10 years,” I said.


    “Why so long?” Trino asked.


    “He’s been wanted for other reasons. He’s a doctor. He does backroom procedures for cash. He’s been


    doing procedures against people’s will for years, but he would use a specific anesthesiabination


    that wiped people’s memories, so nobody could remember what he looked like,” Ivan said.


    “How did you find him, then?” Trino asked, curious.


    “I remembered what he looked like. His drugs didn’t work on me,” Sephie said.


    “Miha. Why did you go to him?” Trino asked.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    “It was not by choice. But at least I could remember what he looked like. I gave the police a sketch of


    him. One of Sal’s guys who’s been feeding us information when it’s convenient for him recognized him


    and told us he was the one behind the brawn,” she said.


    “So many coincidences that they be mathematically impossible,” Trino said. He looked at Sephie


    very seriously. “Miha, you were always meant to be with Jefe.”


    She leaned her head back so she could somewhat see me. “I know,” she said sweetly.


    We continued talking about possible oues for dealing with Ricardo and the remaining bosses, as


    well as the Mexicans. We ordered food while we kept talking. Misha and Andrei ran upstairs to make


    Sephie’s broth and get her antibiotic. She managed to eat a few bites of my food, but that’s all she


    wanted. During a lull in the conversation, Misha said in Russian, “I’m surprised you’re still awake,


    gazelle. Are you doing okay? Me and Andrei can go upstairs with you if you need to rest.”


    “I’m okay, my adorable Russian guardian. At least for a little while longer,” Sephie said, smiling at him.


    “How’s Martin?” Sephie asked Trino. “Why didn’t hee with you?” It was a seemingly innocent


    question, but I knew that Sephie rarely asked questions for no reason. I nced at Misha, who got his


    usual faraway look that meant he was looking for Martin.


    “Martin ha tes to travel, especially to the states. Especially in winter,” Trino said. He seemed slightly


    tense when he answered her, where he’d beenpletely rxed before.


    I noticed Andrei nce at Sephie. She said quietly, in Russian, “he’s lying.” Andrei nodded in


    agreement. Misha cleared his throat, signaling that he’d seen something but it was over. I nced


    around the room, noticing the looks happening between Trino’s guys.


    “Do you want me to pretend you’re telling the truth and let it drop or do you want to tell me what


    happened?” Sephie asked, inatter-of-factly.


    Trino began cursing in Spanish. His guys were both amused and unsettled by Sephie’s question. One


    of Trino’s guys made the sign of the cross. He also 100% thinks Sephie is a witch. While he was


    cursing, Sephie asked Andrei, who was next to us on the couch, in Russian, “they’re disagreeing on


    how to handle the Mexicans, no?” He nodded his head in agreement.


    Misha said in Russian, “he’s not if Colombia. I couldn’t see very clearly. I need Sephie or Andrei to see


    it clearer, but he’s not in Colombia.”


    Sephie nodded her head, but didn’t say anything further. She was waiting to see what Trino wanted to


    do. When he didn’t answer, she instead asked another question. “Was Martin with you when you took


    over or did hee after?”


    “After. I took over by myself, basically,” Trino said.


    She was quiet for a moment, like she was thinking of the right words to say. “You need to be careful,


    Trino. Martin has been loyal to you up until now, but this disagreement has caused a bigger divide


    between you than you realize. He thinks his solution is better, but he doesn’t understand the violence


    needed when dealing with certain people. It’s going to get him kiffed.”


    I nced at Trino’s guys again. More of them were now making the sign of the cross. Yep, they’re


    going to be scared of her from now on. Good. Trino looked shocked. “How…” he said,pletely in


    shock.


    “You would only be ufortable talking about him if you two had a disagreement. The only thing you


    could disagree on that is big enough to cause this much difort is the Mexicans,” she said,


    shrugging her shoulders.


    “Told you,” Stephen said to Trino, winking at Sephie.


    “Nice save, princess,” Ivan said in Russian.


    “You’re right. Again. He thinks we can negotiate with the Mexicans. He doesn’t understand how they do


    business. They are not to be trusted. Ever. They understand violence, though. They’ve been quiet


    since I took over until Anthony and Lorenzo went to them,” Trino said. We could hear the anger


    in his voice.


    “The Mexicans think they have a real shot at overthrowing you. Not sure what Lorenzo told them, but


    given that they’ve already made one attempt your life, they’ve been emboldened by whatever it was.


    They’re not going to give that up easily, which is why I think it will be easy for Sal to continue to stay in


    contact with them,” Sephie said.


    Viktor cursed under his breath, then said in Russian, “I think there’s a connection between Ricardo and


    the Mexicans that I glossed over before. I need to go back and check, but I’m remembering seeing


    something.”


    I nodded, saying, still in Russian, “we’ll look into it tomorrow. I don’t want to drag this out any longer


    tonight, for Sephie’s sake.” I could feel her getting tired, but she was still fighting it. Her ribs were


    starting to ache a little more than usual, which was a sign she’d been upright for too long.


    “Remind me to always stay on your good side, Miha. I want to always be on your side,” Trino said,


    laughing somewhat nervously.


    After Trino and his guys left, the guys went to their apartments, leaving Sephie and I to go to the


    penthouse alone. Once we were in the bedroom, 1 started to help her undress. She still struggled to


    get her jeans on and off easily with one hand. “Trino’s guys totally think you’re a witch now,” I said,


    laughing, I unbuttoned my shirt so I could put it on her for the night.


    Sheughed. “I might’ve enjoyed that a little too much. They were all so nervous. It’s too bad they don’t


    normally talk around me. I could’ve really creeped them out. Maybe I’ll scare Gus and Oscar next time,”


    she said, a devilish grin on her face.


    “I am curious where Martin is if he’s not in Colombia. We’ll have to see what else Misha can see


    tomorrow,” I said, helping her into bed.


    “I don’t think it’s going to be good news if he sees more,” she said quietly as sheid down on her good


    side.


    “We’ll worry about it tomorrow. You need sleep, solnishko. You’ve been awake almost the entire day,” I


    said, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her as tight against me as I could.


    “It was a big day,” she said, yawning. I could feel her rx as she pressed her body closer to mine. Her


    breathing slowed and I heard her make her cooing noises as she drifted off to sleep almost


    immediately.


    I woke the next morning to find she was facing me, still sound asleep. That’s progress if she can lie on


    her bad shoulder. I took a moment to watch her sleep. I’d missed being able to see her face when I first


    woke in the mornings. I brushed her curls from her face and felt her start to stir. I kissed her forehead,


    not really caring if she woke up yet. I’d happily lie here and watch her sleep.


    Twenty-one


    It took her a few more minutes to finally wake up. Wi sweetly. Since she wasn’t ving on her good arm,


    sh touch. “I’ve missed this,” she said.


    opened her eyes, her gorgiou ched up and ran her fingers lights through my faria


    “I’m surprised you’re lying on your had shoulder. And your the. It doesn’t hurt you? fated.


    “Not unless I move too much. I don’t even remembe


    I opened my eves once more. I could feel the


    Sheughed quieth


    pulling her to me I grabbed her leg putting I knew I had to stop or risk her not being


    continue.


    over the top of


    holding her a ss Semby The mcared study, t?r tev?te numing tele


    es, paling sets try tark so 1


    to catch her breath. I cursed as I stopped


    I felt her hand on my stomach and heard her say, “sorry,” quietly as the worked to catch her breath


    “You shouldn’t be. It’s not your fault you’re in this condition. You can bet Armand


    to the surface thinking about taking my frustrations out on Armando for doing this Sophie I nced at


    ba eves closed again. “You okay, solnishko?” I asked, running my fingers lightly over her cheek.


    She smiled at me, but didn’t open her eyes. She nodded her head, then said, “I can feel your anger


    very strongly. I don’t want to make things worse for you than they already are.”


    Iughed, my anger disappearing slowly. I kissed her forehead. “You can open your eyes, love. You


    won’t make thing


    She slowly opened her eyes. They were still dark, but in the process of turning normal again. I’d ne


    tappened befoes


    I could clearly see the dark brown, almost ck color fade into the background as the normal three rng


    of color returned. “Did you s purpose?” I asked.


    “Do what on purpose?”


    “I could watch them change this time. I’ve never seen it as it happened. It was incredible. It was like


    watching into day,” I said, still mesmerized by her eyes.


    “That sounds reallyplicated. I for sure didn’t do that on purpose,” she said,ughing,


    I kissed her gently. “You’re amazing.”


    Sorinating