Page 40 of Shades of Loyalty
My jaw tenses. I hate that he’s right about this shit, but unfortunately, he really is.
We step out of the bathroom, and I take the key back into the inner pocket of my leather jacket. Hayden stole itfor me a while ago, and I never gave it back. Sometimes, this key is important. As it was today.
I make eye contact with one of my men again, and all he does is nod. Good. I don’t want any more trouble than needed.
When Yuri and I get back to our table and sit down, we come back to a situation we didn’t expect.
Katya is laughing, her face lit up with genuine joy, while Jennifer’s cheeks are flushed, her eyes sparkling. They’re clearly getting along much better than we anticipated. Katya leans closer to Jennifer, whispering something that makes Jennifer cover her mouth as she tries to suppress her laughter.
“What did we miss?” Yuri asks, raising an eyebrow at his wife.
Katya sits back, her smile mischievous. “Just some girls talk, darling. Nothing you boys need to worry about.”
Jennifer glances at me, her smile still lingering, though there’s a hint of nervousness in her eyes. I lean closer to her, lowering my voice. “You doing okay?”
She nods quickly; her voice soft. “Katya’s sweet. I didn’t expect that.”
I smirk. “Told you she’s great.”
Yuri clears his throat, pulling my attention back to him. His expression has softened slightly, though there’s still that ever-present edge in his eyes. “Shall we get back to business?”
“Of course,” I reply, leaning back in my seat.
As Yuri starts outlining the logistics for our next shipment but not mentioning what it includes, my focus briefly drifts. My eyes land on Jennifer, who’s now fully engaged in a conversation with Katya. Her hands move slightly as she speaks, her voice steady and clear despite the earlier nerves.
For a moment, I feel a strange sense of pride. She’s not just surviving in this world of ours—she’s adapting, finding her footing.
“Caruso,” Yuri’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
I turn back to him, my expression neutral. “Yeah?”
“Focus,” he says, his tone sharp but not unkind. “We’ve got a lot riding on this deal.”
I nod, pushing aside the distraction. “Don’t worry, Volkov. I’m always focused.”
But as we continue the discussion, my thoughts wander once again. Not to the tension between our families, not to the looming threat of a snitch, but to the woman sitting beside me.
Jennifer Walsh.
She’s more than I ever expected, and I can’t help but wonder how much further she’ll surprise me.
For better or worse, she’s part of my world now.
And I’m not sure I’d have it any other way.
Chapter Eighteen
Jennifer
The second I step outside and a wave of fresh air hits me, I sense a wave of relief washing over me. My cheeks are still warm from all the laughing I’ve engaged in with Katya.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve had somebody to gossip with over drinks, so it‘s been… Refreshing. I‘m not dumb. I know why Daniel wanted to take me. I know who Katya‘s husband is. What his relation to Daniel is. But regardless, I‘m thankful for Daniel letting me join.
When Katya started talking about starting a family, I mentioned my daughter Mary to her. Thankfully, Katya didn’t ask about her father. I’m not ready for thatconversation yet.
Not with her, neither with any other stranger, really. My mother is the only person who really knows about what happened. And honestly, I‘m absolutely terrified of the moment in which Mary might want to contact him.
Because all I could tell her in that moment is:he doesn‘t want to see you. He never did.
