Page 62 of The Pakhan's Dangerous Secret
My vision blurs with tears, and I have to blink them away as I pick up the necklace. The chain is delicate, the sapphire catching the light as it dangles from my fingers. It's real. It's her necklace. I'd know it anywhere.
My father was here. He left this for me. He wanted me to know he's watching, that he's close, and that he remembers.
I clutch the necklace to my chest, and for a moment, I can't breathe. This small piece of my mother, this proof that he hasn't forgotten me.
I slip the necklace into my pocket and stand on shaking legs. The note is hidden behind the tulips, and the necklace is safe with me. Now all I can do is wait and hope he finds the message. Hope he responds.
I walk back to where Andrey is waiting, and his eyes immediately go to my face. He sees something there, something that makes him step closer.
"You found something," he says quietly.
I nod, not trusting my voice. He doesn't push, doesn't demand to know what, just places his hand on the small of my back and guides me toward the SUV.
The drive back to the estate is quiet. I stare out the window, my hand in my pocket, my fingers wrapped around the necklace. Andrey's hand rests on my thigh, warm and solid, and I find myself leaning into the touch, needing the connection, the reminder that I'm not alone anymore.
When we arrive, Matvey is already gathering men in Andrey's office. I follow them inside, and no one questions my presence. I'm the Pakhan’s wife now. I have a right to be here, to know what's being planned.
The office is crowded with bodies. Matvey stands by the window, his massive frame blocking most of the light. Three captains sit in chairs arranged in front of Andrey's desk, their faces grim. Two more guards stand by the door, weapons visible at their hips.
Andrey moves behind his desk, and I take the chair beside it. Close enough to be part of the conversation, but not in the way.
"The new family," Andrey says without preamble. "What do we know?"
One of the captains, a man with a scar running down his jaw, speaks first. "The Gusev family. Moved here from Moscow about three months ago. Led by their Pakhan, Anatoly Gusev. He's got maybe twenty men, all of them experienced."
"That's all we could find," another captain remarks.
Andrey frowns. "I won't lie, it fucking pisses me off that we don't have more information, but we'll get it soon. Gusev isn't exactly being quiet while trying to make a name for himself."
The meeting continues for another hour, with the men discussing tactics and logistics. When it finally breaks up, the men file out of the office, leaving just Andrey, Matvey, and me. Matvey gives me a long look, something that might be approval in his dark eyes, then follows the others out.
The door closes, and suddenly, the office feels too quiet. Too intimate.
Andrey stands and moves around the desk, stopping in front of me. His hand comes up to cup my face, his thumb brushing across my cheekbone. "You okay?"
"Yeah." I lean into his touch, needing the contact. "It's just a lot."
"I know." He pulls me to my feet and into his arms, and I go willingly. His body is solid against mine, warm and alive, and I press my face against his chest, breathing in his scent. "But we're going to end this. We're going to find your father, get the answers we need, and eliminate anyone who threatens you."
I pull back enough to look up at him. "What if we can't find him? What if he doesn't respond to the note?"
"Then we keep looking." His voice is firm, certain. "We don't stop until we have answers."
I nod, wanting to believe him. Wanting to trust that this will all work out somehow.
That night, Andrey takes me to bed with a gentleness that surprises me. His hands are careful as he undresses me, his mouth soft as it trails across my skin. He makes love to me slowly, thoroughly, like he's trying to memorize every inch of my body. Like he's afraid this might be the last time.
When we're both spent and tangled together in the sheets, he pulls me close, his arm wrapped around my waist. I can feel his heart beating against my back, steady and strong.
"I won't let anything happen to you," he murmurs against my hair. "I promise."
I want to believe him. But I've learned the hard way that some promises can't be kept, no matter how hard a person wants to keep them.
I lie awake long after his breathing evens out, staring at the ceiling and thinking. An idea forms in my mind. Dangerous and reckless, but possibly the only way to end this quickly.
In the morning, I wait until Andrey is in his office with Matvey, then I walk in without knocking, my decision made. Both men look up as I enter, and I see Andrey's expression shift from surprise to concern.
"What is it?" he asks.
