Page 16 of Never Without You
After clearing it with Rashad, who agreesthat while the den of vipers Skip arrested and deported based onNatalia’s information are Ukrainian, she might’ve heard names orsaw the guys from the LebedevskyBratva. She grew up aroundIvan Demko’s family, and while mobsters were viciously territorial,she might know something without knowing she knows it.
Natalia, who is whip-smart, likable, andgrateful I helped her, has stayed in touch. After moving to Boston,we’ve met for lunch a couple of times. People who work in lawenforcement understand the value of maintaining convoluted or“questionable” relationships. Natalia Surkis fits that categorywith capital letters.
A senior at Brown University, she’s engagedto the son of one of the most powerful Dons in the US. What did Isay? Convoluted. Her fiancé, Gio, wants nothing to do with hisfather’s world, and is studying to be a doctor.
Full disclosure: they’re the happy couple whomet through TLC.
Seems I don’t have to reach out to her. Iglance down at the screen of my vibrating phone and see her code –no names in my phone, which is going to have to be stored in mylocker at work before Adam and I go undercover.
“Hey, Natalia.”
Adam’s brows go up.
“Hi, Ethan. How are you?”
“Weather’s about the same as Portland, butless rain, so that’s a plus.”
“I take that to mean you’re working too muchand haven’t sampled the great food, abundant women, and otherentertainments Boston has to offer.”
“Affirmative.”
Natalia laughs. “Sorry to hear it.” I grunt.“Listen, I’m going to be in Boston the weekend before Thanksgiving,Sofia’s getting married.”
“No shit.”
“Yeah, unexpected, but Matt knocked her up,and since they’re together, as in glued together, making itofficial is just a date change on the calendar.”
“Everyone happy about this?”
“Everyone except who you’d expect to bepissed as fuck.”
Now, I laugh. No way the Don would be happyhis eighteen-year-old daughter is pregnant her first year at Tufts.“Yeah.”
“So, the Sunday after the wedding, you wantto meet for lunch before we head back to Providence?”
Manna from heaven. “Sounds good.” I want tocontrol where we meet so Adam and I can keep eyes on whether we’vebeen followed. No way would I put Natalia in danger. Aside from theobvious, she’s a friend, and my mother would kill me if anythinghappened to Natalia, could you imagine what the Don would do to meif his soon-to-be daughter-in-law got hurt because of me? “SinceI’m the new local, I’ll text you a place I’ve never been but wantto try. That work?”
“Perfect. Can’t wait to see you.”
“Same.”
She hung up.
I turn to Adam and say, “You and I, lover,have a date to meet Natalia Surkis and Gio Di Caro for lunch.”
Adam busts out laughing.
Ross,
There must be something in the water, or theair. A friend called to invite me to her wedding. I knew she andher man were living together, and they planned to get married in acouple of years, but after she found out she’s pregnant, thewedding has been moved up, by a lot. It’s unexpected, for sure, butmy friend will make an amazing mother even though she’s young.She’s the sweetest person I know. Soul-deep good. And her man is agreat guy. Their kid will have parents who adore each other, andwill feel the same about their child.
I’m glad to hear the girl is home, and iswith her family. Yes, it does give me peace of mind to know she’simproving, and it was kind of you to do that for me. I’m going tokeep a good thought for her full recovery.
No acreage yet, but I’ve been looking atgreenhouses online for days…and nights. There are so many options,and now I’m into conservatories built onto houses in addition tohaving a greenhouse. Mentally, I’m spending money on a house Idon’t own, and a greenhouse in a backyard I don’t have. Thanks forfueling my fantasy, although I have a feeling that wasn’t what youhad in mind. Unless you’re into conservatories and greenhouses foralternate purposing. With that in mind, I’m going back to re-lookat the available models of each and examine their floorplans indetail.
Flower
Holy shit. Flower did not write that letterand tell me she’s going to Sofia Di Caro’s wedding, and that she’sthinking about us fucking on the floors of conservatories andgreenhouses. Yeah, unbelievably, I think she did. On bothcounts.
