Page 19 of King

When we’re putting on our coats as we say goodnight, he invites me to have lunch with him later in the week so the two of us can talk about ‘mutual business interests’, and I jump at the chance.

“I’d very much like to meet, Stepan,” I say.

“Good, good,” he says and puts his hand on my shoulder.“I am sure we have much to discuss about business and family.I will email you with a time, and you can name the place.”

“Maxims?”

He laughs.“Maxims again?I have spent so much money there over the years, I should be a part-owner.I would love to go.”

We say goodbye, and after a fatherly kiss and hug to Natalia and a handshake and quick hug with me, we part ways and take the stairs to our waiting car.

“How do you think it went?”I ask as we fasten our seatbelts.

“I’m happy,” she replies and takes my hand, squeezing it gently.“I think he really wants us to be a family again.”

Her voice catches at the end, and I know she’s struggling with this game we’re playing.

I hold her hand to my mouth and kiss her knuckles gently.“I know this is hard for you.I wish we were meeting in different circumstances.”

“It is what it is,” she says and glances out the window.“We have to deal with it, right?”

I nod and start the car.“We do.But we can try to make it work for us.I promise you,” I say and squeeze her hand once more.“I will do everything in my power to keep Stepan safe.”

The week goes by quickly,and before I know it, Friday arrives, and it’s time to meet with Stepan to see what he wants to talk about.I already have an idea, but I want to be open to what he has to say.

I kiss Natalia goodbye and wonder what’s really going on with her father.I know he’s deep in the Russian mafia, but I don’t know the details.Fogerty hasn’t been willing to share too much intel.His mantra has been “Just get in with him.Just be his friend.Be his son-in-law.He knows you’re mafia.He knows your family is mafia.Be a mafioso, for God’s sake,” Fogerty says, shaking his head.

What the hell does he mean by ‘be a mafioso’?

Stepan will know that my own personal business is legit and has been from the start.He’ll know my background in the military.He knows that I was taken from my father when I was young, just as Natalia was taken from him.

I can’t shake the feeling that he will be suspicious of our meeting and any attempts on my part to get in deeper with him.I think what I must do is let him come to me.Let him ask me to become involved with him rather than the other way around.

I can’t be the one who makes the moves.

That’s the only way he’ll trust me.I’ll be honest with him and tell him that I want to get as far from the Irish mafia as I can because it killed my brother, and I think it killed my father.These internecine wars between groups within the Irish mafia have killed so many.If I can make Stepan think that’s why I’m leaving, then perhaps he’ll think about being my protection instead of me having to close the business completely.

At least that’s the plan.

“Don’t look too eager,” Fogerty said when we planned the meeting.“But be eager enough.”

I sigh and rub my forehead.What the hell does that mean?Be eager enough…

I driveto Maxim’s and park my vehicle.I walk into the restaurant, enjoying the familiarity of its cool, dark and very polished interior.I see Stepan standing at the bar, chatting with the bartender and go over to his side.

“There you are,” I say and extend my hand.We shake, and Stepan leans in to give me a quick hug.

“Here he is,” Stepan says with a smile.“My new son-in-law.Look at him, Ivan.Isn’t he a catch for my Natalia?”

The bartender smiles and continues to wipe the countertop.“I’ve met Mr.O’Connor many times before.”

“Yes, he loves Maxim’s, so we have that in common besides loving my daughter, of course,” Stepan says and raises his eyebrows.“Shall we have a seat in the back room?It’s waiting for us.”

“By all means,” I say, and follow Stephan to the back of Maxim’s, where a door leads to a private room.

There’s a huge bank of windows overlooking the street.A large seating area with comfortable sofas and a coffee table sits to one side of the room, and on the other is a dining room table with chairs.You can have dinner here and then cocktails afterwards.

“First, we have drink, yes?”Stephan motions to the seating area.