Page 86 of Until Death or Defeat

Roman’s point is logical, how would someone on the outside know that we knew each other so well?

“But we can’t shrug it off, either,” Roman points out.

“Or, maybe her uncle is just lying,” Maxim says as he grabs a bagel from the box on the counter. “Maybe he’s trying to throw you guys off so you stop looking into him and Leo.”

I can only pray that it’s that. If those men are poking around Giselle...

“Look, we know Leo is guilty. There is no way anyone else shot her mother. If there’s Russians too, then there’s Russians. We’ll handle them like we usually do. I’m sure Ivanov can help us figure this one out.”

“If you tell Ivanov, then Dad finds out,” Maxim reminds Roman.

“Our father is no longer a part of this, Maxim. It’s me. Ivanov has loyalty to thepakhanand he has to keep it that way. I don’t need our father poking around before we solve this.”

“Well—” Roman is interrupted when Giselle walks into the kitchen, dressed and fingers bouncing through her long hair to make it sit right.

“How was it?” Maxim asks as she goes to stand by him.

Son of a bitch.

“Good, I...think we really figured each other out. Once we figure all this out, I can work on speaking to my dad about it,” she replies, her eyes drifting to me.

“Let’s focus on the next step. We’re going to your family’s home, yes? Caesar answered?”

“Yeah, but he thinks you’re crazy the same way that I do—Leo isn’t involved. I think if we all talk this out maybe we can figure outtherealthreat.”

“You think I want to speak to your cousinagain?” I ask her, crossing my arms as I lean against the counter.

“What? You have to. I’m telling you that now we all have everything out in the open, everyone is going to be able to come together and we canactuallysolve this, Artem. Don’t you trust me?”

“Stop asking if I trust you,moyazhena, it isn’t you who is the problem. I worry for you to be taken advantage of.”

“Well, I think you’re wrong. I get you’re trying to ‘protect’ me in your own deranged way, but you aren’t giving me a chance to prove to you that my family is who Iknowthey are.”

It’s so damn hard to reject her when she looks at me like that. I sigh as I run my hand down my face, looking at her hopeful one. “I’m worried. I won’t pretend to be willing to team up with them. I’m only going to go along with youpotomu chto ya vlyublyon v tebya, because I am a fool. You will listen to me when we go.”

Her face breaks into a smile, excited that I’m willing to follow her lead. I don’t know why I did it, but seeing her look at me like that is what I needed before this.

Roman looks displeased, but there’s only so far that I can bend her. If I don’t allow her to try this, she won’t listen when I make a final decision.

“Maxim, take her to the car. Roman and I will grab someinsurance.”

Giselle draws in a deep breath as we drive through the gate to her father’s estate and lets it out shakily. At least she seems to be on the fence, even if she’s pretending she isn’t.

Before we make it to the door, I put my hand on the back of her neck, not painfully but firmly. “You must listen to me today, Giselle. Don’t forget thatIam the one who you will run to. I will not be able to do my job if you become stubborn.”

“Are you seriously that worried?”

“Anything involving you is serious to me.”

She turns her head to avoid eye contact, but I know she only wants to pretend that I don’t affect her. “Swear to me.”

“Fine. But it won’t matter, because they’re both onourside.”

“Yes, yes,” I say as I release her, and Roman knocks on the door.

21

Giselle