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"You sought hiuard, are you? You’re probably his, what? His professional hit h "That’s why you have those scars on your knuckles--froht? And exactly what business is Kovalev ‘caught up’ in?" My hysteria building, I said, "A turf war against a rival gang?" Yes, it took a lot to ruffle

Sevastyan didn’t answer, soding, ding, ding A turf war And I was on my way there

He finally said, "Are you done?"

"Tell--me"

"Your father is part of the Bratva, the brotherhood It’s like a crianization, answering to no one"

The blatant pride in Sevastyan’s toneer, isn’t it?"

"Your father is embattled Adversaries would love to see hiht hurt you in order to hurt Kovalev Or use you to coerce hiain, that sounds like a chronic problem"

Sevastyan studiedhow much to tell erousto Aood chance they were co here"

Fuck This little ht to the source of the conflict! Turn this jet around, and let lanced over at me, must’ve sensed I was about to freak "I was sent here to keep you safe If you do as I say, then you’ll have nothing to fear And there was another reason we felt it iht When you return to Russia, thoseyour loved ones"

"They would hurt Moh nal that you’ve left Lincoln--which ill do in Moscow"

"I have to warn them! Just in case" Would Sevastyan let me call?

"There’s a phone in the cabinet beside you"

"How much can I tell them?"

"That depends on how much you trust the the last ti With the headset clutched in s were already tense between us

Those last few years with Dad’s illness had been tough on her, on us both, and after his death, we’d drifted apart Then, this past suuy But I was happy for her She and her hubby had an RV Apparently, RVing was a lifestyle choice They went to "roundups" with other RVers

I got her answering machine Luckily, she was on the road for a week I left ato check in Have fun at theroundup," I said, feeling like a rube in front of Sevastyan "Love you"