She winced.
“They’re in the Mafia?” I asked, needing to hear her confirm it directly.
“Yes. The Valkov Bratva is one of the prominent syndicated crime organizations in New York. Alek is thePakhan—the boss—and Nikolai, Ivan, Dmitri, and Maxim help him run things. All the brothers supervise the many businesses they own.”
I gawked at her. Even though I’d suspected they were the Mafia, it felt weird to listen to her admit it. She did so calmly, without guilt or shame.
“And you’re… you’re okay with that?”
She nodded. “There are all kinds of bad people in the world, Hannah.”
I didn’t need her to tell me that. I was well aware. My overdosing parents were my first examples of bad guys. Melissa was a solid runner-up.
“But your dad is a cop and…” I rubbed my head, trying to make sense of it all.
“Was.” She frowned. “My dad almost got me killed. He set me up and tried to use me for his own gains.”
Anger flared within me. “Wait. Is that why that man came to get Emily? And Dmitri stopped him?”
She smiled slightly. “I forgot that today isn’t the first time you’ve met Dmitri. And yes. My dad arranged for Emily to be kidnapped by a rival crime family. Ivan and his brothers kept me and Emily safe.”
My jaw dropped again. “Damn.”
“Don’t be so shocked. Every ‘good guy’ can be terrible, and every ‘bad guy’ can be the hero we don’t know we need.”
“Yeah, but…” I grimaced, struggling to jump onboard. She sure did, but I saw the obvious love in her eyes when she introduced me to Ivan. She’d been motivated by love.
“I’m happy here, Han. And I’m so excited for our future.”
“I see that.” I did. When we spoke near the hospital, that was what stuck in my mind the most, how thoroughly, inarguably happy she looked. “But I don’t know if I can adjust so quickly to the criminal lifestyle.”
“You won’t be a criminal,” she retorted good-naturedly. “All we’re hiring you to do is help Dmitri heal and stick with his therapy.”
Yeah, no intimacy involved.
“I know, but it’s a big difference to acclimate to.”
She narrowed her eyes playfully. “Oh, come on. This is me you’re talking to. Don’t act like you’re some sheltered, innocent girl.”
IknowI’m not innocent. Not anymore. I should’ve stopped Dmitri from playing with me like that.
But I hadn’t. Because it had felt so damn good.
“Isn’t your life with your sister criminal? She hangs around with those drug dealers, taking your money and using you to buy more drugs for herself.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah.” I hated to admit it, but she was right. “And she’s on and off with Devin again.”
Becca winced. “So, she’s really milking you dry for money getting all that coke with him. Is she still dealing at the apartment you pay for?”
I bit my lip. “I’m at work all day, so I’m sure she is.”
Becca didn’t need to go on. I wasn’t sheltered. My parents overdosed. My sister dated dealers. I was no angel, and I didn’t want to act like I was holier-than-thou at all.
While I appreciated knowing the truth about my employer here, Alek Valkov, these details weren’t what had me debating whether I should leave.
Becca hadn’t lied. The world was full of bad people. If she could want to align with these men, that was a hell of a voucher I could trust in. She was a good mother and a smart woman. If she could adjust to being associated with the Bratva, I could too.
It was Dmitri. I wasn’t sure if I could—or should—remain as his nurse after his example of how easily I caved to the desire I felt for him.
