Page 61 of Queen of Misfortune (Shadows of Redemption)

He smiles, but it's not a smirk. "Careful, Princess, I might think you're worried about this old Toady."

I drop my head down, looking at my fidgeting fingers. "You're my protector. The only one I trust to do that in the Leone Family."

The crook of Donovan's finger settles under my chin and lifts until I have no choice but to look up at him. His eyes are filledwith something that I can’t decipher. His gaze drifts down to my lips, and for a moment, I think he's going to kiss me.

"I won't let you down." He steps away and heads to the door. He stops and looks back at me. "It won't be long now, Lucy, and you’ll be free."

He disappears through the door, and I'm left experiencing a torment of emotions as I take my dress off and slip into the satin nightgown. I climb into bed and try to will my brain to stop thinking, but it plays Donovan's words in an endless loop.It won’t be long now, Lucy, and you’ll be free.

But what if I don't want to be free?

21

DONOVAN

Ilike my job and I’m fucking good at it. But for the first time in my life, I don’t want to go. I want to stay here and make Lucy feel like the queen she is. I want her to feel safe and cherished. But I can’t do that with her father walking this earth, so I leave her in the bedroom while I head out to do business.

I remind myself that a vow of protection is what binds us, not love, not desire—though God knows, every fiber of my being screams for her. But Lucy wants freedom, not another cage, even if it's gilded with good intentions.

Once Giovanni is out of the picture, she'll have what she deserves—a life free from the shadows that have dogged her since birth.

"Nice wedding," Lou calls out as I slide into the passenger seat of the nondescript sedan waiting for me outside. "Shame you don't have time to consummate it." His tone is light, but the underlying sneer rubs me raw. Then he waggles his brows, and I imagine he’s had lewd thoughts of Lucy. Lou is my friend, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to punch the smirk off his face.

But I can't afford to lose focus—not when Lucy's safety is at stake. "We've got work to do."

"Meeting with the Russians has my skin crawling." Lou's fingers drum a nervous rhythm on the steering wheel as we merge onto the road.

"They’re not any different from any other Family."

“Yeah, well some Families try to kill us.”

He’s not wrong. I think back to when Niko and I were ambushed by Giovanni. How I ended up shot. How Lucy tended to me. I rub my hand over my chest, but it’s not my healed wound that’s aching. It’s my fucking heart.

"Finding and killing Giovanni is what matters."

"Right." Lou nods, a soldier falling back in line.

The bright lights of Atlantic City dissolve into the rearview mirror as we drive to the outskirts where the meeting with the Bratva is set.

The twenty-four, seven diner’s neon sign glows, the only light in the area. Lou parks in the nearly empty parking lot, and I step out of the car, my senses sharp as I survey the scene.

Niko appears from the shadows. "Everything good at the hotel?" His question is casual, but the weight behind it isn't lost on me. He probably thinks I had to tie her up to keep her in place. I wonder if Niko will ever come to truly accept Lucy, and vice-versa. I shake my head of that thought. There is no reason for that. Soon, she’ll be free of us. We’ll only see her in relation to her visit with Elena.

"She’s sleeping.”

We push through the door, the bell's chime announcing us to the aroma of strong overly-brewed coffee. Liam is seated in a booth with several other made men. He’s not one of them, having chosen a career in the FBI, and yet, it’s clear that his acquaintance with them is deeper. Likely, his dad, a member of the Bratva until his death, knew these men.

Fingers drumming against my thigh, I scan their stances, the set of their jaws. While I don’t believe trouble is at hand, Lou is right to be on edge.

"Any news?" My question slices through the low murmur of conversation as we approach the table. Niko and I slide in while Lou grabs a chair and sits near us.

Liam glances up, offering a brief nod. "I’ve just been discussing that with Igor. Igor, this is Donovan Ricci and Lou Esposito. I think you know Niko. Donovan, Lou, this is Igor Peprov.”

I nod my hello. Niko reaches across the table and shakes Igor’s hand like they’re old friends.

“It’s been a while, Leone,” Igor says in a thick Russian accent.

“Thanks for meeting with us,” Niko responds.