There’s no way I’m letting Tatiana out of my sight, so I ask Konstantin to pack for me and I take Mariya and her back to their rooms. When Athena opens the door, Meiying and Jun Chen are there.
“Did you really think we were going to let you be suspended without us?” Meiying demanded.
“This isn’t your fight,” Tatiana said, hugging her fiercely. “We can’t ask you to endanger your positions here to-”
“In our family, loyalty is above all things,” Jin interrupts her. “You are family. We are here.”
Tatiana hurries to her room to gather her things. “How did you know?” I asked.
Meiying tilts her head to Athena. “She came barreling down the hall, pounding on my door. We got most of the information from one of the guards who’s… friendly.”
“Is that what we call fucking the help now?” Jun smirks. He groans as his sister punches him in the back.
“It’s called intelligence gathering, asshole!” Meiying snarls.
“Thank you,” I said, gripping his forearm. “Pack and meet us by the front gate within fifteen minutes.”
“We’ll be there,” he says, and they’re out the door.
Racing back out of her room with a bulging backpack, Tatiana hugs Athena. “Thank you. So much. I don’t know how to-”
“What’s the matter?” Athena snaps. “You sound emotional. Are you getting emotional? I don’t do that.”
“Oh, sorry,” Tatiana backs off. “But thank you.”
“Eh,” Athena shrugs, “I’m not coming with you.” She adds grudgingly, “But good luck.” I wink at her as we leave and she rolls her eyes.
Lev’s been busy; two SUVs are waiting for us, engines idling as we all pile in. The iron gates close behind us and I look back, watching the Academy fade into the fog.
“Where are we going?” Tati asks Lev.
“I have a jet waiting, we’re flying to Geneva, Konstantin’s father Alexi will meet us there. The Rostova chalet is in Zermatt. I don’t dare to notify any of our people, I can’t take the chance of alerting one of Rostova’s spies on the inside. He must have one or two people high up in the Aslanov Bratva, there’s no way they could have kidnapped both the Pakhan and the Sovietnik without accurate intelligence.”
“What about the Morozovs?” I ask.
“Maksim says they will intercept anyone from the Boucher Le Milieu and control activity there. He’s also assembling some soldiers to join us.”
“What happened to you, baby?” I put my arm around her, the relief of having her back is overwhelming.
“They tried to knock me out with chloroform,” she said, “the people who kidnapped me when I was ten made the same mistake. It makes me violently nauseous. I vomited everywhere - including on Camilla - and I was with it enough to press my emergency button for Lev.” She pats her silver medallion and smiles at him.
Ordinarily, I would be jealous to see her smile at anyone else like that. But Lev’s smile for her is filled with the love of a father. I’m glad she still has him.
Once we’re in the air, Tatiana opens her laptop and lays out some notepads. She pulls up the floor plan of the Rostova chalet and a topographical scan of the surrounding area. “Aleks, there’s obviously no information here on what’s below the first floor. Can you sketch it out?”
I lean closer to the others. “Let’s make a plan.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
In which there is a plan.
Lucca…
“How many soldiers are we expecting?”
Alexi, Konstantin’s father is known in our circles as the Angel of Death. He has pale blue eyes and the blonde curls of Archangel Michael but the power and viciousness of Lucifer. I couldn’t go home for my summer breaks at the Academy, so I served under him during that time. I have more than a healthy respect for him.
“The drone’s thermal imaging showed over sixty men, sir. But Tatiana intercepted communication from the Boucher faction on Camilla’s phone, it looks like they are sending reinforcements. She said the phrasing of the message sounded like Camilla’s father doesn’t trust Leonid to follow through with the alliance once he gains control of the Aslanov Bratva.”
“Very well,” Alexi says. His fingers tap on the table between us as he thinks. Konstantin is sitting next to him and it’s the first time I’ve seen him go more than five minutes without spouting off with some smartass remark. He has the same healthy respect for his father. Lev is on my left, and Aleks is sitting to my right, trying to look composed, but his eyes are wide. Alexi has that effect on everyone.
“For this to work seamlessly, we must strike at the Bouchers and the Costas at the same time.” Alexi’s pale blue gaze moves to me. “Maksim Morozov is in discussions with your brother Giovanni. He already has someone planted in the Costa ranks. That insight will be valuable.”
My jaw tightened. “With all due respect, sir, I wouldn’t count on my family to become involved in this.”
His brow arched as he watched me. “We shall see.” Tapping the table with his knuckles, he stood, and we all leaped to our feet as well. “This is a good plan, you’ve all done well,” he said. Konstantin’s chest puffs out, and I suspect mine is, too. “We leave for the jet in thirty minutes. Lucca, have Tatiana keep monitoring any movements by the chalet. Aleks, gather everyone together.”
Tatiana…
I’ve been so obsessively focused on the schematics of the Rostova chalet that until Lucca dropped a kiss on my shoulder, I didn’t even know he’d entered the room. Alexi has us all stashed in his home in Geneva while we prepare the rescue of my brothers.
“You scared the hell out of me!” I wheeze, trying to catch my breath. “What is it with you always sneaking up on me like a creeper? Does it turn you on, or something?”
He laughs, and as always, I treasure it. Moments of laughter with Lucca are still few and far between.
“It’s not my fault you’re not paying attention,” he pauses, “actually, it probably is my fault, since I’ve been training you.”
“How did it go with Alexi?”
“Good,” I can tell he’s proud and trying to downplay it. “He went over the plan we put together and he thinks it’s a good one.”
“You mean, the plan you put together and that we all agreed that it was genius,” I corrected him.
His amber eyes are warm as he kisses me. “Everyone’s strengths played into this plan.”
“Spoken like a true leader,” I said. “My only complaint is the order of attack. Why can’t we use drones for the first round? Why does your team have to be in the lead?” I said, stroking his stubbled cheeks. “This isn’t even your family. Why do you have to take on the greatest risk?”
“Because you are my family,” Lucca said. “I must get into your brother’s favor immediately, and you have to agree, this is the best way to do it.”
“Please don’t joke,” I moaned, “there are other heads of family here, they should-”
“No, baby. It should be me,” he interrupts, “this is my plan. They all agreed to it. Do you trust my judgment?”
“Of course,” I agree without hesitation. “You are my family too, moy lyubimyy, my beloved. You are first in my heart now. Even if we save my brothers… if I lose you, I can’t…” I drop my head against his chest.
“We were always meant to be together, even when I fought against it, even when you did,” he whispers, kissing the top of my head. “Do you really think I’m letting you go now?”
Rising on tiptoe, I kiss his mouth, his wonderful full lips, his jaw, his cheekbone. “How long do we have?” I ask, pulling at his shirt.