29. Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Aleksandr

The sun peeked over the horizon as I stood in Talia's room, watching her sleep. She looked peaceful, her face relaxed, and momentarily, I could almost forget the chaos surrounding our lives. Gently, I reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. Her eyelids fluttered, and then she opened her eyes, focusing on me with a sleepy, slightly confused expression.

"Aleksandr," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. "What time is it?"

"Early," I replied softly, sitting on the edge of the bed.

She sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Cradling her stomach, she smiled softly. "I think the baby is awake, too."

Taking my hand in hers, she placed my hand on her belly. Warm feelings filled me with the knowledge that she was carrying my baby. I visualized Talia as my wife for a moment but dismissed the thought as fast as it arrived. My lifestyle is too dangerous to allow ridiculous fantasies to invade my thoughts.

Pulling my hand away, I cleared my throat, glancing out the window. "I have some news," I said, leaving the bed and sitting on the plush chair instead. "Vic was at the club last night but slipped out before we could grab him. Sandy will call when she sees him again."

"Is Sandy alright? I need to speak with her," she stated, reaching for the cell phone on her table.

"Sandy is fine. She has round-the-clock guards keeping her safe. My man Ivan is with her now."

"I still want to speak with her," Talia insisted, her cheeks flushed.

"Of course," I assured her. "But before you do, I need you to get dressed. I'm taking you out for breakfast."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Out? As in, leave the mansion?"

"Yes," I said, smiling at her reaction. "I think it's time you had a change of scenery."

She hesitated, then nodded, a small smile on her lips. "Okay, give me a minute to get dressed."

I watched as she climbed out of bed and crossed the room to her closet. She chose a pair of jeans, a soft, buttery yellow sweater, and her favorite black boots. There was something simple yet captivating about how she dressed, a combination of elegance and practicality that suited her perfectly.

Ducking into the bathroom, she quickly washed up and emerged looking radiant. After sliding on her jean jacket, we were ready to go. She promptly called Sandy as we walked through the mansion, reassuring herself that Sandy was safe.

Dimitri and another one of my men were already waiting by the SUV. As always, they would follow us in a separate vehicle. Protection is a constant necessity in our world.

I watched Talia from the corner of my eye as I drove to a nearby café. A soft smile appeared on her lips as she gazed out the passenger window. "I love this time of year," she whispered. "Do you like pumpkin spiced coffee?"

"Yes," I laughed, finding her question out of left field.

"Good, then we can be friends," she teased.

Friends? I don't think I've ever been friends with a woman. And Talia is no exception. Somehow, she has wormed her way into my heart, claiming it for herself. We continued to drive silently, my mind reeling with conflicting thoughts about this gorgeous woman beside me. What my heart wanted was in conflict with what my mind thinks is the right thing to do.

We arrived at the café, a quaint little place tucked away from the main streets. It was quiet this early in the morning, the perfect spot for a private conversation. Settling into a corner table, I ordered coffee and breakfast. Talia seemed to relax a little, enjoying the normalcy of the moment.

But as we sipped our coffee and waited for our food, I noticed her expression change. She was staring at a man across the café, her face growing pale.

"Aleksandr," she whispered, her voice trembling. "That man... I've seen him at the club."

I followed her gaze and immediately recognized the man. Tommy Lansky, a captain in the Italian mafia. Two of his men stood guard behind him, their eyes scanning the room.

"You're safe, Talia," I said firmly, placing my hand over hers. "He's here to talk, nothing more."

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, flicking from Tommy to me and back again. Placing her hands in her lap, she leaned back in her seat, squaring her shoulders.

Tommy noticed us and made his way over to our table, his men following close behind. He pulled out a chair and sat down, a slight smirk on his lips.

"Aleksandr," he said in a smooth, confident voice. "And this must be the famous Talia. I've heard a lot about you." He held his hand in greeting, but Talia just stared at it.

She glanced at me, uncertainty in her eyes. I gave her a reassuring nod. She quickly shook Tommy's hand and then folded her hands in her lap again.

"Tommy," I began, leaning forward slightly. "Talia was at Club Echo the night my brother was killed. She saw and heard things that you need to know."

Tommy's expression grew serious. "Go on."

Talia took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. A drop of sweat trickled down her forehead. "I was working that night and saw Vic and Mikhail alone in a room. They were arguing about money, gambling money, I think. Vic was furious, accusing Mikhail of owing him money. Vic asked Mikhail if he thought Mr. Lupani was his private wallet. Then he told Mikhail if he didn't pay up, he'd add more money to the owed amount." She cleared her throat, took a sip of water, and then continued. "That's when it got violent... and Vic pulled out a gun."

She paused, her eyes distant as she relived the memory. "He shot Mikhail."

Tommy listened intently, his face unreadable. When Talia finished, he nodded slowly. "I've had my suspicions about Vic for a while now. Stealing the gambling money... It fits."

He turned to me, his expression hardening. "Aleksandr, I'm sorry for what happened to your brother. You have my blessing to deal with Vic as you see fit. He has crossed the line, and there will be no interference from me or Mr. Lupani."

"Thank you, Tommy," I said, feeling relieved. "Do you know where he is?"

Tommy nodded. "He's been hanging out at a place downtown, a run-down warehouse near the docks. Be careful, Aleksandr. Vic is dangerous, and he's desperate."

I looked at Talia, her face pale but resolute. "We'll take care of it," I said, shaking Tommy's hand.

Tommy stood up, his men falling in behind him. He left us in a silence that felt heavy with unspoken words. I turned back to Talia, staring at her coffee, her hands still trembling.

"Are you okay?" I asked gently.

She nodded, but I could see the fear in her eyes. "I just... I didn't expect to see him here."

I reached across the table and took her hands in mine. "We'll get Vic and make him pay."

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with determination. "I know. I trust you, Aleksandr."

I felt a flicker of hope for the first time in a long while. We finished our breakfast in relative silence, the gravity of the situation hanging over us. When we left the café, Dimitri and my vor fell into step behind us, their presence a reminder of the constant danger surrounding us.

As we drove back to the mansion, I couldn't help but think about the events that had brought us to this point: the betrayal, the violence, the loss of Mikhail. It all seemed like a nightmare, but it was our reality. And now we had a chance to set things right.

When we arrived at the mansion, I escorted Talia to her room. She needed to rest, for her sake and the baby's. I kissed her forehead gently.

"Get some sleep," I whispered.

She nodded, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. "Be careful, Aleksandr."

"I will," I promised, watching as she lay down and closed her eyes.

I found Dimitri waiting for me in the hallway. "Is everything okay, brat, " he asked.

Feeling a surge of adrenaline, I nodded. "It's time to end this."

Vic will learn that betrayal comes with a heavy price. And I will ensure that Talia is safe and Mikhail's death is avenged, once and for all.