Sources say that a shootout happened right here, lighting up the morning sky with gunfire. Though the details are still being worked on, the police have announced that Declan Kennedy, a prominent businessman and member of the city council, was in the midst of that gunfight with an unnamed source. Mr. Kennedy’s campaign activities for Senate have recently come to the FBI’s attention and he was charged with campaign finance fraud and money laundering as early as Monday. FBI agents were seen going in and out of Mr. Kennedy’s mansion in Hills Park, carrying various documents and equipment to bolster their investigation. Sources close to the FBI stated that Mr. Kennedy was supposed to be on house arrest stemming from those charges, but it was clear that he was at this airport on Wednesday, with a gun in his hand and exchanging bullets with an unnamed assailant.
While the airport has multiple security cameras on its premises, they were all conveniently disarmed during the time of the incident, but a witness has come forward and positively identified Mr. Kennedy as one of the shooters. Right now, there is word that one person has died, but the investigation is still ongoing. Mr. Kennedy has been apprehended and is currently in jail without bond and is expected to be in court early next week.
I watched as the TV screen cut to a video feed of my father being carried out of a dark sedan, his hands behind his back and his head down as he was led into the jail. It was over. My father had been captured and we could breathe a sigh of relief.
“Well,” Harvey announced, sitting back on the couch. “That bastard is where he belongs.”
I leaned back as well, a peculiar weight dissipating from my chest. We really shouldn’t feel that way about the man who was part of the main reason we were sitting side by side now, but after everything that my father had done, I couldn’t find the sympathy.
I really couldn’t. I wouldn’t be visiting him in jail, nor would I be attending his trial. I wanted to put this part of my life behind me and move forward with Artem.
The mere thought of my husband caused my heart to speed up just a hair, remembering the way he had made love to me the night before. Artem wasn’t a man who just had quick sex. He worshipped my body each time like he had never seen it before, and in his eyes, I felt like I was the most important thing to him.
I hadn’t forgiven him that quickly though. It would take time between us to get over the hurt he caused today, and not just because I thought my brother was dead. He had broken my trust in him that he would share things that he knew he should. I didn’t need to know everything that happened in his life, but when it dealt directly with me or my family, Artem should tell me.
“What do we do now?” I asked, tucking my legs under me.
My brother sighed. “There’s going to be a shitload of legal stuff to fight, but I think we should talk to Mom and start selling what we can. I won’t be sticking around, Em.”
“Yeah, me neither,” I said, looking out over the city that I had loved. “I love Alaska, and Artem, he wants to go back there once we are done here.” He had mentioned just last night how he preferred our mansion instead of this penthouse, and while I loved them both, I was fond of the mansion as well. In Alaska, there was a peace that we couldn’t find here.
Not that I had left the penthouse at all. With the threat of my father still being loose, Artem had banished me, Irina, and Harvey to the penthouse until he could be arrested, which meant my view of the city was limited to the balcony.
But now that he was in jail, we could leave. We could move on with our lives.
Harvey tapped his fingers against the leather couch. “Are you happy with him, Em? I mean, are you really happy? He’s kinda, well…I’m fucking scared of him.”
I smirked. “He can be a bit over the top sometimes, but yes, I am very happy with Artem. He’s like the side of me that I was always missing, Harvey.”
My brother frowned. “I just want you to be happy. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s bailed us out, but, hell, Em; he’s the Russian Mafia.”
Which was one of the many reasons I loved him. Yes, my husband was a dangerous man. Yes, he had a horrible temper and could be broody as hell.
But he loved me. I knew without a shred of doubt that Artem loved me. I felt it in his kiss, his touch, his everything. I was his everything. He had told me more than once, and I was starting to believe him.
I loved him. I loved him to distraction. I wanted to be with him all the time, though that was completely unhealthy, and I would never suggest it. I wanted to make him smile, make him laugh, ease the torture he put himself through because of who he was.
More importantly, I wanted him to know that he was loved. Artem had lived a harsh life, but it didn’t mean that he didn’t deserve to be loved any less, and I was going to remind him on a daily basis that he was loved. “I know,” I finally told my brother. “And it never hurts to have the Mafia in your family.”
Harvey chuckled, reaching over and grasping my hand, the one that had the proof of Artem’s love on my finger. “Good for you then,” he replied, gazing at the ring. “You know, when Father and I flew out to Alaska for your wedding, I was so pissed at him. He had put you in that situation with that madman and not once did he apologize, Em. Not once did he try to work on a plan to get you out of there, and when I asked, he just said that it was for the best. Our dad didn’t give a shit about us.”
I drew in a breath. “Then he’s where he belongs.”
“Yeah,” Harvey replied, a frown on his face. “He is. I’m glad he sent you with Artem. I’m glad you found what makes you happy then.”
I was too. At the time I had been hurt and pissed that he would just hand me over to Artem like I was just another transaction, but now, he had given me a future with a man who was seriously beyond my wildest dreams.
“I’m off!”
We both looked up to find Irina striding into the room, a smile on her face. “Artem gave me the go ahead this morning that I can leave.”
“Yeah, Dad’s in jail,” Harvey replied. “I guess we can all move on.”
I stood and crossed the room, reaching out to embrace Irina. “Thank you,” I told her. “I will miss you.”
She hugged me back. “Don’t worry. I will come to the mansion in a few weeks. Besides, it will be Artem’s birthday, and he hates to celebrate. I think it will be time for me to have a partner in crime in planning it.”
I didn’t know. “I would love that.” My mind was already reeling with what to get him for his birthday.
Something that would make him smile. That was my favorite activity as of late.
“Then perhaps he will let you come with me on one of my art hunts,” she continued. “That is if he can let you out of his sight for that long.”