Dimitri blew out a noisy breath. "And if it's not related to the pipeline?" He seemed hesitant to ask but did it anyway. "You've made a lot of enemies building your empire. What might seem insignificant to you could be a life-changing moment to someone else."
Yuri wanted to argue with Dimitri but he stopped himself. Even though he'd never done a competitor dirty in business and had always tried to be fair in his dealings, there had been times during his early years running his private equity firm that hadn't been particularly pleasant. He'd built his early wealth by swallowing up failing businesses, slashing their workforces, jettisoning the failing sections and selling them for big profits.
Dragging a hand across the back of his neck, he unhappily admitted, "There is probably a long list of people who hate me for business reasons."
"I think this angle that Dimitri has suggested is the most likely one for this mess," Nikolai stated. "Give it to the police and let them run with it. You'll keep them busy and out of this other thing."
Ivan fervently agreed with Nikolai's advice. "Listen to me, Yuri, the last fucking thing you need is detectives digging around in Lena's problems. The surest, fastest way to get her father killed is to get them nosing around where they don't belong. One stumble on their side and that guy?" He shook his head and drew his finger across his throat. "I wouldn't chance it."
"I won't." He hated the anxious feeling riding along his spine. How Nikolai managed to always look so calm when he was living on the wrong side of the law, Yuri would never understand. He finally comprehended the reason Ivan had been so desperate to escape that life. The stress of keeping the authorities at arm's length while trying to protect Lena and her family was going to give him a heart attack.
"What about Vivian?" Ivan addressed Nikolai. "Erin is beside herself with worry. She's terrified that the cartel will do something to hurt Vivian because of her father's connections."
Nikolai's jaw twitched. "I have Kostya on her. That cousin of hers has someone babysitting her around the clock. Of all of us, she's probably the safest right now."
"Erin would feel better if Vivian came to stay with us until this whole mess blows over. Kostya is welcome to stay with us too." Ivan clearly understood the two were coming as a package deal.
"I'll see if she'll agree to it."
Ivan smiled. "She won't have a choice. Erin has quite a gift for guilting the people she loves into doing the things that are best for them."
Yuri didn't doubt that for a moment. Erin seemed to be the mother hen of the group of women. Not that Vivian or Lena or Benny seemed to mind. They appeared to understand it was Erin's way of showing them how much they meant to her.
Their late night discussion came to its natural end. As the men left, Ivan gave him a bear hug that threatened to burst his lungs and Dimitri clapped him on the back so hard he was sure he'd have bruises in the morning. Only Nikolai stayed behind.
Alone with his friend, he took in Nikolai's tense expression. Expecting the worst, he asked, "What is it?"
"Guzman has a new timetable, Yuri. He wants the painting and the ransom you agreed to pay in seven days—or he wants the cousin."
Irritation blazed through him. He didn't like this cartel asshole putting the squeeze on him, especially not with the obscene amount of money on the table. If it had been anyone else, Yuri would have called him personally and told him to go fuck himself.
But the man had Lena's father's life in his hands. One wrong move and Yuri would sentence Joe Cruz to death—and a very violent, very traumatic one at that.
"Can you get the painting?"
"Niels is working on it. He'll come through for me but I can't possibly predict when that will be. It could be tomorrow or two months from now."
"Two months from now, Lena is going to be mourning the death of a family member." Nikolai's eyes showed such sadness. "Unfortunately, you'll be the one to decide which one needs a gravestone."
Aghast at the very thought, Yuri shook his head. "I can't do that."
"Then find the painting." Nikolai squeezed his shoulder. "Or I'll have to make the decision for you."
The coldness in Nikolai's voice stunned him. He'd always known that his friend didn't blink at such ugliness but to hear him say that he would decide whether to send Lena's cousin to the cartel or leave her father to die there? It drove home that Nikolai lived a life Yuri couldn't ever truly fathom.
Without another word, Nikolai left the house. Yuri locked up behind his friend and trudged upstairs. Vasya sat in a chair outside the open master bedroom door. He heard the soft voices of Kelly and Lena drifting out of the room. The two ran in the same night club circles and knew enough of each other to be friendly. He didn't mind in the least and was honestly relieved that she had a familiar face around her right now.
When he stepped into the room, Kelly hopped to his feet. Showered and changed into a nightshirt, Lena remained on the cozy couch in the reading nook. Kelly looked a little nervous so Yuri instantly put the younger man at ease with a smile. Even so, Kelly bid Lena a quick goodnight and beat a hasty retreat from the master suite.
Finally alone with her, Yuri settled onto the couch next to her and stretched out his tired, aching legs. Closing his eyes, he dropped his head back against the cushion and inhaled a long, slow breath. Lena clasped his hand and dragged it onto her lap. She ran her fingers over his knuckles, the movement surprisingly soothing.
He didn't want to talk about the shooting or the cartel but they had to discuss that awful episode in his office. It was the last damn thing he wanted to talk about this late night at night but it had to be done.
Holding her gaze, he stated the obvious. "I crossed the line. I'm so very sorry for hurting you and I'm going to try my very hardest to never make you cry again."
"You did hurt me," she said softly. "I wish I could make feel you how embarrassing and painful it was for me to find that stupid file."
"I have a damn good idea of how terrible it was for you." He brushed his fingers down her cheek. "Can you forgive me?"
"Yes."
"Will you forgive me?"
"I already have." She squeezed his hand. "That doesn't mean I don't have conditions."
"Anything."
She arched one of those perfectly shaped brows. "That's a dangerous offer to make for a man with your deep pockets."
He chuckled at her playful reply. Showing her he was serious, he brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to every single one of her fingertips. "Anything, Lena."
"You have to stop treating our relationship like a business transaction. If you need to tell me that you're running late or you're going to have to reschedule a date, pick up your phone and call me. Even texting me would be better than handing it off to your assistant. If you want to know something about me, open your dang mouth and ask me."
"Agreed. Absolutely."
Holding hands, they settled into a comfortable silence. Yuri gave consideration to their developing relationship. He wondered if it was time to lay all his cards on the table. He'd been so hesitant to tell her exactly how he felt about her because he feared spooking her but right now it seemed silly to hold back. He was going toe-to-toe with a fucking cartel for her. If she didn't already suspect how he felt, he'd be shocked.