He chuckled. “You do understand why I can’t get involved? It’s nothing personal.”
“It is personal,” I corrected him. “But I understand. I would do the same thing in your place.”
Marchetti gave me a single nod. “Just as long as we are on the same page, then. Keep my fucking name out of this, and I will look the other way if someone comes asking me to join their cause against you.”
“I appreciate it,” I growled. At least I knew I wouldn’t be fighting Marchetti this day.
“Also, my wife,” he added as he turned to walk away. “Is the only reason that I didn’t shoot you on sight today.”
“The same could be said for me,” I said as a parting shot before heading to the door.
Naomi was already in the SUV and I paused at the open door, meeting Yuri’s eyes. “Call the brigadiers together,” I told him. “It’s time for us to change our game plan up a little.”
“Yes, pakhan,” he responded. I climbed into the interior of the SUV and the door was shut behind me, the SUV slowly pulling out of the driveway that I hoped I wouldn’t see for quite some time.
“What did he say to you?” Naomi asked softly as we crossed through the gates and back onto the street.
“Nothing that I haven’t heard before,” I grumbled, rubbing a hand over my face. Now that I had Naomi with me, I needed to focus on this war and how we were going to pull off her plan without her getting hurt in the end. “I can’t have you being hurt.”
“I know.” She sighed and leaned her head on my shoulder. “But it’s the only way. Jon wants me. He will come after me. It’s the only way to ensure that we can pull this off.”
I knew she was right, but it didn’t make me feel any better at what had to happen.
“Plus, you won’t send me away,” she continued. “You’ve tried that before.”
“Not my finest moment,” I admitted, thinking of what it had cost me in the end. My closest advisor was gone, and I had nearly lost her as well.
She reached over and took my hand in her own, her thumb rubbing over my numerous scars on the back. “We will get through this, Gavril. We will win.”
My throat suddenly closed as I realized how much faith she had in me, in the fact that I was going to get her through this. I couldn’t let her down.
I couldn’t be the one that failed her again. This time, we were going to win.
And when this was all over, Hampton would be dead.
No matter the cost.