When we arrive at Pops’, I help Scout out of the car, and we’re followed in by a crowd of security.
Scout glances over at me, and I know exactly what she’s thinking. This seems like we’re in more danger than either of us realized. It makes sense to me why she would feel this way. Why would she be taken aback by this lifestyle, considering she still knows very little about it? But, I feel the same level of uneasiness about the whole matter. This new era should ensure peace, not make us hunker down with weapons and larger security protocols. My tech is supposed to be aiding in that, so hopefully, after our second test run, this tight reign of security can ease up.
When we get inside, some of the boys fan out, but a couple follows us up to the bedrooms. Scout and I head to mine, and one of the guys steps in front of us to check the room before he lets us come in. I don’t say anything about this, but it seems very over-the-top. When he leaves, I nod a thank you and pull Scout inside with me, closing the door behind us.
“What the fuck is happening?” She asks before I can apologize for this strange shift.
“I don’t know. I think I should go talk to Vince.”
“Are they gonna follow me everywhere?” She seems flustered and angry. I get it, I’ve seen how this type of treatment weighs on the elites in our family. The ones with the highest responsibility. I see how Espie reacts when she only gets one night to spend outside the house a year, her strict dating life of only eligible men, and the security that is breathing down her neck. The look in Scout’s eyes reminds me of Espie’s, and I feel saddened that we’ve gotten to this point.
“I don’t know,” I softly say, taking a step toward her.
“I have a family that I need to see.”
“No one is stopping you.”
“And what if I have to leave to get some fresh air?”
“I suppose someone will come with you.” I gently shrug, and she scoffs.
“It’s just for a bit; I know it’s weird—”
“It’s not weird, it’s-it’s insane. How am I going to—” She stops, bites down on her lip, and turns away from me. If there’s more she wants to say, I want her to know that I’m here to listen, so I take a step forward, but she doesn’t continue.
“I’ll go talk to Vince, okay?” I assure her as she continues to stare at the floor, brows tensed. Before she can say anything, I bolt out of the room and fly down the stairs past a couple of security guys. I whip around the curvature of the foyer and sprint down the hallway to his wing of the house. After knocking for a couple of seconds, I bust in, shocking a very pregnant Jess and a very concerned Nari.
“I need to talk to Vince.”
“He’s gone up to our house. It’s almost finished, and he wants to make sure—”
“I’m sorry, I really don’t have time to chat.” I turn out of the door and hear Nari say, “Bye, Uncle,” in her small voice, but I don’t have the breath to say it back as I push myself to the front door.
“Woah, where do you think you’re going?” Marty grabs my arm before I can get to the door.
“I have to go see Vince.” I rip my arm away from his grasp and reach for the door, but he grabs my other arm and pulls me back towards him.
“You need to stay in. I’m under strict orders to only take you to work and back.”
“The fuck?” I spin around to look at him and rip my other arm out of his grasp.
“I know it’s odd, but we seem to have stirred some trouble up with The Bratva, more than we realized, for inviting some of their counsel to our home.” The way he says this makes me wonder if he might be implying something.
“Marty, who’s with Vince right now?”
“He’s at his house—”
“No.Whois with Vince?” He clenches his jaw so loudly that I hear the click of his teeth through his closed mouth. His cheeks grow pink as he appears to be thinking about an answer to give me. I grab his arm when he is silent too long, and my rapidly beating heart is not letting up.
“Whois he with?” I repeat, and he shakes his head. “Tell me, Martin!” I nearly shout at him, and he huffs like he’s torn. After a tilt of his head, he takes a breath to speak.
“He’s meeting with Nikolai Mikhailov, the current leader of the Bratva.” My breath escapes me like I’ve been punched in the stomach, and I cock my head in disbelief.
“He would do this without telling me?”
“Tito, it’s best to calm down. This will all be over soon and—”
“What? Not do anything stupid.”