Vicious Protector: The Ivanov Family (Mafia Wars Book Four) by Maggie Cole

Author:Maggie Cole [Cole, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pulse Press
Published: 2021-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

18

Skylar

It's near five when I get a message.

Adrian: I'm not in a situation to talk right now. Can you go to Nora's reopening with your friends? I'll try to meet you there, but I can't guarantee I'll make it.

Me: You won't be back tonight?

Adrian: Something else came up. I'm doing my best. How did work go last night?

Me: Don't ask. Are you somewhere safe right now?

Adrian: Sorry to hear that. Don't worry, my printsessa. I'm safe, but I have to go. Bogden will take you wherever you want.

Me: Okay. I hope I see you tonight.

Adrian: Me, too. I miss you.

My heart skips a beat.

Me: I miss you, too.

Relieved Adrian is safe, I sit back in my chair, staring out into the Chicago skyline. There's a peek of Lake Michigan between two buildings, and I can faintly see a few boats. I wish Adrian would tell me where he went and who he was with, but I remind myself I agreed to his terms.

I text Kora and Hailee.

Me: Change of plans. Okay if I go with you to Nora's tonight?

Kora: Yep.

There's no answer from Hailee, but she stays late and helps tutor the older kids often.

Me: Adrian is making Bogden drive me around. I'll swing by and pick you both up.

Kora: Sounds good. I need to finish this draft first. See you tonight.

There's a knock on my office door. "Come in."

My friend, Fiona, steps in and shuts the door. I've worked with her for the last six years. Her sentiments regarding Bowmen mirror mine. She plops into the seat across my desk and rolls her eyes.

"Oh, no. What's going on?" I ask.

"Bowmen wants me to create a headband for the collection."

"A headband?"

She slowly says, "Yeah."

My heart sinks further. I force a smile. "This is one instance I'm happy only his name is on the collection."

She snorts. "It's like he's trying to commit fashion suicide. I don't understand why he's taking your brilliant designs and screwing them up."

I shrug. "Nothing we can do about it." I turn off my computer and stack my papers into a neat pile. "I have plans tonight, or I'd help you create"—I glance at the piece of fabric in Fiona's hand and cringe—"your headband."

She rises. "Have fun. Bowmen just got on the phone with New York, so I'd leave now if I were you."

"Thanks for the heads-up." I sling my bag over my shoulder and manage to escape an encounter with Bowmen. The last thing I want is any more interaction with him. Several times today, he made snide remarks about my inability to be creative, since I don't have any fabulous ideas for him. I almost threw some out to appease him, but anything I would have suggested wouldn't have been something to make the collection better. It would just be another thing to destroy it further, and Bowmen's already done enough damage.

I text Bogden when I get in the elevator. By the time I get to the lobby, he's pulled up to the curb. He's standing next to the back door and nods to me as I approach.

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