Wounded Angel: A Dark Mafia Romance (The Umarova Crime Family Series Book 5)

Chapter Six

We’ve been back in Grozny for a few days now. Since Eset and I talked back in Italy about the family, I’ve had this feeling deep inside me, like I have to communicate with Ruslan about the elephant in the room. I think I’ve been too much of a chicken to do it until now, but today, that will change. Rolando is currently driving me over to Ruslan’s place. I’m sitting in the back seat, and for some reason, I’m nervous.

I don’t even really know why. It’s not like I know anything about the family… like if we’re actually as dangerous as the rumors I’ve heard make us seem. I rub the back of my neck, trying to get the tension there to go away. I don’t know why I think it’s going to work. If that worked every single time I got the least bit anxious or nervous, I would do it every time.

“Are you all right, Xava?” It took Rolando months to call me Xava instead of Ms. Beno, even though I specifically requested it from him numerous times. He’d call me Xava a couple of times in a row and then revert back to what he originally said. He told me he felt uncomfortable doing it, and I jokingly told him being called Ms. Anything made me feel like he was speaking with my mother. Over time, Rolando and I have developed a good friendship. He’s one of my biggest confidants. I tend to tell him a lot more than I tell my siblings.

“I’m okay.”

Rolando makes eye contact with me in the rearview mirror. “I know you better than that. Something is amiss. I can see something is bothering you.”

I swallow hard and think about what I’m going to tell Rolando. I don’t know if I should lie or be honest with him, but as I think about it, I don’t see a point in keeping anything from him. “I’m going to speak to Ruslan about a couple of rumors I’ve heard since being here.”

Rolando makes a left at the intersection and then looks back at me in the rearview mirror. “What kind of rumors?”

“Ones about our family being dangerous. I… I don’t know why people would even say it, but I brought it up to Eset when we were in Italy for Lom and Emily’s wedding.”

“And what did Eset say?” Rolando questions.

“She said I should talk to Ruslan about it.”

“I see.”

“Do you know something I don’t?” I already know the answer to my question. Of course, Rolando knows something. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be speaking to me the way he is. He’s been driving me around and has been my protection detail for the last year. I’m certain he knows more than I do, and maybe he’ll give me some sort of information. I need something. I don’t want to go into this meeting with my brother without knowing anything at all.

“I am privy to certain knowledge, yes, but as your sister said… this is something you should discuss with your brother.”

“I am getting really tired of people saying that to me. Rolando, you’ve been very close to me for the last year. I’d even say you’re a friend, and you’re going to let me walk into my brother’s without even knowing one thing?”

Rolando pulls down another street, and I know we’re only a few minutes away from Ruslan’s place. “Xava, you have to understand this is putting me in an incredibly difficult position. If I speak up and your brother finds out, I could lose my job or worse.”

Or worse.

“What do you mean by that?” I ask, staring at him in the rearview mirror. His eyes are glued onto the road, but make no mistake, I see the uncertainty on his face. He doesn’t know what he should do right now, which only proves there is something about the family that I don’t know.

“Xava.” His tone is a plea for me to stop digging, but I won’t.

“Rolando, come on. Please, tell me something.”

“Your family is very powerful, and their business is as well. All your siblings have a hand in the business, and it’s a dangerous one. That’s why I drive you around. That’s why I protect you… because there are people who want you all dead.”