Chapter 10

Anatoli spent most of the day worried about letting Violet take part in the operation. He didn’t want to be the one to cause the events that could lead to her getting hurt.

He knew that if she wanted peace then she needed to be a part of this. He knew he needed to trust her, because she was stronger than he gave her credit for.

He stood and watched Max and Dimitri as they kissed their children goodbye before moving on to Kyle.

“I can help,” she said as Max approached her.

“No, you have the children to take care of,” Anatoli responded before anyone else could. “Protect my niece and nephew,” he added.

Kyle walked over to him and hugged him before she went back to Max and Dimitri.

“Are you all right?” Violet asked as she came up behind him.

“I’m fine, moya lyubov.”

Anatoli pulled her to him, and she wrapped her arms around his waist.

“I’m sorry about the baggage I came with.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. We’ll make sure people get what they deserve. I would do this repeatedly if it meant I got to be with you.”

“Where is this hopeless romantic coming from?” Violet joked.

“Only for you, lyubov.”

Anatoli kissed her, loving the way she felt against him. He had never dreamed he would settle down, especially because of the life he lived.

He was content with having someone warm his bed when he needed it. But then he found Violet, and all he could think about was how beautiful she was.

His goal had been to get her out of his system, but once he got to know her, he couldn’t let her go.

Her personality was bright, and she was the first one he could picture spending a future with.

“What are you thinking about?” Violet asked.

“You. I’m always thinking about you.”

Violet smiled at him before pulling out of his arms.

“I’ll be right back.”

He watched her walk across the room to Kyle, saying her goodbyes before Max and Dimitri walked her out to the waiting car.

Once Violet made her way back to Anatoli, he guided her to the kitchen to wait for everyone else.

“I feel bad that they’re doing this for me,” she said.

“You are family, and we protect family. You deserve justice, and they deserve to rot in hell.”

“Miles will keep us updated, but the girls and children are in excellent hands and safe,” Max said as he walked into the kitchen.

Anatoli nodded, wishing Violet had gone with them.

“Ryan should be here soon. Our goal is to gather as much information as we can before moving in.

“Ryan is also bringing the blueprint of the house her father is staying in, and Violet should be able to tell us what path to take.”

“We agreed I would be with you.”

“You will, but this will let us know the way ahead of time. We will focus on our surroundings instead of which way to go, and it ensures that you’re not leading.

“You want to be there and we want you safe, so this is how we are going to do it,” Max stated sternly.

Violet nodded and looked at Anatoli. He wasn’t paying attention to her, and she could tell he was lost in thought. Even after two years, Violet had a hard time understanding him.

“Sorry I’m a little late. I had a hard time leaving Varina,” Ryan said.

“We understand,” Anatoli answered.

Ryan laid the blueprint on the table. “We have time to prepare and to scope out Violet’s father’s routine and figure out those guarding the house.

“From what we can already tell, he has many people coming and going throughout the day, so that is one challenge we will be facing.”

“Do these people have anything to do with his line of work?” Max asked.

“Yes. They’re part of his group, or they are people he is involved with. I suggest we find out who he is dealing with so we can be prepared.”

“Agreed, and when we find that out, some of our men can watch the house and log the times that people come to see if there is a pattern.”

“What can I do?” Violet asked.

“You can stay safe until we need you,” Anatoli was quick to answer.

“I’m not a child. I can do more.”

“But I don’t want you to.”

These were not the words Violet wanted to hear. She was getting angry at Anatoli for treating her like a child, for not letting her do what she wanted or needed to do.

“You’re not the boss of me, Anatoli. If I want to help, I’m going to help. I will not sit back and let you all do the work and risk your lives while I do nothing.”

“She’s right. She deserves to be a part of this.”

It surprised her to hear Max stick up for her. If it was Kyle, he would have locked her in a room.

They stared at each other from across the table, both trying to stand their ground and both refusing to step down.

“Ya ducal ty moy brat?” (I thought you were my brother) Anatoli asked Max.

“Da, no ya takzhe znayu, chto eto vazhno dlya neye.” (I am, but I also know this is important to her)

“I can understand the two of you, so stop speaking Russian.”

Dimitri let out a laugh. He had been standing there, watching the three of them go back and forth and being entertained by it.

“I shouldn’t have taught her Russian,” Anatoli mumbled.

Before he could say anything else to Violet, she stormed off.

“Looks like you have some groveling to do,” Max teased.

***

Anatoli gave Violet some space before he went to find her. He knew she would either be in the guest house where they lived, or out in the garden.

Anatoli had created the garden for her not long after she had come to live with them. She loved flowers and could stare at them all day.

As a gift, he’d hired a landscaper with Max and Dimitri’s approval and created a garden at the back of the property.

Anatoli knew the gardens were more than likely where she’d gone, so he made his way over. He was right. She was sitting on a single bench in the middle of the flowers.

He smiled. He loved that she used this as her getaway, even if it was to get away from ~him~.

“Please go away,” Violet said without looking at him.

“I can’t. I’ll always be where you are.”

Violet couldn’t help but smile. But she didn’t want him to see it, so she refused to look at him.

“I want you safe. That’s all this is. I know you are capable, and I know I can trust you, but I want you safe.”

“You can’t always protect me.”

“But I can try.”

He sauntered over and took a seat next to her. He laid his hand on top of hers and sat quietly with her for a while.

“I love you, Violet. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone before, and it scares the shit out of me because it means you have so much power over me.

“And if something were to happen to you, my life would have no meaning. You are my world, Violet, and I want to protect you.”

Violet let out a sigh and finally looked at him.

“I love you, too, but you need to trust me. Let me help. Everyone is risking their life for me. I can’t just sit back and watch everything happen.”

“I know, and I’ll try to let go more. Just be patient with me.”

She laid her head on his shoulder, knowing he was right. She needed to give him time.

He had been her protector since they got together, and she didn’t want him to completely stop protecting her.

She wanted to have a say in things like this. She refused to be a weak female and refused to rely on them without helping.