Free Russian Mobster's Forbidden Mistress by Bella Rose

secure as you once believed.”
    Josef watched in shock as Mikhail rose from the counter and exited the kitchen. It was the first time that Mikhail had ever alluded to the power differential that existed between them. They were friends, but Mikhail would always hold a more important role in the family hierarchy because of his position as the heir apparent.
    When they were younger and the elder Mikhail was healthy, Josef had been Mikhail’s partner. They had completed numerous jobs together, cut their teeth in the business together, and always watched each other’s backs. Apparently times were changing.
    Josef got up from the counter and stretched. It was time to go home. It was time to get some perspective. But first he had to report back to the elder Mikhail.
    The house was dark and still as Josef carefully and silently climbed the stairs to the second floor. He still couldn’t see the nurse that should have been on duty. There was a night shift and a day shift, but they seemed to be conspicuously absent from their posts since early this morning.
    Josef pushed open the door to the older man’s room. The darkness was broken only by the glow of a small yellow lamp on a side table. Josef approached the bed and gently took the old man’s hand. He could feel a pulse fluttering beneath the thin skin.
    The elder Mikhail’s eyes fluttered open. “Josef?”
    “Mikhail deceived you,” Josef whispered. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand why, but I do know that there is some part of this alliance that he has not been open about.”
    His ravaged face drooped even more. “Thank you, Josef. You have been like a son to me. I only wish I could have done more for you.”
    Josef knelt and placed the old man’s hand against his face. “You’ve done enough, and I’m grateful for that.”
     

Chapter Ten
     
     
    Josef stepped out the back door. The wind had gotten considerably warmer in the last four weeks. Summer was in full bloom, though the temperatures were still pleasant enough in the northeast. Flowers grew in the beds beside the stairs and in the window boxes. He knew that Dani took her flowers very seriously. He’d seen her tending them repeatedly in the last month.
    Josef lit his cigarette and inhaled deeply. It was odd, but this had become his only cigarette of the day. It was a single smoke that had no other purpose than to bring him out onto the back steps of the Mikalevich home.
    “There you are,” Dani’s sweet voice drifted down from the treetop. “I was beginning to think that Mikhail would keep you in that meeting forever.”
    “Not forever,” Josef murmured. “Are you ready?”
    “Oh yes.” She eagerly began swinging down out of the tree.
    Josef watched her progress with admiration. “You’ve gotten pretty good at climbing that thing.”
    “Just as you’ve gotten a lot better at boosting me back to the lowest branch.” She dropped to the ground, landing in a crouch.
    “I see you’ve learned to protect your knees.” Josef grinned. With the longer days, he was able to see her quite clearly, even though it was nearly nine o’clock at night.
    “Of course!” She gave the body parts in question a rueful rub. “It only took a few jarring landings for me to learn to squat at the perfect moment.”
    “You’re getting athletic enough that I might start to worry you’ll be able to best me.” Josef actually felt some pride at that thought.
    “So, what’s on the agenda for tonight?” She cocked her head, curiosity plain in her expression.
    “I thought we were going to get ice cream.” He took her hand and tugged her closer. “Since you’ve developed quite the demanding appetite for the stuff.”
    She grinned, standing on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his midsection and nuzzle his neck. Josef bit back a groan. His body responded to her almost instantly as it always did. Using her lips, she teased the skin over his throat and then the flesh exposed by the open V of his dress shirt.
    His