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woman.”
    “Would you rather I be a little more clear?” she asked demurely.
    “No, I’d rather you left me alone.”
    Tatiana sighed, eyeing Anton from the side, appearing frustrated. “You act like I’m chasing you. Is that what you want?”
    That was a chain Anton refused to bite onto. What was it going to take for this girl to get the point and stay the fuck away from him?
    “Does the thought of me killing you not scare you a bit, Tatiana? I was positive I made it clear that was exactly what would happen when you accosted my wife at my last birthday party.”
    “I’m not accosting your wife, Anton.”
    “But you are following me,” he said lowly, daring her to deny it. “And I don’t like it. Whatever you’re playing at, quit it before it becomes annoying.”
    “Oh, but I’m just getting started,” Tatiana murmured in response. “Besides, I’m following your rules, staying away from Brighton Beach, keeping my distance from your pretty little wife. What reason would you have to hurt me?”
    Without another word, Tatiana simpered a smile before turning to leave. Anton watched her go, confusion and simmering anger growing. Not only was the woman’s behavior strange, but erratic, too.
    She was right, though. Anton couldn’t do anything about her appearances or unwanted presence unless she did something threatening. So far, she hadn’t. It was only two meetings, after all.
    Viviana would have a fit if Anton told her about Tatiana. Worrying his pregnant wife wasn’t the best idea. She had enough stress as it was.
    “Sir?”
    Anton blinked away his thoughts as his coffee was handed over the counter. “Thank you.”
    The young man nodded towards the front where Tatiana had disappeared. “Did she not want anything, sir?”
    Well, that was the question of the hour, wasn’t it?
    Tatiana hadn’t bought that coffee she supposedly came in for, either.
    *
    An envelope was passed over the tabletop with a stealth meant to hide the package from being seen by any other eyes in the diner. Anton made quick work of sliding the brigadier’s tribute into the inside pocket of his jacket as he resumed his meal like nothing had happened.
    “How’s the wife, Boss?” Boris asked as he slid into the booth.
    “Pregnant,” Anton answered.
    There were a dozen other things Anton could have said about Viviana that were just as true and a great deal more heartfelt. Unfortunately Anton knew he needed to keep a distance built up between his wife and his guys. He didn’t want them feeling as though they had some kind of connection to her that they didn’t. Safety wise, it was better for Viviana, too.
    “And the baby?”
    Anton didn’t bother to hide his forming smile as he said, “Getting there.”
    “I heard Sergei blew it,” Boris noted, not taking his attention away from the menu in his hands. “Goddamn moron.”
    “Like a pro.” He was still a little sore over the other Pakhan’s refusal of their arranged sit down. It certainly didn’t help that everyone was waiting on Anton to make some kind of move about it. With Tatiana adding into the equation, he wasn’t ready to strike without knowing more. “Unfortunately this isn’t the best time for me to let my Bratva honor and pride control the situation.”
    “True enough. I’m sure Vine wouldn’t appreciate being taken out of state while the issue was handled.”
    No, she certainly wouldn’t , Anton thought. With her being pregnant, it would probably only serve to worry her more. “ Issues , I think.”
    Boris’s brow rose. “Come again?”
    “Issues meaning there are more than one.”
    Noticing the couple in the next booth were finally readying to leave, Anton waited until they paid for their meal and had left the table before deciding it was safe to continue on the topic.
    “All dealing with Sergei?” Boris twirled a butter knife between his fingers.
    It was funny how the simplest of things looked the most dangerous when the brigadier had a hold of