Baby Love (The American Soldier Collection 14)

“Oh, I plan on it, Cramer. You’re too delicious for just one taste.”

She began to kiss him on the mouth then plunge her tongue in deep. Cramer wasn’t stupid. Mirella was after Nina for some reason, and he was going to find out exactly why.

Chapter 9

Mirella stood by the building and watched as Cramer entered. It was perfect, just as she planned it to be. That little bitch Nina was going to get what was coming to her. Polo belonged to Mirella, but the man couldn’t get Nina out of his head. Day in and day out for the last few years, he’d talked about her, watched her, and waited for the opportunity to go after her. Then he’d gotten the call the moment he got too close. The warning put him on edge, and he acted as if he’d given up on landing Nina. It was Mirella’s opportunity to make her move and become Polo’s number one woman. She slept with him, woke up with him every morning, and did whatever he asked of her. It was looking good, but he wasn’t giving her much. He hardly spent any money on her, and he didn’t take her out to dinner or to crowded places. He hid her like she was a mistress, a whore, and she couldn’t accept that. He even asked her to keep her ears open at the club. Knowing she worked for the Russians didn’t even bother Polo. As she watched him do business and she learned things, she also figured out how to get what she wanted.

It had been years since she’d done any criminal work, but growing up in the South Liberty gang had taught her well. Knowing that Nina was the little cunt who’d saved Polo’s niece Gale from getting torn apart just added to her hatred of the girl. Nina landed Polo’s attention. Every girl in the South Liberty gang drooled over the older man and the power he had.

Mirella had worked hard to prove her loyalty to him and in being a top leader in the South Liberty gang. She needed more money and power, and as she watched Nina get out from under Polo’s thumb and become a success, she’d fought to be successful, too, and had finally landed the mob boss Polo. The thing was he didn’t even know how capable Mirella was. He was keeping her as a lover and nothing more. She was determined to be his wife. By setting up Nina as a partner in taking the drugs and money, it would finally get Polo to let her go and make him realize that Mirella was the one for him. The one woman willing to put everything on the line to be his wife.

Mirella planned the heist and stole a shitload of drugs and money, which helped to pay off the right people to keep their mouths shut and to kill Zinc and Cobra. She was there with Polo at his bar when he found out about the hit and the stolen merchandise. It was crazy, but one of the guys, Charro, who she screwed around with on the side started spreading the rumor that the Russians were involved. Mirella wanted to pin the heist on Nina, but learning about her brother and Cobra and how they were into some side shit couldn’t have been more perfect for Mirella’s plan He had an addiction problem, and so did Cobra. In order to keep their secret from the Russians they worked for, they got high on Cuban territory, and she arranged for them to get high with the men who worked for Polo.

She smiled as she watched Cramer enter the building where the crackheads hung out. He would put it all together. Especially knowing that Charro would set it up to say he heard Zinc talking about a job, about his sister and setting her up for life. Then Mirella would set Nina up to take the fall, and Polo would want nothing to do with her and order a hit on her. That should end this all nice and tidily. She smiled as she walked back toward the car, thinking everything was coming together perfectly.

* * * *

Paulie snapped numerous pictures of Mirella standing by the building and watching Cramer walk into the crack house. Something was going on, and his gut had been right in making him follow Mirella. Cramer wasn’t stupid, but he did like a nice piece of ass when he could get it. The fact that he’d fucked Mirella made Paulie think that Cramer wasn’t so trustworthy and could be persuaded to the wrong side. Mirella was a whore, and she was also out to hurt Nina.

As she got into her car, he debated about following her or keeping on top of Cramer. Then he figured he could always get information on Cramer and on the crack house. He knew people, and one call would get him information he needed. He placed the car in drive and slowly pulled out after Mirella left. As he followed her out of town and deeper into Cuban territory, his instincts burned with hatred. He felt his blood boil as Mirella pulled into the bar owned by Polo. What was that bitch up to?

He parked the car and waited, wondering and deciding what to do next. He took out his cell phone and made the call.

“Yeah, we got a problem and a half, and I need everything on this woman, Mirella. I’m sending a picture, her name, and what I have so far, but I want everything, all the way back as far as you can get. I need it as soon as possible.” He clicked off the phone and exhaled. If Mirella was working some scam to get Nina hurt or killed, he would personally make sure she suffered. His boss was not going to be happy.

* * * *

Nina was shaking as she waited to meet with Viktor. She didn’t know how she was going to make it through work tonight. She had just gotten out of the doctor’s office when her cell phone rang and Viktor asked her to come to the office. Her pregnancy was confirmed, and despite how scared she was, she got excited as the doctor talked to her about prenatal vitamins, about watching her diet and eating for two, and about these books that would keep her in focus on what to expect each month. She had the items in her car and had already gotten the vitamins and taken them. She also carried a bottle of water and some crackers, just in case the morning sickness hit her at any time of the day, which it seemed to.

She was going through with this, and she was hoping that today’s meeting would bring them closer to clearing Zinc or maybe keep her out of danger.

She knew she looked tired. She had lost some weight worrying and getting sick every morning this week. So when Viktor greeted her, his concern was apparent.

He closed the door to the office.

“Nina.” He hugged her, and she didn’t give in to the need to be held. She couldn’t trust anyone, and it would be just her and her baby from here on out. He stepped back, not missing the fact that she was cold and distant.

“How are you feeling? You look like you’ve lost some weight.”

She took a seat in the chair in front of his desk. Viktor leaned against it.

“It’s been a very upsetting few months. How are you, your team, and Nalia? I heard that things were pretty intense for some time but now she’s safe and with her father.”

He smiled softly. “She is, and we’re all doing better now that we know the danger is over for now.”

“That’s good to hear. I appreciate you seeing me, finally. I know you’ve had a lot going on. Is there any update on Zinc’s murder or the gossip that he stole from the Cubans?” she asked him, and he squinted his eyes at her.

“Cramer is working on some leads. We’re keeping our ears open and hoping to get some more information, too. I have a few questions for you.”

“Okay.” She felt the nauseous feeling hit her belly. She prayed she didn’t get sick.

“Did you know that Zinc was using drugs?” he asked her, shocking her.

She sat forward in her seat, the quick motion hitting her belly instantly. She covered it with her hand and felt her coloring fade. “Zinc? Use drugs? No. Where did you hear that?” she asked, shaking her head.

He took a deep breath and released it.

“Cramer got a tip on some information that Cobra and Zinc would go to this warehouse in the Cuban gang’s territory. Through questioning some guys, he found out that they frequented the place a lot, right before the hit on some guys who sold drugs and guns for other businessmen. Nina, they hung out with some guys, the ones who were delivering the drugs and doing the exchange for money for Malfetto and his gang.”