Page 46

CHAPTER 45

MIKHAIL

A mass of rapid footfalls grow closer from the far end.

Frankie leads his men, but they all fall to a halt a few feet away.

“Is everything okay?” He asks, looking worriedly between Enzo and I.

Enzo nods, his smile not breaking from his cheeks. “Yep, my trap worked.”

The color returns to Frankie’s cheeks. “I fucking hate explosions.”

“Same. Are your guys good?” Keller asks from behind him.

“I think so, we were the only ones on this end when it went off.” I keep Ana pinned to my side and glance around.

Jax, Nikolai, and Alexei all look mildly amused, but unharmed.

“We’re going to call it a night.” Frankie holds out his arm for Zara to join him, and runs his palm over his face. “I’ve had my fill of bombs.” He gives a lopsided grin, but I can tell he’s uncomfortable.

I’ve heard the rumors of his past, I can’t say as I blame him.

“We’re fine, thanks for coming.” I give him a quick wave, then turn to Enzo. “So, who’s in there? Is it one of Tatiana’s men, or Ivan’s?” My hands itch to get a hold of them.

Both factions have caused us a hell of a lot of grief.

Enzo shrugs. “There’s an access through the back. My camera was blown when the explosives went off. I guess Romeo got a little excited with the charges.” He raises his eyebrows and shakes his head at his assistant.

“Sorry. I wanted to make sure the door sealed.” Romeo holds up his hands with a smirk on his face. His dark hair is peppered with white flecks of concrete and plaster.

We all look like we’ve been in a snowstorm.

“Jax, will you take Ana back to the ballroom? We’re going to have a little talk with whoever was in there.” I hold Ana by the shoulders and press my mask to her forehead. “Are you okay to go?”

Her big blue eyes widen over the handkerchief, but she nods and moves to her brother.

“Nikolai, Alexei, come with me.” I motion them, then turn to follow Enzo.

Enzo hits a panel in the wall nearby and an invisible entrance appears.

We push through the narrow tunnel that spills into the back of the dummy office.

More papers and debris litters the floor, but not nearly as much rubble.

I don’t recognize the man who’s digging into the pile where the door used to be.

He turns quickly, throwing his palms into the air. “I didn’t mean to, I was looking for the bathroom.”

“I find that hard to believe, unless you really can’t read.” Enzo moves lithely to the side, letting the three of us bigger guys pass him. “There was a clear picture of a toilet on the two doors down the hall, yet you chose to come in here.”

Alexei and Nikolai each grab an arm of the thin man.

“Who are you?” I grunt, standing in front of the intruder.

“I’m no one. Please, I’d like to leave now.” His dark eyes dart between Nikolai and Alexei. “I didn’t do anything, honest.”

“What is your name?” I ask again, more forcefully. “Cooperate, and I’ll probably let you go.”

“Wait, what do you mean by ‘probably’?” he asks, nervously licking his lips.

“I’m ‘probably’ going to rip you limb from limb for not answering my fucking question,” I growl. Reaching forward, I grip his throat and stare into his eyes.

The fear fades until he locks mine with a hard glare.

“That’s what I thought. You’ll be lucky to survive this. Who sent you?” I jut my chin to Nikolai, the signal to begin.

Niki and Alexei each bend the arms at the elbows and pull, stretching the lean man until I hear the pop of a dislocating shoulder.

He grunts, but doesn’t scream.

Impressive.

“Tell me before I cut your arm off.” My favorite blade always sits at the small of my back, but now it appears in my hand, taunting him at his sleeve. “Was it Tatiana or Ivan?”

His jaw clenches, but his eyes narrow. “You really don’t know who you’re playing with, do you?”

“Why don’t you tell me?”

“There’s bigger players than them, and you’re a fool if you think I’m lying,” he sneers. “One day you’ll learn the name Kovalyov.”

I look towards Enzo. “Who is he talking about?”

Enzo’s mouth twists. “I’m not sure, but I have heard the name. It’s only come up in a few documents, and all backdoor shit.” He shrugs. “I don’t know.”

I turn back to the man who’s almost dangling between Nikolai and Alexei. “What were you hoping to find here?”

His pinched eyes survey the room. “Information that was taken from us that you had no right to see.”

“Well, that’s vague as shit.” I glance at my Rolex. I’d rather be out with my wife than in here.

“Enzo, do you have any other questions for our new friend?” I let the tip of my knife tap on the unknown man’s chest.

Enzo shakes his head. “I need to do more research now. But I don’t think this asshole is going to tell me anything new.”

I nod in agreement. “Niki, pull harder.”

He groans. “Aww, Miki, I got a nice tux on and am taking Mila to Enzo’s club right after this. Can you make this not messy for once?”

Alexei shrugs. “Yea, Lara would kill me if I tried to kiss on her all bloody again.”

I take a deep breath and let it out. “Fine. You’re both pussy whipped.”

Enzo chuckles behind me. “Says the man who married someone the first day.”

“I can’t win with any of you.” I sheath my knife and step forward, wrapping my hands around the head of the man between Niki and Alexei.

With a hard jerk, I twist his head around, snapping his neck.

He slumps, lifeless.

Enzo waves his hand. “Leave him, I’ll send in the crew.” He moves to the hidden tunnel.

Before I reach it, I hear the thud of the body hitting the floor.

“Quick, don’t step in the piss puddle,” Alexei laughs at Nikolai.

“Some days, I swear I’d rather be a gardener,” groans Nikolai behind me.