Page 29 of Claim Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #2)

K azimir

I fingered the cigar even as I pulled into the parking lot of Marengo.

There was no doubt I’d placed a gauntlet in the sand.

As I found a space, I checked my watch. I’d done a quick tour of the port system.

I’d seen several men with weapons, not bothering to secure them out of sight as a stranger passed by. They also didn’t attempt to stop me.

That was a clear indication the port was locked down by the Popov Bratva.

A cruise ship remained docked and I had to wonder how many illegal drugs and weapons were brought in by soldiers disguised as passengers.

After parking, I scanned the rearview and both side mirrors before stepping out. Over an hour had passed, which meant Vladimir should have been made aware of my offer. I laughed from the thought as I slipped the keys into my jacket pocket.

It wasn’t an offer at all, but an ultimatum, and no matter how the detective spun the narrative, the Pakhan would get the point.

I wasn’t playing games.

My visit to the resort wasn’t meant to draw attention, merely allowing me a better understanding of the layout and how I wanted to handle the meeting.

There was no doubt the Russian would take the bait.

However, speaking with the manager was a good idea.

He or she needed to be made aware there could be a Russian invasion and what to do if there was.

What had my uncle advised me on my twelfth birthday? Ah, yes, how could I forget his sentiment since I’d been forced to recite it in fluent Russian before being allowed at my own party.

“ Te, kto u vlasti, nikogda ne upustyat vozmozhnosti postroit’ korolevstvo .”

Those in power will never miss the opportunity to build a kingdom.

I’d never realized how profound it was.

I moved through the front doors, instantly realizing the access to the casino floor was too easy.

Anyone could walk in. That would need to change.

I also didn’t catch sight of any floor supervisors, unless they were intentionally trying to blend in with the crowd.

I was pleased to see that even in the middle of a Wednesday afternoon, the crowd was substantial.

Not nearly enough to repay the expensive renovation, but a good start.

Plus, the entire resort was beautiful, elegant yet casual. Unlike several of the Dmitriyev casinos, there was no dress code, most men and women in shorts or jeans given the warm day.

As I walked through, constantly scanning the terrain, it was easy to see Charlie had run a tight ship. I had no idea whether or not a single reporter had learned the news of his murder, but if the employees knew, I’d be surprised.

I headed to one of the bars, immediately greeted by the bartender.

“What can I get you?” She had a lovely smile, eager to please.

“Macallan. Neat. And information. Who is the casino manager and is he or she on the floor?”

Her eyes immediately opened. “Is something wrong, sir? Maybe I can help you.”

“Nothing is wrong. I just need to speak with whoever it is.”

She was immediately on edge, which indicated they’d already experienced issues. My guess was Popov had made open threats by spending time in the resort. Plus, with Charlie’s murder occurring in his office here at the resort, word had obviously spread he’d been shot.

“That’s Drake Carlisle, our general manager. I’ll call him for you.”

“One last thing. Do you often have Russian visitors?”

Her laugh was nervous. “Sadly, only when a fight breaks out.”

Nodding, I allowed her to go. Barely a minute later, I was presented with a drink.

While she made a call on a cell phone, she constantly darted looks in my direction.

Maybe because of my slight Russian accent.

I’d tried to hide the inflections for years, but just spending five minutes around my parents made my English terrible.

Drake appeared less than five minutes later. Behind him were two men in suits. It was good to see they took their security seriously.

“I understand there’s a problem?” Drake asked, his body language indicating he was ready for a fight.

As a way of introducing myself, I had a business card ready. He seemed wary, hesitating before taking it. When he did, he had a look of relief.

“Mr. Dmitriyev. I was hoping you’d stop by. I’ve been expecting you.” He looked back at the two men, nodding. “It’s okay. He’s with us.”

With us meant Charlie had laid plans well ahead of his murder. The question remained. Why the fuck hadn’t he contacted me? The hardheaded bastard. Goddamn it, I was so angry with him. I might have saved his life.

Drake nestled closer to the bar, scanning the area first. “I’m sorry for the rude introduction. As you might imagine, we’re all a little on edge.”

“Understandable. Were you here the night Charles was shot?”

“My one night off. Jesus. I keep thinking to myself if I’d been here, maybe I could have warned Charles.”

“Do you know what happened?”

“He was here late, which was a regular occurrence. But by then the rest of the office staff had left for the day. Somehow, the gunman got past the security and into the executive offices. From what I heard, there was no sign of a break-in.”

Which could mean someone on the inside was an accomplice. “Who found the body?”

“A janitor. Maybe you should talk to the detective in charge, Ryan something. I have it written down.” He shook his head.

“I’ve spoken with the detective. He was less than helpful.”

“I hope Charles is going to be okay. Since Jameson died, I mean Mr. Valentine senior, Charles has really managed to pull the team together. Fucking Russians.”

The news had yet to update his employees about his death.

“You’ve had issues with men working for Vladimir Popov,” I pushed.

“So you do know what we’re dealing with.” Another look of relief was followed by a single bead of sweat. The man was frightened.

“Yes, I have a general idea. I assume you’ve had some issues.”

“On and off. Popov had a few meetings with Jameson, which I wasn’t privy to. Nothing out of the ordinary until after his death and Charles took over.”

I sat back, processing what he’d said. “Then things escalated.”

“Over time. There were a few visits early when Charles came in, but he had no desire to talk to Mr. Popov’s attorney. I could tell Charles was on edge over the last three weeks; there’s always some Russian goon or five in the resort. I mean no disrespect.” He laughed nervously.

“None taken. We are from two different breeds.”

He tried to smile. The man was definitely worried. “Good to know. They run up huge bills and don’t pay for them. They stiff the bartenders and waitresses. That was bad enough, but a couple people have disappeared. They were staying here and suddenly there was no sign of them.”

“Guests?”

“Yeah. Important ones.”

Interesting. “I’ll need a list of those guests.”

“Yes, sir. What else can I provide you? Mr. Valentine told me to give you whatever you needed. I’m sorry he’s not here. He must have gotten held up with a distributor.”

“Tomorrow there will be a meeting and I suspect the great Popov will make an appearance. Where would you suggest that meeting take place? I want the ability to secure the area while not interfering with business.”

Drake grinned. “I have the perfect place. There’s a small restaurant I can close for a private meeting.”

“Perfect.” I nodded and glanced around the facility. “You need to know Charlie died from his injuries.”

“What? No.” His voice held sadness and he looked away briefly. “My God. Does Marissa know? Charles was so proud of her. I think she had a concert in LA. God, I need to call her.” As soon as he started to stand, I placed my hand on his arm.

“Relax, Drake. Charlie reached out to me prior to succumbing to his injuries. I’m taking care of her.”

“Oh, thank fucking God. A man like you doing so is perfect. She won’t get hurt.”

A man like me. Charlie had evidently mentioned he was concerned for his safety.

“What did Charlie tell you about my arrival?”

He seemed confused or as if I’d thought he’d done something wrong. “Just that he had hopes you might partner with him.”

Partner. He had intended on reaching out to me for a business arrangement. A deep ache formed in my chest.

“Who shot him? The Russians?”

I swirled the liquid in my glass, debating telling him the truth. He’d find out soon enough. “It’s my belief Popov was responsible. Can you keep that to yourself for right now?”

“Of course. I can’t believe it. I warned him the Russians were bad news just like I did with his father.”

“Yes, I agree with you. Charlie did things his way.”

“Yes, sir, he did. He spoke of you often. I’m glad you’re here.”

My thoughts were entirely different. Charlie had risked everything to protect Marissa and his employees.

A truly good man, something I couldn’t consider myself after events of the past. My thoughts drifted to the single worst moment of my life, something I never talked about including with my family.

But the day was one I’d never forget.

Maybe it was the reason karma had locked my path to the future. And with another beautiful woman.

“I’d like to see the restaurant now.” I’d do my own investigation of Charlie’s office at another time. Right now, I still needed time to lay out a plan.

After Drake showed me the facility for the meeting, I headed out, intending on returning to the house right away.

Until I noticed I was being followed.

Well, the motherfuckers couldn’t be any more obvious than they were. In broad daylight, they weren’t bothering to keep a typical distance. That meant they didn’t have the fear of my presence they should have.

As I popped into a local grocery store, I grabbed a Styrofoam cooler I noticed on one of the front aisles, proceeding to fill it with drinks. Ice would come later. While the three men didn’t come into the store, they did park close enough they could keep an eye on what I was doing.