Page 69

Zyon

“ W hat do you have for me, Ethan?” I asked, sitting behind my desk in the Starlight.

Officer Ethan Williams had been on my payroll before he had even graduated from the academy, and his information was often crucial for my escape from the police’s claws. He was one of the few people I trusted with my life.

“Detective Lombardi is pushing the judge to sign the search warrant on the underground parking lot in this building,” he said, opening his notebook. “He has some leads that confirm there are bodies buried there.”

“Supposedly, seven people were buried there without my knowledge,” I admitted, ignoring my buzzing phone. This meeting was too important. Malin could wait. “I already have people working on it, but they need time. The place is huge.”

“I’m gaining time with the mysterious fire in Trojan Construction,” Ethan said, writing something down. “But Lombardi believes you’re involved in that, too. And five murders in three weeks don’t make my job easier. What are you doing, Zyon?”

“Cleaning the mess,” l replied nonchalantly, smirking when he sighed. I knew this situation was a nightmare for him and a few others who kept me off the hook, but the money they got was a tremendous compensation .

“By creating a new mess?” Ethan countered, closing his notebook. “The FBI is asking about you. Whatever you’re doing has to stop, or you’ll get in trouble.”

“This Detective Lombardi,” I changed the subject, refusing to listen to his preaching. I knew the risks. He didn’t need to remind me of the sword hanging above my head. “Is there something we can use? Isn’t he a gambler, or maybe he likes younger girls or boys?”

“He’s a former military officer with a flawless record, is married, has two kids and a mortgage. He doesn’t have a mistress, dirty secrets, or take bribes,” Ethan recited, grimacing. “I found nothing on him.”

“Okay, keep looking.” I leaned into my seat, deciding I had to meet this detective. He’d been breathing down my neck for quite some time, but he hadn’t shown up for an interrogation. “From my experience, everyone has a price. You just need to figure out whether it’s money or something else.”

“As you wish.” Ethan nodded, watching me as I opened the top drawer on my desk and took out a thick envelope of cash.

“One more thing,” I said before giving it to him.

“There will be a shift of power you should know about.” His eyes showed curiosity but also impatience.

He visited me during working hours, so his boss might start looking for him.

“When it happens, you’ll get a list of names to look into. I will need everything about them.”

“Your plan is to give power to someone you don’t know?” he asked, his brows furrowing.

“I know the main players,” I claimed, moving the envelope toward him. “I don’t want to be surprised by pawns. You can never be too cautious.”

Ethan opened his mouth to say more but was interrupted by the door slamming open. Malin pushed it so hard it hit the wall and returned to smash him. He kicked it, looking like hellhounds were hunting him.

“Why don’t you pick up your phone?!” he yelled, making my brows lift in surprise. I could count on one hand how many times he’d raised his voice in his life.

“I have a meeting,” I replied, noticing he was upset. It gave me chills because my brother was a man who had difficulty feeling anything. I immediately knew something terrible had happened .

“Dorian, Valeria, and her bodyguard were just admitted into the hospital,” he announced, his voice jumping. “She is beaten to a pulp, Dorian has a gunshot wound, and Martin has a head injury. I don’t know how serious it is.”

“ What? ” I yelled, standing so abruptly the chair hit the bookshelf behind me. “What happened?”

“Kellerman,” Malin snarled, his face twisting with fury and repulsion. “I’m going on a hunt with our boys. Are you going to the hospital?”

“Of course.” I grabbed my keys and wallet, joining my brother on the way out.

“Some neighbor called the police when the gunshot was heard,” he informed me, turning to Ethan, who walked behind us. “We need all the information we can get.”

“I’ll keep you posted,” he promised. “What about Kellerman? Can I help you somehow?”

“We have it covered,” I replied, impatiently hitting the button to call the elevator. “You don’t want to be involved in this.”

No one said more. We split up in the garage, and I speeded to the hospital like a maniac.

All kinds of scenarios popped into my mind.

Still, I couldn’t imagine how Chester overpowered the trained former SWAT member or where Dorian and Valeria met when she drove Zara to school, and he had to perform surgery that morning.

Gripping the steering wheel tightly, I fought with myself to not let anger overtake me. It gathered in my chest, clutching my insides, but the fear for Valeria and my brother was stronger than anything I had ever felt.

I called the hospital on the way, but they refused to give me information over the phone. I only knew that all three were there and under the care of doctors.

My ears buzzed, and black dots disturbed my sight. I was barely in control of myself. I pushed the gas pedal down, ignoring the lights or other cars. My only mission was to get to Valeria as soon as possible.

I barged through the front entrance of the modern hospital fifteen minutes after Malin’s announcement. The familiar smell of disinfection and desperation that usually filled the halls hit my nose as I hurried to the nurse’s desk .

“I need—” I started without greeting, but the nurse dressed in typical blue scrubs with glasses and a kind smile interrupted me.

“Come with me, Mr. Zhumagulov,” she said, waving at me to follow her. “Your girlfriend is constantly asking about you. It is impossible to explain to her that it wasn’t you who got shot.”

My brows furrowed, but the chain squeezing my chest lessened its hold on me. Valeria was talking. It was a good sign.

“How is she?” I asked, following the nurse like a lost puppy through the halls.

“It’s a miracle she has no broken bones or internal injuries,” she replied, checking her pager. “But she’s covered in bruises, has a minor concussion, and she’ll need a few days to be able to see through one eye. She got hit bad.”

My palms clenched, and I barely suppressed a snarl that threatened to flee from my mouth. I already knew what I would do with Chester when I got my hands on him, but if my men didn’t deliver him soon, heads would fall. My patience was at its end.

“And Dorian?” I inquired, wondering why we were going up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. The nurse looked at me, perplexed. “My brother,” I said when she didn’t respond. “He looks like me.”

“Oh, sure.” She smiled. “Two guys came with her. Your brother was shot in the shoulder. The bullet went through. He is still in surgery.”

“And the other guy?”

“He’s in a medically induced coma,” the nurse answered, stopping before a door. The window into the room was covered with a grey curtain, keeping spectators away. “The hit, unfortunately, caused a hemorrhage. It’s pretty serious.”

“Okay, thank you,” I exhaled, running my hand over my face.

It was a disaster. It should never have happened, and I couldn’t ask the bodyguard where he had made a mistake because it was possible he would pay with his life for it.

“Stay as long as you want, Mr. Zhumagulov,” the nurse said, opening the door for me. “Just remember that she needs a lot of rest. ”

I nodded, entering the dimly lit room. The machine’s beeping echoed through the small open space as I walked toward the bed. My eyes burned, and my mouth went dry when my gaze fell on a sleeping Valeria.

She barely looked like the gorgeous woman I knew. Half of her face was swollen and purple. Instead of an eye, she had a big, purple bruise. Her lips were busted in three places, and the doctor had to stitch her brow and forehead.

Tenderly, I touched her hand, noticing her broken nails. They were bloody and puffy as if she was dragged along the floor, and she fought to stop it.

I had to sit because it felt like the floor shook under my feet.

I was so furious at Chester, the bodyguard, but mainly at myself for allowing it to happen that my vision blurred.

I should’ve been more vigilant. I knew Chester craved revenge, but the violence toward Valeria shocked me.

His mistakes weren’t her fault. I couldn’t imagine what he would’ve done to her if Dorian wasn’t there.

Kissing Valeria’s knuckles softly, I tried to relax a little, but the more I pushed, the more I wanted to smash something.

I would break the fucker in half if I got a hold of him.

Or better, I would use him as a live target.

Malin owned a ridiculously expensive collection of guns.

Why not try them all? Once Chester wasn’t able to walk and his body was bleeding profusely, I would throw him into Mom’s pool, occupied by two crocodiles.

They would do the rest. I loved that plan.

“Zyon?”

Valeria’s hoarse voice brought me back to reality.

“I’m here, mon c?ur,” I said, stretching my arm and gently brushing my fingers on her cheek. I avoided the bruises, but she looked so fragile and vulnerable that I worried I would hurt her more.

“Y-you were s-shot again,” she stuttered, fighting with sobs.

A tear fell from her eye, and I caught it with my thumb.

My heart was cracking because of her pain, and her suffering only intensified the need for retribution.

The beast inside me craved Chester’s blood.

It wished to torture him to the point of breaking, allow him to heal, and then repeat it again, and again, and again until he shattered into pieces and begged for a bullet to the head.

“It was Dorian, not me.” I moved closer to see her better, pushing her hair away from her face. “Chester shot him.”

“I was so scared.” She burst into crying, squeezing my hand like it was the only thing that gave her strength. Her agonizing sobs slashed through my soul. I’d never felt such an intense pain that wasn’t physical. It was on a completely different level, making me insane with fury.

“It’s okay, mon c?ur,” I whispered, resting my forehead against hers. I had to constantly be cautious of her wounds, but my presence seemed to help her calm down as much as hers helped me. “You’re okay. You’re safe. No one will hurt you.”

“Zara?” Valeria mumbled, her breathing heavy.

“She’s at school and doesn’t know anything.”

I wiped the wetness from her cheeks, thinking of climbing onto the bed. She would feel better in my arms, but her groaning when she moved stopped me. Clearly, her face wasn’t the only place that hurt.

“Do you want me to bring you something?” I asked, noticing how she fought to keep her healthy eye open.

“No,” she whispered. “Just stay with me, please.”

“Of course.” I kissed her forehead. “Sleep, mon c?ur. I’ll be here when you wake up.”