Page 12 of Hunt Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #1)

I whistled. I’d certainly seen my share of card sharks over the years, including women who were extraordinarily skilled. One had even stripped us of one hundred k, never to be seen again. But six hundred thousand was significant. Plus, physical altercations I considered unacceptable.

“Where is he?”

“Sergio and Sasha have him in the green room.”

If Sasha was in my club, that meant there was an issue. He had his hands full with the new development, the resort entirely different than our traditional portfolio.

The green room. That’s what we called the completely soundproof location near the main machinery room.

When building the hotel, my father had instructed the architect to provide a soundproof facility with plenty of electrical outlets and a foolproof security system.

With a tile floor and a drain system, my father had initially used it to dispose of anyone betraying him.

Since we’d legitimized, the room was rarely used. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time it had been put to use.

Which meant Sergio was worried about the guest’s identity.

I guess my hope that it would be a quiet night had been wishful thinking.

“Thank you, Ian. I’ll take care of it.” I shook my head, rising to my feet and immediately removing my jacket. I’d chosen to wear another white shirt tonight. A bad choice.

After removing my tie and unbuttoning my collar, I took my time removing my onyx cufflinks, placing them along with my watch into a jewelry box on my credenza.

As I headed for the door, I rolled up my sleeves. Days like these were reminders I was getting too old to play beat-the-chicken, a game I’d been introduced to as a child after coming to America.

I’d learned the hard way that scrawny kids with funny accents weren’t welcome in certain neighborhoods.

I’d learned the game well, taking the brunt of their shit for two years.

I’d refused to cry or complain to anyone, including my teachers.

Even though a few times I’d been covered in bruises with a bloodied split lip, I’d never once told on them.

The childhood memories were bittersweet. I’d learned the importance of patience, even if I’d lost the attribute later in life. But doing so then had allowed me five inches in growth and a solid sixty pounds of all muscle.

That’s when I’d shifted the game to beat-the-bully. I’d gotten even. When they’d been found bloodied and broken, my father had been so proud he’d used his control of the police to keep me out of jail.

And the fuckers had never bothered me again.

Oh, those days were long gone but not forgotten.

I took the service elevator to the lowest level of the resort, heading through the breezeway toward the massive maintenance building. The stares were out tonight and as I walked to the secure door, I allowed my thoughts to drift to the mystery woman once again.

Why did it seem her scent lingered, her exotic perfume as tantalizing as her touch had been?

Thinking about her just before dealing with an interrogation might seem out of place to most, but the pleasant thought kept me from turning into the savage I’d once been. It wasn’t beneficial for anyone if the mask of prosperity was ripped away.

After the hand scanner light turned green, I threw open the door and took long strides down the corridor. Maybe I’d finally call it a night after dealing with the issue.

I nodded to a couple of employees as they walked by, both smiling as I passed.

It paid to treat employees well.

Just before walking inside, I rubbed my eyes. The next week would be hectic. Tonight I’d attempt to get my beauty sleep. I chuckled just before reaching the green room.

With the heavy machinery humming only yards away and the soundproof room, there was nothing I could do to the thief that would cause any alarm.

Sergio looked up as soon as I walked inside and I was surprised to see Sasha, our illustrious CFO and my youngest cousin leaning against the wall with his legs crossed at the ankles.

“It took you long enough,” Sergio teased. He flexed his fingers, the brass knuckles slickened with our guest’s blood.

The thief in question was hanging by his wrists from a thick metal pole, his legs dragging the floor. He could stand if desired, but his beating had exhausted him. I could tell that by his labored breathing.

“I’m a busy man,” I said in passing. Sergio was more than just a trusted employee who handled security as well as our off-sight betting arena; he was also considered family.

His gray hair and lines around his eyes hadn’t dampened his spirit, his physicality, or his prowess.

The man was a walking, talking legend, someone who’d been solely responsible for keeping me from turning into a true monster.

He had class and style while being deadly as fuck. I admired him perhaps more than I did my father.

“Where’s your protégé tonight?” I asked him in passing.

“I heard you had a run-in.” He lifted his eyebrows and I knew what he was asking. If I wanted him tossed back down in ranks.

“Just a slight misunderstanding. He needs to be taught how to approach women.”

His gaze remained wary. He more than the others knew I had a short fuse. “Then perhaps you can teach him. You are the master at handling women.”

Sasha coughed. “Careful, sensei.” He’d given Sergio the honorable name since he’d also been chosen as a young brother years before.

Sergio grinned while Sasha arched an eyebrow. “He knows what I’m capable of, Sasha.”

“I’m sure you’re curious as to why I’m here.” Sasha lowered his voice.

“Don’t you have a casino to run?” I retorted. While he was our CFO, and brilliant with numbers, he’d imagined a smaller, boutique-style resort catering to kink while including all the necessities as required in Las Vegas. Dreamscape was his baby and I was happy to see it was doing well.

“Don’t you have a life to live?” He pushed away from the wall, nodding toward the door and far enough away from our guest he wouldn’t hear our conversation.

“How’s Nina?” I asked as I did every time I saw him. My second cousin was more a niece or a daughter to everyone, since there were no other children.

Yet, as my mother consistently reminded all of us.

“She’s growing like a weed and chattering about everything. Including my love life. Or lack thereof.”

“Ouch. Almost four going on sixteen.”

“Look out, world.” Sasha whistled as he wiped imaginary sweat from his brow. “Incidentally, don’t forget about Nina’s birthday party tomorrow.”

“Who plans a birthday party on a Monday?” I chided, although I knew the answer.

“Because that’s my only day off and the quietest one of the week in our illustrious business.” Sasha grinned as he shook his head.

He was right. We had little downtime. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

We laughed, but he threw a look over his shoulder.

“I followed our friend over there to Ecstasy. He’s been in Dreamscape twice.

Neither time participating in any of the activities, which is fine.

He paid a pretty penny to be allowed to sit at the bar, but something about him bothered me.

I had a hunch. When he came here, I asked Sergio to help keep a look out. ”

“A fucking Irishman,” I hissed.

“How do you know?” Sergio asked.

“I can smell them from a mile away. Did he steal from the house?”

“He did, but I honestly think that was a ploy. He cruised the entire facility, hovering over the internet betting site. Might mean nothing, but he was paying close attention.”

I shifted so I could glance over my shoulder. “Very interesting. Any idea who he is?”

“He goes by the name of Jax Shane.”

“So I was right,” I hissed.

“He has no brogue and I’ve yet to enact a requirement that guests state their nationality before acceptance.” Sasha grinned.

“Very funny. Good catch. Let’s see what he has to say for himself.

” I returned to where Jax was hanging, taking a full minute to think about what I wanted to say.

It finally came to me. “You stole from the resort, which means you stole from all the employees who work on commission, Mr. Shane. In other words, you made the mistake of stealing from my family. In the world of casinos and gambling, any theft is egregious, but doing so to a resort owned and operated by the Dmitriyev family is like having a death wish. Is that the case? Do you wish to die?”

When he did nothing more than sigh, I gripped his chin, forcing him to look at me. “It’s not polite to remain silent when asked a direct question. I assume you know English.”

“He’s fluent,” Sergio stated from behind me. “He made certain to let me know what he thought of me when I escorted him here.”

“Since that’s the case, my strong recommendation is that you answer my questions without me needing to ask twice. But I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt since you’re concerned about your welfare. Let me assure you that if you answer every question, you’ll walk out of here.”

Maybe walking was a bit of an overstatement, but I’d wait to see how cooperative he was before I made my decision how far we’d go with the interrogation.

He grinned and I’d be damned if his eyes were sparkling like he knew a secret. “I know who you are.”

“Well, that’s something. Why were you stealing from us?”

“Because it’s what I do.”

“Ah, a career thief. Let me be the first to tell you that you picked the wrong place. Your punishment will reflect your careless actions. Onto the more substantial question. Why are you so interested in our sports betting division?”

While there were careful regulations regarding betting on sports teams in Vegas, we toed the line on the floor without question. It’s what we did in our secure and extremely private and pricey inner sanctum clubs that crossed the line. Yet he didn’t know that. Or did he?

“I’m a sports agent. I was curious as to what you offered.”

I turned my head toward Sasha to see if he could confirm. Sasha shrugged. There also wasn’t a requirement low-level players provide either their employment or financial records as we did with the high rollers. “Interesting. What do you think, Mr. Shane, about what we do?”

“I think you run illegal practices.”

At least the guy was being honest.

I chuckled. “We run a tight ship around here, Mr. Shane. I assure you what we do is completely within the limits of the law.” Whoever he was, he was no agent. He was searching for information. The question was for whom?

Through the years, I’d learned the art of intimidation was useful. So was allowing a squeaky wheel to return to their masters. He was nothing but a courier of information and I wasn’t in the mood to play dump the body where it wouldn’t be found.

“Very well, Mr. Shane. Now, while I apologize for the inconvenience, as you might imagine, you are forever banned from entrance into any of our casinos or resorts. In addition, my associates are going to provide you with another taste of why ignoring our rules and helping yourself to hard-earned cash isn’t in your best interest. But at least you’ll learn I’m a man of my word. ”

When he grinned like he was one-upping me somehow, a moment of pure, raw anger rushed to the surface.

Unable to help myself, I issued several brutal punches, appreciating the sound of bones in his nose shattering. What the hell. The man could use a good nose job anyway.

If I was in a different mood, I’d dislocate his shoulder for an additional reminder of his sin, but this was his lucky day. I simply wasn’t in the mood. Interesting. Maybe Kazimir had been right and that I’d needed to get laid.

Thoughts of the perfect angel suddenly drifted into my mind. Inappropriate but nevertheless delicious. As well as relaxing.

I headed to the cabinet located in the room, swinging open the doors and grabbing a rag to wipe blood from my hand. Shit. There were two spots on my nice white shirt. Maybe I’d start wearing black.

“What do you want me to do with him?” Sergio asked as he crowded close.

“He’s hunting for information. Let him go so he can slide back to the vermin he’s working for. Just give him a couple more satisfactory reminders not to fuck with us.”

“You think the Irish have returned.”

“I think we need to pay very close attention to the comings and goings within our resorts. Something is going on.”

Sergio nodded. “You’re very different from your father, Mikhail. Take that as a compliment. I like to think I’m due some credit for that.”

“You’re probably right. If my father were here, the fucker would be dismembered by now, already in plastic bags ready for the dumpster. Let me know if he whimpers anything else.”

What I hadn’t elaborated on was that if I discovered Tristen was attempting to use plants in my operations, I’d hunt them down, creating festive body bags for delivery by UPS.

“Will do, Pakhan.”

I gave Sergio a look and he threw up his hands. Other than the lower ranks, soldiers who wore suits and kept the casinos secure, he was just about the only man in the upper ranks who used the term freely. Yet the respect for my position was strong, loyalty more so.

Issues with employees were rare.

That was because punishments were swift and harsh, just like the one the soldier who’d dared touch what didn’t belong to him would face.

As I threw our guest another look, I caught him eyeing me even as he suffered and blood trickled down his chin. The strange sense of nagging continued in the back of my mind.

Something was brewing, something dark and evil.

Perhaps we’d become too soft as an empire.

Maybe a few things needed to change.