Page 21 of Hunt Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #1)

“Hot date?” I was surprised Stefano had interjected. The two of us had experienced our share of disagreements over the last two months while the rules of engagement for the alliance were being discussed.

“We have the final contracts, gentlemen, our respective attorneys making the requested changes. You’ve had time to digest. Are there any objections?

” I purposely ignored his comment. Doing anything else would instigate another sparring match and one I sensed would turn violent.

Stefano was a hothead, which is another reason our personalities clashed.

“No objections. Just a question,” Alessandro stated as he leaned across the table.

As he was an expert hacker and cyber security expert, I had a feeling his services would be put to good use.

We’d experienced several attempted hacks over the last year.

Hacking into a few secure systems over the years would have come in handy in preventing certain difficulties that had resulted in a few deaths.

He was also a voice of reason, perhaps the most logical man in the room.

“What’s the question?”

“How do you believe our alliance will prevent the Irish from infiltrating either city as they’ve tried before?” It was obvious by Alessandro’s question he was aware we were experiencing some issue.

“They are true savages, Alessandro, but their tactics are nothing we can’t handle. Any sightings in Reno?” I shot back.

Every time the Irish were mentioned, my back began to burn from the scars that no longer had any feeling.

I was taken to the night I’d saved a small life while almost losing my own.

With Tristen O’Shaughnessy’s insistence on revenge and the increase in wealth and the number of soldiers, his organization could be a force to be reckoned with.

While skirmishes had erupted after we’d started the war, over the years they’d died down, both parties preferring peace versus bloodshed.

That didn’t mean that before the recent tips we hadn’t been leery of them throughout the two decades.

Also, I wondered about the little girl and if she knew how close she’d come to dying.

Others had. We’d been no heroes in the situation.

“Some chatter,” Alessandro answered. “Nothing too serious.”

“An increase in drug use?” Kazimir asked.

Alessandro glanced at Stefano. “A little. You’re experiencing the same?”

The Italian family had only recently abandoned handling illegal drugs, something we’d put additional pressure on.

“More than our share,” Sasha answered for all of us.

“Then we need to be cautious,” Stefano suggested.

I sat back, still drumming my fingers on the table.

With a quick glance toward Kazimir, I sensed both syndicates considered the Irish organization to be our greatest enemy.

There would always be some jackass attempting to extort wealth or lay blame to better his lot in life, but the Irish were true thugs.

“Agreed. However, it’s my belief that Tristen O’Shaughnessy would be a fool to make any attempt on our business operations.” I had minimal conviction in my voice and Sasha immediately lifted an eyebrow.

“From what I’d gathered in my observations of them, they are happy in LA, expanding their marketability including trafficking illegal drugs to several foreign countries while enjoying becoming movie producers,” Nadia mentioned.

My cousin had taken a major role within the family organization, her marketing skills bringing entirely new and much more successful advertising to the business.

She was also cunning and resourceful, a true chameleon and actress who’d used her stealth skills to infiltrate the O’Shaughnessy clan more than once.

“What aren’t you telling us?” I also knew her very well, including when she was hiding something.

“Connor O’Shaughnessy is handling more business for his father. He’s not known to be a team player.” She lifted her long, arching eyebrow while studying my reaction.

Connor. He was the true savage of the family, hardened by time spent in prison. He’d also made no bones about the fact he would enjoy watching me suffer.

I rubbed my jaw. “Keep an eye on him, Nadia. But…” I held up my finger. “Do so in the shadows.”

“Don’t worry,” she cooed. “I have my ways.”

We all chuckled. “Yes, you do,” I admitted.

“Have you ever noticed they seem to follow in our footsteps?” Alexsey asked, his tone full of amusement.

The sudden interruption of my phone ringing was annoying, but I had to ensure there wasn’t an emergency.

Or a tragedy.

I pulled the phone from my jacket, eyeing the caller.

Why in the hell was I being contacted by Detective Jack Wagner?

While our business was mostly legit, it paid to have several members of law enforcement on our payroll.

Jack was one of them. He was in the homicide division, which meant he wasn’t contacting me about the recent drug overdoses. Although I would put him on notice.

He also alerted me to any situations that might be brewing, including unscrupulous assholes making their way into our resorts. Maybe he had some information regarding O’Shaughnessy.

I debated answering but was as eager to finalize this atrocity as the others were to make this work. So I ignored the call.

“Which is not necessarily good news,” DiAngelo added.

“One thing I did find out was that they’ve made overtures to purchase a second major movie production house in LA.

” Once the words were out of his mouth, he turned his attention toward Nadia.

I refused to allow another fucking physical entanglement to endanger all that we’d built.

This was news to me. I threw a look toward Alexsey, who as chief operating officer handled our expansion into movies and music. “True?”

“Unsubstantiated,” he answered. “However, well worth taking a look at. Especially if Connor is taking a significant role in leadership. They won’t be stretched too thin.”

“Then make it happen,” I told him. “Use Stefano as necessary.”

I was certain Stefano would object, but surprisingly, he lifted his hand in approval.

Alessandro thought about what had been said, turning his head toward his brothers and nodding. “Then I say we complete the deal.” He pulled out a Mont Blanc and grabbed the file.

I watched as he ceremoniously signed the paperwork, feeling nothing but uncertainties about how our alliance would work.

While we weren’t combining fortunes or otherwise interfering with basic business operations, we’d established a combined trust. Almost like a will in which if one family was destroyed, the other would have a certain amount of limited control.

It was unheard of in our world and it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Everything continued to feel wrong about what we were doing, but I’d been outnumbered. Maybe I should have objected to my own conviction about turning the corporation’s board of directors into a democracy.

When Alessandro was finished, he slid the papers in my direction. His eyes never left mine as if we were engaged in a power play. I glanced down at the paperwork and instead of any remaining tension, it would seem everyone was eager to bring this chapter to a close so another could begin.

Fine.

If anything happened, no one could suggest I didn’t warn them. I pulled a pen from my jacket, scribbling my name in the appropriate places, finally shoving the paperwork aside. From here, Kazimir would handle putting everything into place.

Almost immediately everyone stood, loud chatter beginning.

My phone rang a second time. Seeing Jack’s number again sent an immediate red flag. I rose from the chair before answering, turning my back to the group.

“Detective Wagner. How long has it been? Are you calling for a charitable donation?” It was the standing joke we’d had. We’d even developed a friendship of sorts over the years.

He laughed. “I wish it were that simple. One of your men is down. I wanted to be the one to personally tell you.”

“Who?” While we didn’t perform like a traditional Bratva any longer, I was a Pakhan that everyone respected, their loyalty required.

With both my father and uncle remaining in relative retirement, the decisions I made affected everyone.

Fortunately, we had enforcers who worked within the resorts, every man and woman capable of the same heinous activities I’d performed over the years.

They’d soon learn they were working overtime.

“Sergio Pavel.”

The news hit me hard. I had instant flashbacks, forced to take several deep breaths as anger swelled.

My friend. My mentor. My second fucking father.

I fisted my hand as my entire body tensed.

Sergio was salt of the earth, enjoying life in the United States more than any other Russian who worked for me.

“What the fuck?” All the air was driven from my lungs and for a few seconds, my vision was foggy from the intense rage.

“Yeah. I know you two were close.”

I scrubbed my jaw, doing what I could to calm the rage. “Describe what’s going on.”

“It could be a home invasion, although there are some… anomalies I think you need to see. There’s a video that’s pretty interesting.” He was phrasing his words carefully.

“Fuck,” I hissed, immediately drawing Alexsey’s attention. He narrowed his eyes and walked closer. “Yeah, I’ll be right there. Do not allow anyone else access to the video. Am I clear? This is personal, Jack. Fucking personal.”

“I understand, but we are talking about a murder scene.”

“Just fucking do what I say. And do not take his body away. I need to see him.”

Jack sighed. “Okay, Mikhail. Just get here when you can.”

As soon as I ended the call, I took a deep breath, holding it while the information settled. Whoever had killed my friend would die a torturous death.

“What the hell is going on?” my brother asked.

I threw a look at the group, my skin tingling as anger slowly made its way to the surface. “Sergio was murdered.”

“What?” He placed a hand over his heart. “You’re shitting me.”

“No.”

“Any idea by whom?”

“They have no fucking clue.” I turned toward him, keeping my voice low. “But whoever did this will die.”

“You’re thinking the Irish fucks?”

“I will find out.” Images of the past slammed into my mind.

The fuckers knew Sergio had been a significant part of the extermination two decades before.

Even though the arrows were pointing in the direction of the Irish, I’d need to keep my head on straight.

One misstep could spell bloodshed in a peaceful city.

“Where are you headed?” he asked.

I closed and rubbed my eyes. “There’s a video that surfaced.” Sergio was very security conscious, more so than anyone else within the organization. I had a feeling he’d gotten a video of his killer. However, there should be more than one.

“Shit. I’ll come with you.”

“No. I need you to do me a favor.” He was closest to our baby sister.

“You want me to tell Katya.”

“Yes.” My baby sister would be devastated. She’d considered Sergio a father figure as well.

Alexsey hissed. “We need to hunt the bastard down.”

“Don’t worry. That’s exactly what I intend on doing.”