Page 26 of Hunt Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #1)

M ikhail

Revenge.

I’d carried out many acts of retaliation over the years. Doing so wasn’t unique, especially given my background and the blood running through my veins.

I’d also used my power and influence to destroy wealth and plummet stocks in a completely legitimate manner.

Every move was calculated, every decision made with forethought.

That’s why my pacing of my office was vital.

The simple act tempered my anger, allowing me to think through the vile thoughts I had running through my mind.

Seeing Sergio’s body lying in his own blood had been uncharacteristically disturbing.

I’d seen a number of bloodied corpses in my life, although admittedly, a few years had passed since witnessing the last one.

Although I could still remember the moment the light had left the traitor’s eyes, the last enemy who’d surrendered to his own greed and intention of stripping me of a moment’s worth of power. Since then, I’d used exercise as a method of curtailing my violent thoughts.

Not tonight.

As I’d aged, I’d mellowed, or so I’d been told by my siblings. I often wondered if that was true, especially given the rage I felt tonight.

While I had serious doubts that the lovely creature who’d graced my bed could be capable of such a heinous crime, there was no shadow of a doubt she’d either walked in on the murder or had been led to the scene, used as a pawn in a dangerous game.

I would find out which before morning.

One way or the other.

Whatever Sergio had said to her, I needed to hear. If someone else had been in the house, I wanted to know who. She had answers and she would come clean.

Briefly, my mind returned to the amusement park where my life as a monster had begun. I’d felt no remorse that night, instead reveling in the kill and destruction. Sergio had given glowing reviews, which had tickled my father.

If this was Tristen acting on his need for revenge, the man would soon learn I had no patience and would burn him and every single member of his family in retribution.

However, the fucking Irish bastard would wait.

Hearing footsteps, I hesitated, bringing the glass of whiskey to my lips.

As expected, Kazimir walked into my office with a file in his hand.

He also wore a smirk, his usual when locating required information or securing a card shark in his casino.

He adored toying with idiots who dared believe they could cheat the system.

My brother was the master of mental torture, but handling the outcome was my pleasure alone.

And yes, it would be highly pleasurable.

I’d always taken everything I’d wanted without hesitation.

The beautiful angel with hair the color of French coffee beans had been no different.

The feel of being inside her tight pussy had been a reminder of everything I’d missed for far too long.

The irony that she could be the reason my lieutenant and mentor had met his maker or the single person who could help me secure the truth didn’t alter my desire for a moment.

I craved every ounce of her to the point my cock was hard just thinking about what I’d do when I found her.

And even if it meant destroying the city, she would be found.

Fucking her had been cathartic, but I wanted more.

Required more.

I wanted to feel her pert little mouth wrapped around my cock, sucking as I tangled my fingers in her long strands of hair. I craved sliding my cock into her tight asshole, stripping her of any belief that I was anything other than a monster.

“Did you know you’re on the news?”

“Maybe I planned it that way.”

Kazimir shook his head. “That run-in you had with some guy at Ecstasy could be an issue. Or a continuation of a game the Irish are playing.”

“Meaning what?”

“The fucker is going around saying you beat the crap out of him and left him for dead. Coupled with the insinuations made by one of the local news stations, we were just transported back in time to our gangster days. Then we need to worry about the drugs. I’ll bet my next damn paycheck some cop will suddenly have someone tell him we’re selling drugs inside our venues. ”

“What the fuck are you talking about? How do you know he’s selling a load of shit?”

He huffed and pulled out his phone, cursing while he shifted from one screen to another. “Take a look.”

The bruised and swollen face of Jax Shane appeared on the screen.

Funny how his accent was more pronounced.

Irish through and through. He not only indicated he’d been beaten senselessly, but that we’d done so to an innocent man.

He hadn’t heeded our warning. I gritted my teeth, looking away since I’d seen enough.

“That won’t bode well for our reputation,” my brother insisted.

“He was caught stealing, Kazimir. I’m not shifting business operations because of him.”

“Be careful, Mikhail. Playing with the Irish could cost us. You need to see this as well. I think your idea they’re trying to ruin us is coming to fruition.”

“There has been speculation for years the Dmitriyev family is considered one of the most powerful and dangerous Russian Bratva within the United States. While never charged with a crime, they’ve been linked to several high-profile killings over the years, including the massacre at a public amusement park almost twenty-two years ago. ”

Now I exhaled. I wanted to say this was old news and possibly politically motivated given every election cycle someone was determined to undermine our success, but everything that was happening pointed toward O’Shaughnessy.

“There isn’t a reporter who doesn’t want his fifteen minutes of fame and national airtime. ”

“Yeah, I agree with that, but with Sergio’s murder, this feels entirely personal just like we believed.” Kazimir arched a single brow.

“You’re right. It is very personal. Sergio’s death was a blow for all of us. What else did you find?” I asked before he approached. “I need to know about the woman.”

“First, I need to ensure we’re talking about the same girl you fixated on at the reception.” Kazimir did enjoy taunting me.

“Fixation isn’t in my repertoire.”

“Are you so certain? I saw you leave the room with her. The family noticed. You weren’t particularly secretive. You like her.”

“Since when is this anybody’s business?”

“Since it’s possible she lured you into a compromising position.” He kept the grin on his face as he approached, holding out the file then ripping it from my hand with a laugh. “Just point her out for me.”

“Why the game?”

“Because this is something you need to be one hundred percent certain of.”

“Fine.” I snatched it from his hand, placing the file on the surface of my desk.

When I opened it, I was looking at a picture of the wedding party.

The bridesmaids were holding their bouquets of white roses, standing beside my sister.

All smiling. I pulled the photograph closer, instantly finding the luscious woman I’d fucked.

“That’s her.” I pressed my finger against her chest while keeping my eyes locked on her face. Beautiful yet potentially dangerous. Just looking at her picture and my cock swelled.

Kazimir glanced over my shoulder. “One hundred percent?”

“What in the fuck are you getting at? My patience is wearing thin, Kazimir. You know what happens then.”

“Yeah,” he said, chuckling. “People die. Her name is Bristol Rork. Ring any bells?”

I searched my memory banks. “She refused to tell me her name, which was fine with me. Should it mean something in particular?”

He moved to one of the leather chairs behind me, sitting down. “She graduated from Yale law school with honors, passing the bar exam on her first attempt.”

“Just like Lilia.” The feisty woman had plans on becoming a lawyer. My balls tightened at the thought. She was as brainy as she was beautiful.

“They were roommates, bro.” He waited for the news to sink in.

“So they were close, which makes sense as to why she was a part of our sister’s wedding. So the fuck what?”

He threw his hand out. “So they talked. As friends. Maybe very closely. However, let me continue. She’s never had as much as a parking ticket.

It would appear she was very active while on campus, including writing some pretty damning and highly accurate white pages on crime syndicates, although not ours. ”

“Goddamn it, Kazimir. Cut the shit.”

“Like I said. You like her.”

I rubbed my eyes. “She brought some entertainment the other night. Nothing else.”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t propose. There are other photos of her as well.”

Why he was tormenting me, I didn’t know, but I was about at the end of my rope.

I flipped the page. There was a photograph of her in her graduation gown, ready to toss her hat into the air.

Another was obviously a picture with friends enjoying a glass of wine at a café.

She was not only beautiful, she was utter perfection, glowing in every photograph, her smile stirring. God, she looked so young.

My cock twitched in response.

“Why the charade, brother?” I threw out.

“You really don’t recognize her name? She returned to Las Vegas only five weeks ago, where she passed the bar, I might add. However, this is her hometown. Her family is here. She’s been searching for employment with every respectable law firm in town.”

“How do you know that?” I turned to look at him. He was far too glib for my liking.

“Because I called our attorney, curious as if he knew anything about her.”

“And?”

“And… She applied for a position with the firm.” His laugh was different than before.

“What did Mark Jenkins have to say?”

“That she’s a ballbuster, even chastising him for being late to interview her.”

“Did he hire her?”

“No. There’s a very significant reason.”

He was running his fingers back and forth across the arm of the chair. “Talk, Kazimir. I’m not getting any younger.”

“Rork, as in Mayor Sebastian Rork?”