Page 27 of Hunt Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #1)

Chuckling, I threw back a swallow of my drink and sat on the edge of the desk. “Sebastian Rork is controllable. I’m not certain why Mark wouldn’t hire someone of her qualifications.”

“Because he’s heard through the grapevine our mayor is considering opening a commission to begin a serious investigation into organized crime.

I think he has sports betting in mind, but you can bet he’ll look into any possible criminal activity.

Now, think about the man who just announced you beat the crap out of him and it would appear reporters are seeing blood in the water. ”

I took a deep breath. The mayor’s daughter. I wasn’t entirely certain how I felt about that.

“Par for the course.” While I tossed the words out, I heard what he was saying. A giant setup. Eliminating an enemy when he was down on his luck was much easier to do than when he was running strong.

“You’re being cavalier about this, Mikhail, but we don’t need to be condemned for something that happened over twenty years ago.

Plus, it’s entirely possible our good mayor managed to rig the system, so our sister became roommates with his daughter.

Maybe Rork is an alumnus. With the Irish breathing down our neck… ”

He didn’t need to finish the sentence.

I took a deep breath, shaking my head. Granted, as always Kazimir was the voice of reason, but that didn’t mean I was going to suddenly become cautious.

With my drink empty, I headed to the bar, finally slamming my fist on the surface. “Goddamn it.”

“Now you understand. There is no proof of that and Lilia is a smart enough girl not to open her mouth about our business operation, but if they were close, things could have slipped. If that goddamn black book is missing, who the fuck knows what could happen, but it’s a goldmine.”

“Yes,” I hissed.

“There’s something else and you’re not going to like it. Word on the street is that Mayor Rork is attempting to hire his daughter,” he continued. “Perhaps for the commission. Imagine if she knows anything at all.”

I tipped my head over my shoulder, seething inside. Had the woman played me? If so, what the fuck had she gained? “Now, Sergio is dead.”

“Yeah. Let me repeat. What if the little black book was found?” Kazimir finally looked stressed.

I poured us both a drink, carrying it to him as I thought about the chances Bristol had used me. No woman had managed to do so before, not one.

He took the drink and glanced out the window as he swallowed half the damn glass. “I’m just thinking out loud, but maybe the asshole you roughed up was a plant.”

“Oh, he was definitely a plant, but I doubt by the mayor.” Although… What if the Irish promised the mayor evidence? Was it possible the man was dirty? I’d need to keep the thought in the back of my mind.

“You slept with her. Right?”

“Why the fuck should I answer you?”

He laughed. “You didn’t tell her anything?” When I gave him a hard look, he threw up his hands. “You need to find out if she knows anything, Mik.”

“And if she does? What are you suggesting?”

“I’m not suggesting anything, but we need to know how deep this situation goes.”

“Yes, we do.”

The news only added fuel to the possibility she’d purposely gotten into my bed.

I rubbed my jaw as I thought about the information.

“Interesting.” I flexed one hand, thinking about when I’d spanked her.

She needed more than just a simple lesson that crossing me in any way wasn’t in her best interest.

“I’m surprised that’s all you have to say. How is Sergio tied to any of this?” he asked. “Other than he was in charge of online betting and kept the goddamn book.”

“Because he stood by my side the night we killed twenty-five of Tristen’s men including his goddamn brother.”

“Exactly. Now, I have your attention. That means you could be next. You need to watch your back, Pakhan. You’re valuable.”

I snatched the photograph of Bristol in her cap and gown.

She was standing with a man. I’d paid little attention to Mayor Rork over the last few years, mostly because he’d been innocuous in serving city government before becoming mayor, but something caught my attention.

I pulled the picture closer, studying his face.

“What?” Kazimir asked.

“I need to know everything you can find about our good mayor going all the way back to how he started in government and beyond.” What little I did know about the man was that he’d been involved in city council before running for mayor.

I’d heard he was an attorney, but neither my family nor I had ever had any dealings with him.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m not. I just need to know every detail of what we’re dealing with and why he has such a hatred for organized crime other that for political gain since it’s a hot topic.”

My brother nodded. “I’ll get someone to work on that.”

“Good.”

There was some quiet innocence about Bristol Rork. Certainly not because of her defiant behavior, but about her constant resolve. Now, at least I knew why. She believed in right versus wrong. Even in the picture, her raven curls couldn’t soften the determined look in her eyes.

The women I’d been used to had been hardened by status and wealth, well-coiffed, their bodies sculpted by private trainers. While they’d been tasty arm candy, they’d also been devoid of any substance.

This woman was entirely different; a fawn on a spring day, her wide eyes taking in every aspect of her surroundings with awe. Yet she was also a fighter, someone that hungered for a firm hand while refusing to surrender to just anyone.

I’d been lucky enough to enjoy a mere taste.

That wasn’t enough.

If she’d crossed me in any other way, she’d learn what true punishment could be, the harshness that I was capable of.

Even now, she deserved to learn a very valuable lesson in getting mixed up with a predator.

Kazimir was right that if she was close friends with Lilia, she’d learned more about our life than just casual conversations.

She could become an asset or a liability and I wasn’t willing to risk all that we’d achieved.

Even still, my possessive nature was bridging to the surface, ignoring common sense.

She still had no idea what I was capable of, but she would learn soon enough. I’d fuck her in every hole, break her down to the point that she’d beg me for my touch. After that?

Hell, I wasn’t certain.

If I had any decency inside of me, I’d feel guilty for destroying her life, but that simply wasn’t the case.

I was a bad man. There was no sense in trying to deny what came naturally to me.

“Do you have an address for where she lives?”

“Of course I do,” Kazimir said. “Check under the files. She lives with her sister in a lovely apartment community located fairly close to Ecstasy. Imagine that.”

“Hmmm…” I grabbed the piece of paper, folding and shoving into my trouser pocket.

“What are you going to do?”

At that moment the old code flowed into my mind, the one taught to me by my father and by Sergio. The one instilled in me on the day I’d been indoctrinated into the regime, inked with the family crest.

The Bratva came before all else.

I’d spilled blood freely, eagerly in my attempt to prove the very loyalty that suddenly felt challenged.

While things had changed, loyalty to the family stood above all else.

Sergio had been family, a man who hadn’t deserved to die. Anyone involved would face my wrath.

Including the perfect creature who’d crossed my path.

“I’m going to hunt and capture a little bird who made the mistake of landing in the wrong tree. Then I’m going to provide her with a gilded cage.” Whether for her safety or for her punishment, I wasn’t sure.

My decision was dangerous, perhaps unhinged, but I felt I was due a treat.

Another taste of the forbidden.

I could almost feel her writhing under me, surrendering freely after I’d tamed her, broken her.

I could almost hear her crying out my name from the ecstasy I’d provided.

As I fisted my hand, bringing it to my mouth, something shifted inside of me, the need to possess the beautiful woman overwhelming.

Not only would I taste her, taking what I wanted from moy ideal’nyy angel .

Soon, she would become mine.