Page 38 of Hunt Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #1)

M ikhail

Trust.

Bristol had tossed out the word like there was a switch that could be turned on and off. The thought of me earning her trust was unattainable. Especially since she’d already made up her mind to hate me.

Not that I could blame her.

Other than explosive passion, I’d given her no reason to feel otherwise.

At least I’d been truthful with her regarding various activities over the years while leaving out the particularly gruesome details.

However, I’d added kidnapping to my repertoire.

That was new and unsavory. Even so, my balls were tight as drums just thinking about shackling the lovely woman to my bed.

I also hadn’t lied to her about my concerns for her safety. However, if she’d been seen by the two killers, they would have torn the city apart to find her already. At least her anonymity would keep her protected since keeping her on a lockdown wasn’t in my best interest.

For more than one reason.

I’d shared more about my life with her than anyone outside the family.

In opening myself up to her, I’d all but provided her with the knife to drive into my jugular.

I’d need to determine what to do with her on a long-term basis.

I had difficulty parting with beautiful things, and that very much included her.

She was by far the most beautiful creature I’d longed to possess.

Sadly, she didn’t belong to me nor could she. No matter my family’s attempt to legitimize, there were some including her father, who would never allow the past to stay in the past.

We’d attempted to cozy up to the mayor’s office earlier in the decade, successful enough we’d shared a press conference with the last mayor regarding the newly approved sports stadium. The announcement had been met with cheers and cash flowing into the city.

Since Sebastian Rork had taken over little more than a year before, the friendship had gone dormant.

There’d been talk as always about our ruthless handling of business, nothing I’d taken too seriously.

And nothing that wasn’t true. Since he’d left us in our lane, I’d paid him little attention, but I should know better than to underestimate any politician who needed to pacify his constituents with a bold agenda.

Although I wasn’t ready to condemn the man just yet.

I’d contacted Kazimir, requesting he meet me at Sergio’s house. He was the expert in computers in our family, his love of computer and internet games as a kid following him into college. Sadly, he wasn’t a hacker, which I had a feeling we’d need.

Bristol had continued fighting me, doing nothing more than enticing me with her struggling.

As I pulled into Sergio’s driveway, I found it impossible to keep my mind off her. Her presence was far too disruptive. I’d soon find it impossible to think clearly if she remained.

Fortunately, Kazimir pulled alongside me seconds later, the distraction from my own thoughts exactly what I needed. I climbed out, staring at the house with my hands in my pockets. My brother joined me seconds later.

“I hate this part of our job. Sergio was a good man,” he said. “Death is never easy.” My brother wasn’t immune to violence or taking a man’s life, yet he hadn’t been thoroughly indoctrinated into the Bratva regime.

“He was. His death will be avenged.”

“Always the Pakhan. Just remember there are eyes watching us everywhere.”

“I feel less like your Pakhan today than usual. We should go inside. The sooner we know what we’re dealing with, the better.” I headed toward the door, furious to find it unlocked. The goddamn police couldn’t seem to do anything right.

“Did you find the woman you were searching for?”

As soon as the door was opened, I stopped. “I found her. She’s already tried to run.”

“Smart girl. Did you find out anything of use?”

“To a point. Two men were responsible, or at least they were inside the house.” She continued to hide something from me, but I was no longer certain she was working directly for her father to destroy us. She certainly wasn’t appreciative of his continued fatherly stranglehold over her.

As soon as I walked in and flicked on the foyer light, the same intense feeling of sadness washed over me. The crime scene tape remained on the floor, dried blood turning into a macabre art while another shade of red-violet from the pizza sauce had trickled down the wall in strings.

We both stood silently.

“That’s why you wanted a sketch artist.”

Nodding, I took a deep breath. “She saw one of their faces.”

“Wow. That’s something. Jacob will be at your house at ten in the morning. He’s good and there’s no issue with breaching confidence. That was the earliest I could get him.”

“That’s fine. She’ll be there.”

“O-kay. What did you do with Ms. Rork?”

I threw him a look. “I locked her in the basement.”

He slapped his hand against his chest. “You did what?”

Nodding, I stepped over the outline as if worried I’d get blood on my shoes. “After I caught her the first time, she almost escaped again. I didn’t have time to round up soldiers to maintain security.”

“Fuck, Mikhail. I know I can’t and shouldn’t try and tell you what to do, but locking the daughter of the mayor of our illustrious city in your basement won’t win us any points.”

He laughed while I cringed. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you? Have you thought this through? That alone could ruin us. Imagine what her father will say and do.”

“I’ve thought about the situation as much as the circumstances allowed.”

“Please tell me she’s not in a cage.”

He threw up his hands from the harsh look I gave him. “Not a bad idea for the future.”

“Jesus, bro. You’re playing with fire. Why not just gather information and give her a stern warning? Are you worried she’ll run to her father? From what you told me, she certainly was able to keep her mouth shut, although you don’t know her or what she’s capable of.”

“That’s the problem. I don’t know her at all. Plus, there’s a chance the assailants realized someone was in the house. If I easily figured out the substance on the wall, they could do so as well.”

I moved into the living room, turning on another light.

Other than what had been fingerprinted, I could see nothing that had been disturbed.

Kazimir moved ahead of me and toward the bar.

My guess was that the two men Bristol had seen were standing by it.

Maybe they were the two having a drink. When Jack had called, he’d indicated the single set of fingerprints had been Sergio’s, but they’d both been taken to check for DNA.

My guess was they’d find nothing.

Perhaps he’d welcomed a guest, offering a drink and been confronted by a second man. Whatever had happened, I’d go on my instinct he’d opened a back door to his assailant. That meant we could have a traitor in our midst. My muscles tightened from the thought.

A series of memories rushed into my mind. Good ones. The way Sergio had taken his time with me. The way he’d explained the pride in being an enforcer. And the necessity for full loyalty and respect for the Pakhan.

“So you’re going to keep her indefinitely. For protection, of course.” His smile was one of ire.

“I don’t know yet,” I admitted. The possessive need to keep her remained, but the logistics weren’t plausible.

“Well, you need to figure it out before your ass lands in jail. I don’t seriously think Sebastian Rork will allow the fact his daughter was kidnapped to go without an arrest.”

“Stop pushing me, brother. Go check the goddamn computers in his office. We need to secure the blackmail information.”

“You think Sergio kept a hard copy?”

“That’s what I’m hoping.”

When he didn’t move right away, I sighed and headed from the kitchen. “I’m sorry, Kazimir. Sergio’s death affected me more than I could have believed.”

“Death is never easy, Mikhail. I learned that the first time I was forced to kill a man even while knowing remorse has no place in our world. Sergio was your friend. He was there when Pops was busy. He was loyal.”

“He was more than that and just so you know, remorse separates men from animals.” I gave him a look and he nodded.

He leaned against the counter. “As you requested, I checked into Sebastian’s background. He was a prosecutor for years.”

“So I heard.”

“He was good at what he did.”

“Let me guess. He put away some very bad criminals.” I glanced around the room, trying to remember where Sergio’s safe was located. I’d been in his house a half dozen times before but had never paid close attention to his belongings. There’d been no need.

“Yes, in Los Angeles.”

Immediately I turned my head toward him. “Let me guess. He prosecuted someone in the O’Shaughnessy clan.” I’d thrown it out for kicks, but when his grin widened, I fought another wave of fury. “Fuck. The shit is becoming more and more interesting.” And not fucking coincidental.

“He did. One of the sons. Managed to put him in prison. He was only eighteen, arrested on his birthday and Sebastian managed to put him behind bars for voluntary manslaughter. Guess which son?”

“Connor.”

“Very good. The son taking over a huge share of his father’s business.

Now, I don’t know the ins and outs of Irish traditions, but imagine if Connor is required to perform a deed for his coronation?

What do you want to bet he’s handling the activity in Las Vegas, which would add credence to what Nadia discovered.

Connor comes into the city, does his best to ruin our reputation and perhaps even plant evidence so you or several of the family members are arrested.

Or he could simply be tossing out crumbs to take your eye off the ball before he blows your brains out. ”

Now I gave him my full attention. “You need to cut your caffeine intake, brother. You’re right though. Far too coincidental. What happened with Connor’s case?”

“I thought you’d never ask. Connor O’Shaughnessy was sentenced to eighteen years in prison after making a plea deal.” He chuckled.