Page 48 of Hunt Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #1)

M ikhail

Rage was something I was used to. I’d gotten very good at controlling every emotion over the years. The idiots who highlighted their weaknesses always managed to find themselves on the wrong end of a bullet.

Reporters were always lurking in the shadows, hungering for a story to provide the perfect backdrop for their fifteen minutes of fame. From social media to tabloids, respectable newspapers and quality television reporting, the sting of being famous while showing your ass was a lesson learned once.

I’d also learned that mere assumptions were enough to spur the rush of notoriety.

Suddenly, the tabloids were filled with gang-related stories about the great Dmitriyev family.

The headlines were as explosive as the accusations and most untrue.

Sadly, they were also damning. Our stocks had taken a hit, reporters calling on the hour, hoping to be the lucky one to hear my side of the story.

I’d even noticed an uptick in police presence in and around our resorts.

All in all, our reputation was one step away from quicksand.

Whoever was fueling the rumor mills knew how to attack us from all sides.

I’d need to handle the fallout carefully. But right now, finding the motherfucker captured in the sketch was first on the agenda.

After three long days of circulating the sketch of the unknown murderer or accomplice, I was transfixed with rage.

Enough that, as I burst into the all-glass conference room of the Dmitriyev headquarters, I had almost thirty pairs of eyes opening wide. For the first time since I’d taken over as Pakhan, there was uncertainty in several of them.

A few held fear.

They should be afraid. I’d tasked my captains to scour Las Vegas, Reno, and hundreds of miles beyond to find the goddamn asshole.

Three days of nothing. I’d even enlisted Stefano’s help.

Oddly enough, his connections had brought a possible lead.

Not my men. Not the men I paid very well to accomplish such a simple task.

No one should ever be able to hide from me.

“I have one question for you, gentlemen,” I snarled as I slammed my hands on the table.

I took a few seconds to lock eyes with every man to allow them to fully comprehend my displeasure.

“Do I need to hire a tracking team of my own to hunt down this fucking son of a bitch? Three days is three days too long.”

No one said a single word. While only a few had ever seen me lose my temper, they knew exactly what I was capable of. I ended my silent warning by locking eyes with Vissarian who lifted his eyebrows.

Only Kazimir dared have a look of amusement on his face.

The unease in the room continued, a few of my captains shifting in their seats.

On top of there being no information on the man in question, the admittance there’d been a witness had leaked in the press.

While names had yet to be mentioned, it was only a matter of time.

I would have a discussion with Jack later this morning.

If Bristol’s name was released, her life would be in danger.

Vissarian finally cleared his throat. “We’ll find him, Pakhan. We won’t stop until we do.” Every man in the room was waiting for my reaction.

I didn’t offer one. I was far too angry to be appeased.

“I don’t care what you are required to do. Find this man. I want him or someone who knows his identity brought to me within twelve hours. If not, there will be hell to pay.”

“We’ll find him, sir.” The voice of one captain didn’t sound convincing.

“Twelve hours. Someone knows something in this goddamn town. Use every goddamn resource. Every contact we have. Call in goddamn favors if you need to. I want him found. Dismissed.”

I was angrier than I’d been in a long time, so much so I could sense my blood pressure had increased. I immediately headed to the far window, smashing my palm against the glass. In the reflection I watched as the men filed out, not a single one of them uttering a word.

That was good because given the atrocious mood I was in, I was likely to use physical violence to get my point across.

Once they’d left, I sensed I wasn’t alone. “What is it, Vissarian?”

“A little rough on them, weren’t you?”

“Not nearly rough enough. How hard can it be to find a single man? There isn’t a hole big enough in this town or any other.”

He walked closer, flanking my side and staring at the skyline as I was. “Is it possible the information isn’t correct? I wasn’t going to suggest that in front of the others, but you have to consider the possibility.”

“That’s bullshit!” But it wasn’t. I’d already thought of the possibility more than once. In fact, I couldn’t be certain Bristol hadn’t purposely created someone to get me off her back.

“Maybe. Maybe not. Even if the picture is close, there are no distinguishing marks as you said yourself. It was dark. She was terrified. Plus, the perpetrator is wearing a hoodie.”

I closed and rubbed my eyes. “I get it. The fucking Irish are making fools of us. I’ve already had a discussion with a detective on the overdoses and I must tell you I didn’t like his insinuations.”

“They’re trying to rattle us, Mikhail, and they’re doing a damn good job. Look at the fucking news. They want us too busy chasing our tails.”

“For what reason? Why the cloak and dagger bullshit?”

“Because they want you looking the other way when they put a bullet in your head. That’s the simplest reason.”

“And the most complicated?” I threw out.

Vissarian sighed. “They want our properties, especially Ecstasy.”

“They’re not getting them.”

“I had a call from Mark Jenkins.”

I slowly lifted my head. “And?”

“And he received information that land Ecstasy sits on doesn’t belong to us.”

“What the…” Exhaling, I thought about how my father handled the property after the fire.

I had no clue if they’d bought it outright or had simply taken it as their possession.

Back then, knowing my father and uncle, they wouldn’t have bothered with traditional methods of handling real estate.

“I’ll be damned. Let me guess. Anonymous. ”

“Yes. This shit is getting messy, Mikhail. It’s also very personal.

This is all about revenge. However, with you gone, they’ll feel free to put a strong arm on several other casino owners to sell at a much cheaper price while filling the streets with hard drugs.

They’ll also feel free to try and take Ecstasy in a legal battle.

Even if they fail, we’ll be ruined. As both our fathers taught us.

Never underestimate the power of revenge. It never has an expiration date.”

I thought about what he’d said and fisted my hand, barely resisting smashing it into the glass. “Fuck this shit.”

“Right now, Mark isn’t too concerned, although he did ask me if there was a possibility the source was telling the truth. If this gets in the paper, just imagine. And Mayor Rork will eat it up.”

“I want Connor hunted down. When I have him under lock and key, I’m going to have a long discussion with Sebastian.”

“Agreed; however, I’ve never seen you this angry, Mikhail. Is this more about the woman?”

His question was as irritating as everything else had been. I shot him a look and he refused to back down, arching an eyebrow in direct defiance of me. “It’s not about the woman.” But it was on several levels.

“You like her.”

I shook my head and rubbed my jaw. “Yeah, I do. More than I should.”

“I was shocked to hear you’d sent her away. Do you honestly think you can trust her?”

“No, but she’s not stupid either. She knows I’ll destroy her life if necessary and in doing so, the life of her father.”

“What is this huge vendetta against Sebastian Rork?”

“Don’t you remember what happened twenty-two years ago at the amusement park?”

“Yeah, we killed a lot of men and destroyed millions of dollars of party favors. Then we acquired a piece of land with a resort built on bones and blood. Now their ghosts are coming back to haunt us.”

“How profound. I’m talking about the girl I saved.” I’d sworn Kazimir to secrecy, but I couldn’t keep her identity from the family any longer.

He narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, okay. I vaguely remember. Why?”

“The little girl I saved was Bristol Rork.”

Vissarian whistled. “Shit. You’re kidding me.”

“Ironic, eh?”

“I’m not sure that’s a strong enough word, but I’m right about the ghosts. Why the fuck was Sebastian there that night?”

“Either to be killed or to be paid handsomely for recanting his prosecution of Connor O’Shaughnessy.”

“Which means he could be on the take even now. The situation with Ecstasy could be the good mayor’s doing. Interesting. If the special commission was created to crucify us, you’re playing with fire while holding a gasoline can if you think Bristol is going to turn on her father.”

“Don’t underestimate the power of our connection.

” I’d spent three full days being unable to get her off my mind.

I’d driven by her apartment. I’d followed her to the mayor’s office.

Hell, I’d stood outside her fucking apartment like some lowlife stalker.

And the entire time my cock had remained rigid.

“Then you won’t mind watching something,” he said, his brows furrowing. He moved toward the large-scale television, grabbing the remote.

“What is it?” He should know my patience was paper thin at this point.

“Just hold on.” As he pulled up a program, I took a deep breath.

“A fucking press conference.” I’d known it was going to happen, but for some reason, it felt like a slap in the face.

Plus, it brought several red flags to my mind.

Sebastian was preening in front of the cameras, but I wasn’t interested in him.

I was fascinated by the woman who stood behind him.

Dressed in a red suit, she was perfection.

They were standing on the steps of the goddamn courthouse of all locations, yet seeing her beautiful face framed by the sun created a wave of electric vibrations.