Page 49 of Hunt Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #1)

“Thank you, everyone,” the mayor said as he held the microphone. “Today I’d like to announce the creation of a special commission whose sole purpose will be to investigate and prosecute organized crime within our beloved city.”

The applause was significant, at least two hundred people in attendance.

He rattled on about the nuances of the committee, but I wasn’t paying any attention. I couldn’t care less.

I was concentrating on Bristol.

The woman I couldn’t seem to get enough of.

The woman who belonged to me.

Yet there was a potential problem. If the video obtained by Detective Wagner was seen by anyone else, she would be investigated, if not arrested. I couldn’t allow that to happen.

“Is this what you expected?” Vissarian asked.

With my eyes remaining on the screen, I concentrated on Bristol’s expression. She was searching the crowd, studying every face. I wondered if she was looking for me. The thought brought a smile to my face. “It’s exactly what I expected. It’s time to toss out the trash.”

“What if Sebastian is O’Shaughnessy’s puppet?”

I turned my head toward him. “Then he will die.”

He chuckled and turned off the television. “That should make for interesting pillow talk. I’d love to be a fly on the wall.”

“Very funny. See if you can locate Connor. He’s here somewhere. I feel it in my bones.”

“I’ll see what I can find.”

I could hear his laughter as he walked down the hall. As I headed to my office to make a few calls, my thoughts drifted to Bristol. Staying away from her was becoming more difficult even if it was necessary. However, I needed to keep a close eye on her under the circumstances.

Before I had a chance to reach my office, my assistant caught me in the hallway. “Mr. Dmitriyev. I didn’t want to interrupt your meeting, but you have someone in your office. He insisted on waiting. I’m sorry, sir. I couldn’t stop him.”

“Don’t worry about it, Sheila. I’ll take it from here.” I glanced at the closed door, my irritation increasing. As I walked in, I shook my head. “Detective Wagner. You were on my short list of phone calls today.” I closed the door, immediately bristling.

He arched his brows, studying me as if I was under arrest. “Did you kill Jax Shane?”

I laughed, his question unexpected. “No.” But I wasn’t upset the man was dead.

“But you beat the shit out of him?”

Exhaling, I walked closer, crowding his space. Instantly, he was on edge. “He and I had a brief discussion about the consequences of stealing from my casino. I assure you that he was alive when he was escorted from the building.”

He tilted his head, locking eyes with mine. “There’s pressure at the precinct to bring you in for formal questioning. With the chatter on the news, my boss is being pushed by the mayor. I came here as a courtesy.”

Of course the mayor was pushing for my arrest. That would make his task much easier.

“A courtesy. You mean like you provided by keeping the fact there was a witness locked down?”

“Don’t give me that crap, Mikhail. There were already rumors about there being a witness before you arrived on the scene. That leads me to another question. Did you know Sebastian Rork’s daughter was the woman hunched over Sergio Pavel’s body?”

“I am aware and you’re going to destroy all evidence she was there.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

I gave him a hard onceover. “Do you like your job, Detective?”

“You’re threatening me now? That’s beneath you, Mikhail.”

“Answer the question. You and I go way back, long enough that under ordinary circumstances I would consider you a friend. However, friends don’t fuck with each other. I don’t need to make threats, Jack. I only make promises that I always keep. Destroy the tape.”

His jaw clenched and he nodded. “Fine. Does she know anything?”

“I’m in the process of discovery.”

“Don’t do anything stupid. You’ve heard about Mayor Rork’s new investigation?”

“I’ve heard.”

“He’s asking for our cooperation. They’re digging deep on this.

From the various rumors, it would appear he’s also considering bringing in the FBI.

The recent overdoses are the reason, but with Jax Shane’s death, he’ll be foaming at the mouth to add murder charges onto a long list. On top of suspicions regarding Mr. Shane, I have two dead kids who were seen partying in your clubs.

That doesn’t bode well for your reputation.

” Jack dared smile as if he had a chance of getting the upper hand.

I took my time answering. “Murder isn’t my style, Jack, and you’re well aware my family does not tolerate drugs.”

“Then are you suggesting you’re being framed?”

“I’m suggesting you should be more concerned about blood raining in the streets.”

He cocked his head, darting his eyes back and forth. “Trouble in paradise?”

“Let’s just say an old enemy hungry for revenge. Does the name Tristen O’Shaughnessy ring a bell?”

He rubbed his jaw. “Yeah. Leader of the most powerful Irish crime syndicate west of the Rockies.”

“Well, his son Connor is determined to invade our territory. I can’t allow that to happen.”

“I thought you were completely legitimate now, Mikhail.”

I laughed. “The difference between my family and his is our legitimacy. He’s steeped in illegal drug and weapons trafficking. Once he gets his claws into casinos, there will be no way of controlling illegal gambling.”

Jack nodded. “I’ll do what I can to keep the heat off you for as long as possible, but at some point, I won’t be able to help. And trust me. If any evidence is found that you killed Jax Shane, there will be nothing I can do.”

No number of threats was going to change the reality of what I was facing. “Destroy the tape, Jack. That’s all I need.”

“She must be pretty special to risk losing everything you own and your freedom for her.”

I would ordinarily be pissed as shit at his disrespectful comment, but not today. “She is.”

“I’ll do what I can, but there are no promises.”

After he left, I stood by my office window for a full ten minutes.

And the entire time I was thinking of her.

A laugh finally rumbled from my throat. For the first time in my life, I’d found something personal I wanted to keep in my life and instead of being able to enjoy the spoils of war, I was embroiled in one.

I had no doubt evidence would be found on Jax’s body or at the murder scene. I’d let my guard down, becoming the prey.

That ended now.

As I pulled my phone into my hand, I allowed my thoughts to drift to Bristol one more time. There was only one word that was appropriate.

Mine.

“I was about to call you, Mikhail.” Alessandro’s voice was gritty.

“What did you discover?”

“Sergio was indeed adept at security. The moment the files were attacked, they disintegrated.”

“Interesting.”

“What’s interesting is that he only installed the ability a few days before his death. He had a premonition something was about to happen.”

“I’m curious. Is there any way to trace the IP address?”

“Only if they’ve left the back door open, which I haven’t checked yet. Whoever handled the hack for the enemy also knew what they were doing.”

“Is there a way of infecting their computer system if they tried to obtain new information?”

“Yes, but the files are all corrupt.”

“Not if there’s a new one.”

Alessandro laughed. “A lure. Clever. No wonder you’re Pakhan. I’ll take care of it.”

“Good. Let me know what happens.”

As I ended the call, I was able to smile. Step by step. Soon, Tristen O’Shaughnessy would learn I was a new breed of Russian Bratva.

And I was much more dangerous.