Page 116 of Hunt Me

“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.

“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.