Page 87 of Hunt Me

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 ofcomputer 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.”