Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
D imitrios
The trail was already cold.
In a city that my family had ‘owned’ for years, to have a foreigner disappear without anyone noticing meant Shane was either dead and food for the fishes or had high quality assistance that had allowed him to get away.
Whichever was the case, I needed full confirmation. Until I did, I would destroy parts of the city to try to find him.
“Do you think the girl knows anything?” Nico asked. “Just a thought. Even if you look at the surveillance tapes, she was staring right at you. She must know where her brother is. Maybe she was a lookout for him.”
Just the thought of the lovely girl brought another feeling of arousal.
“Possibly.” The thought was a decent one.
We were headed to my second nightclub to have a discussion with a man who’d spent time the night before at Sin and Shame boasting the Stalker was in town. The whisper of the man’s arrival had put the fear of God into several groups in town. I found that fascinating. At this point, the Stalker’s existence had yet to be proven.
My American employee Michael hadn’t taken my warning lightly, contacting Atticus with the information. It could be a long shot or some asshole not realizing who he’d come up against, but I would turn over every rock to learn details. The kid deserved a raise.
“I don’t know for certain, but a night or two locked in the room will do her some good.” I touched the cut on my face. Usually, fury would make me unhinged until punishment was doled out.
Not with her.
Maybe I was still in shock from seeing the insanely gorgeous woman I’d last seen as a gangly kid with braces. But her hair was the same if not more vibrant, long copper-blonde locks framing her arms with bangs highlighting her perfect skin. I’d never forget her imploring eyes, the way she’d peppered me with questions until I gave her what she wanted.
What do you do?
Do you have a girlfriend?
Is she pretty?
Are you getting married?
You have a big house and a boat. Are you rich?
I rubbed my lip, my thoughts all over the place about my discovery. Willow wasn’t the awkward kid any longer, now a beautiful woman with long, tanned legs and a voluptuous body. It had been dangerous and compulsive of me to capture her, but there was no other choice.
If Shane was alive, maybe he cared enough about his sister to do the responsible thing so she would live. I’d need to find the best way of enticing him to a meeting. My lovely captive certainly wasn’t going to provide any help. I’d sensed that from the beginning. She was a feisty one, her tears ending as soon as she was placed securely in the backseat of the SUV.
After that, her expression of utter hatred and determination had taken over.
She hadn’t fought me when I’d placed her in her room, only turned and stared at me with those damn venomous eyes as I’d closed the door. My cock had been rock hard the entire time. Whether or not she’d noticed I hadn’t seen.
Fuck.
Being attracted to her wasn’t an option. Keeping her would become an issue, including with Gregory. It was obvious by our conversation he didn’t know anything about the danger his brother and family were in.
Were they collateral damage or had Shane turned on his parents? The thought should be irrelevant, but it troubled me more than I cared to admit.
Just like taking Willow away from the last place she’d seen her parents alive had done.
I reminded myself how this started.
My brother’s murder.
That took precedence over everything.
I pulled her phone from my jacket pocket, lighting up the screen. Her screenshot was a selfie taken with another girl. They both looked happy and carefree. I’d taken it from her to keep her from contacting anyone. However, if she had the contact information for her brother, that would be the first call she made.
“She’s a looker,” Nico said and the ugly green monster managed to surface.
“Hear me, Nico. No one in my employ is to touch her inappropriately. Do you understand?”
He instantly bristled. “Of course not, sir. I’ll relay the information to the others.”
“See that you do.”
The remainder of the quiet was filled with apprehensive tension. The last time I’d spent more than a night with a woman had been years. My refusal to enter into a relationship was based on the innate knowledge that sharing a life with someone meant taking significant risks. I knew that far too well.
Unless the right person came along, I simply wasn’t interested in the extra work. Even if my parents longed for grandchildren.
Did my refusal to care for anyone make me an asshole on top of every other moniker I’d earned? Perhaps. But my reluctance meant less danger and more business accomplished.
Club Darkness was a fitting name for the realm I’d allowed to become an indulgent sin for those willing to pay the price of entrance. It wasn’t private either but more exclusive by nature, the three-story club frequented by international celebrities on a regular basis. It was considered a jewel in the family’s crown, gaining notoriety the first week in operation.
The profits were hefty, coming in around thirty million dollars.
It was also the perfect place to engage in a terse conversation.
Nico pulled up to the front door, idling as Atticus and two other men made their way to the SUV. Tonight was all about making an entrance. If word of my brother’s murder had leaked to anyone, I needed to make my presence known so our enemies wouldn’t deem the moment perfect for harvesting employees or acting on some insane need to try to take control.
Besides, some of my more nefarious deals were made behind the doors. While protected, I also didn’t need the police sniffing around.
I buttoned the jacket of my suit, taking a few moments to scan the huge crowd lining both sides of the street. They had hopes of entering, although only a few would be allowed inside. It was the same every night, people clamoring to be a part of the scene.
The bouncers were ready as my men flanked my side, waiting to remove the velvet rope securing the entrance. People called out my name, but I didn’t bother looking in their direction. Within Athens and several other cities, I was considered a celebrity.
Still today, I laughed at the thought.
Once inside, I took another couple of minutes to survey the scene. As usual, the place was filled to capacity, everyone enjoying the scene as they should be.
“Where is he?” I asked Atticus as we pushed our way through the crowd.
“Upstairs on the rooftop lounge.”
“Be prepared to clear out the crowd.”
“You got it, boss.” He was forced to shove his way through some unruly guests, snarling at them as if his voice would do any good.
Once inside the elevator, I took a deep breath. In the last twenty or so hours since my brother had been murdered, the streets had been quiet.
Too quiet.
The usual buzz from informants, drug dealers, and other scum was normally a feeding frenzy, almost all the information false. But it had led me to discovering several betrayals over the years.
“Keep your ear to the streets. If a single word is mentioned about Leandro, I need to know.”
Atticus nodded. “Don’t worry. I have our best men out there.”
I was certain he did. He took his job seriously.
As the elevator doors opened, I took a deep whiff of the night air. The rooftop was one of my favorite locations, although I hadn’t been to the club in weeks. Checking on business had been something Leandro had excelled at. As soon as I walked out, I noticed Havros had arrived earlier.
My brother wasn’t a typical nightclubbing man so it was obvious he was here for the same reason.
“How did Havros find out about our boaster?”
“I don’t know, sir. I’ve been on the computer most of the day and talking with various informants.” Atticus wasn’t making an excuse, but I glared at him anyway.
It would seem the rumor mill was already being played.
“What is the man’s name?”
Atticus huffed. “Another goddamn American. Frankie Jones.”
“It’s a free country, my friend.”
“Another slice of vermin.”
Havros acknowledged my presence. It wasn’t that I didn’t want my brothers involved in the hunt. It was that Havros had a shorter fuse than I did.
Without hesitation, I headed in his direction.
“Mr. Nomikos. I’m Charlie Boone from Walkabout Studios. I was hoping I’d catch you at some point.” The man held out his hand for a typical shake.
While I offered mine in return, I gaze at him warily. “What can I do for you, Mr. Boone?”
“I wanted to discuss the possibility of using this club for an upcoming movie I’m producing being filmed in Italy and Greece.”
Atticus was right behind the man, ready to toss him out of the club entirely. I held up my hand, Mr. Boone noticing. He suddenly seemed very uncomfortable.
“And why would I want to allow that?” I asked. Havros was slowly coming toward me, his face expressing the same anger I felt deep inside.
“Because the production team will make it worth your while.”
The man’s voice was louder than it should have been, which attracted unwanted attention from several of the club goers.
Including the man I’d come to question.
“You’ll need to make an appointment with my office, Mr. Boone. But I’m not promising anything. I take the privacy of our customers very seriously.”
“Mr. Nomikos. I’m Chase Goodman.” A young, buff dude approached, his swagger instantly igniting dislike.
“And?”
He seemed confused. “I’m a mega action star in the US.”
“That doesn’t make you a star in my country, Mr. Goodman. Now, I have business to attend to.” As soon as I tried to sidestep the ambush, he gripped my arm.
Sighing, I nodded to Atticus.
“That’s it, buddy. You’re leaving.” Atticus pushed him toward the elevator, but he wasn’t going to have an opportunity to use the exit.
“I’m not going anywhere!” The movie star was making a scene, which ordinarily would have pissed me off to a different level, but I had other business to attend to.
“Take him down the service elevator,” I told my soldier. Atticus would ensure the man knew better than to come back to the club.
Atticus grinned. “Gladly.” He switched his grip to the back of the movie star’s neck, lifting the struggling man onto his toes.
The man boasting at Sin and Shame was already making a beeline for the steel box. In my mind, a clear indication he knew more than he should.
Havros and I made it to the elevator at the same time, my brother sticking his arm through the opening to prevent the man from escaping. Not that the stairs wouldn’t have been used, the man hunted like the cockroach he was.
However, this was easier and perhaps cleaner.
He sucked in his breath, darting glances from my brother back to me.
“I assume you know who we are,” Havros asked.
“Yeah? So what? Let me the fuck out of here,” Frankie demanded.
“I don’t think you’re in any position to make demands,” I told him.
“Fuck you!”
“Wrong answer.” I shoved him against the wall. “Now, we’re going to make this very easy for you. You seem to have information about the Stalker.”
He tried to act as if he had no clue what I was talking about.
As anticipated, Havros snapped immediately, yanking the man from his stance, issuing several brutal punches to his abdomen.
“Can we hold off on the violence?” The words weren’t really about asking him politely, but telling my brother to lay off. “I suggest you talk since my brother is more unhinged than I am.”
The doors opened and Havros grabbed him by the collar, jerking him into the club.
“Out the back door,” I told him. The last thing I wanted was for the clubbers to notice and possibly report what we were doing.
Havros tossed Frankie through the door into the small alley, the boaster slammed into the dumpster. My brother crouched down, staring the man in the face. “You know something about the Stalker. Talk or I’ll rearrange your face.”
I stood over them, poor Frankie finally understanding the error of his ways. But he still wasn’t talking.
My patience was waning, but Havros was in his element. When my brother pulled back his arm, his hand fisted, Frankie threw up both his arms.
He certainly wasn’t anyone’s enforcer. Not only was he slight in size, he also wasn’t dressed like a soldier from any other crime syndicate. I had a feeling he’d believed his antics wouldn’t be noticed.
“I’ll talk. Jesus. Just get me off the pavement.”
Havros exhaled then pulled the man to his feet the same time he moved to a standing position. “Talk fast or I’ll feed you to the rats.”
“Okay. Jesus Christ. I heard he’s in town. So what? You know the stories. People love the shit. The Stalker is like some dark god.”
“I am curious how you would know given you’re from the United States.”
“Oh, hell. The dark web. Ever heard of it? Just fucking let me go. Don’t be an asshole.”
Was he kidding me? I glanced at Havros. Checking the source wasn’t tops on my list. However, I made a mental note to see what Atticus could find.
While Frankie’s body was shaking, he had no understanding of how much danger he was in. The hard jab under his chin I delivered knocked him back by a few feet. Bloody spittle slipped from his mouth. Under the single light, his eyes reflected a better understanding of what predicament he was in.
I pulled out my weapon, holding it in front of me as I slowly made my way in front of him. “One last time, Frankie. I don’t need any additional bullshit. What do you know?”
“Please don’t kill me.” He made the fatal mistake of trying to run.
With a hard snap of my hand, I drove him into the wall as I smashed my weapon against the side of his head. His howl was louder than before.
My anger was coming close to being an eruption of savage violence. That hadn’t occurred in a long time.
“I don’t have any intention of killing you, but it will be difficult to enjoy our fabulous Greek foods without your tongue. Or I might concentrate on your kneecaps instead.”
As soon as I pressed the barrel to his right one, he squealed like a pig.
“No, please. Please.”
Exhaling, I gave Havros a look indicating he needed to stand down and pulled the weapon away. “I think we’ve come to decent terms, my friend. Talk.”
I was certain the guy was going to piss in his pants. “I don’t know much. Just that he’s in town and he has several targets.”
“How do you know this?” Havros barked.
Frankie swallowed hard. “I… I, um, overheard it at a coffee shop.”
“I have a question for you, Frankie, and I really do want an honest answer. Why are you lying to me?”
I considered myself a man with excellent instincts, but perhaps after tonight I’d question that. The hard screech of tires instantly jerked on my instincts. The vehicle’s backside sliding, the driver finally got control and headed right for us, the brights on in order to keep us blinded.
With the vehicle’s speed in excess of seventy miles per hour, there was little time to react.
“Down,” I managed to scream at my brother just seconds before the shooting began.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Several rounds were fired from a machine gun stuck out the passenger window. I got off several shots, hitting the vehicle at least three times, yet it continued on its path, screeching onto the street and disappearing. Hissing, I rubbed my jaw as frustration tore through me.
“What the fuck?” Havros asked as he struggled to stand.
“It would seem we’re being hunted.” I slowly turned my head, grimacing when I did.
Poor Frankie never knew what hit him.