Chapter 18 Eli
Chapter eighteen
Eli
“Ireally fucking hate coming here,” Vin gripes, gripping the steering wheel of the SUV with white knuckles.
“Stay calm,” Leo advises him.
“I’m always calm,” he responds as he approaches a roundabout.
Leo scoffs. “You remember how things went last time we were here, right?”
“Yes, I ensured the old bastard knew who he was dealing with.”
Leo shakes his head, laughing. “Just remember, Mikhail and his brothers are bigger and stronger than their father was. If you piss them off, we might not make it out of here alive.”
“Stop worrying,” Vin remarks, peering in the rearview mirror at me and Mauro. “We have more muscle with us this time.”
Mauro grunts, rolling his eyes.
As we navigate the city streets of Chicago, approaching the Vasiliev building, I can’t help but recall what Madeleine told me the night before.
When I came in here tonight, you mumbled something against your pillow. It sounded like szhech’ yego, but my Russian is a little rusty, so I’m not positive … It means burn him.
Could my subconscious have remembered hearing those words from the people who tortured me?
“Everything okay?” Leo asks, eyeing me in the rearview mirror.
I lean forward. “What are the chances that the Vasilievs were involved in my kidnapping last year? Or, at least, that their men had something to do with it?”
Vin and Leo exchange glances.
“What makes you think they were involved?” Vin asks.
I drag my hand through my hair. “I had a nightmare last night. Always the same one.” I stare out the window, watching people pass by while they gaze at their phones. “But apparently, I was speaking Russian in my sleep.”
“How do you know you were speaking Russian in your sleep?” Vin asks, his voice suddenly turning a little colder.
Shit.
“I…” I clear my throat. “I guess I screamed out, waking Madeleine, who was sound asleep in her room.” I shrug, trying to appear casual. “She came in to check on me, and that’s when she heard me say, ‘szhech’ yego.’”
The vehicle comes to a stop, and Vin turns to face me, narrowing his eyes. “Which means?”
“Burn him,” I answer.
He nods before facing forward and accelerating the vehicle.
“Do you think they were involved with it?” Leo asks.
Vin sighs. “At this point, I wouldn’t put anything past them. But I don’t see what benefit it would have been for them to capture Eli and then release him just days later without gaining anything in return.”
“That’s the part I can’t figure out,” I say.
“Well, if it was them, then we have your back, Eli,” Vin asserts. “And they will be dealt with accordingly.”
Mauro grips my shoulder and nods in agreement.
The vehicle pulls over to the side of the road, and I look out the window to see armed men approaching.
“But Eli.” I stare at Vin’s cold blue eyes in the mirror. “If we find out you’re fucking our sister, then the Vasilievs will be the least of your problems.”
I don’t let him see the fear in my eyes, nor do I have a chance to react as my door suddenly opens.
The four of us step out of the vehicle, and I stare up at the name “Vasiliev” displayed in giant gold letters across the building. Fucking tacky.
I scoff. “You think they’re overcompensating for something?”
“Just wait until you see the rest of the place,” Leo tells me.
“If it isn’t my favorite guard,” Vin declares with a wide grin, directing his gaze at a bulky, short man standing before him.
The guard scowls. “Fuck off.”
Vin clicks his tongue in disapproval. “I thought you would have worked on your manners by now.”
“Why you fucking—”
“Enough!” a deep, throaty voice snaps. I look past the guards to see a large man standing with his hands clasped behind his back. I’m not as familiar with the Vasilievs as the Alaries are, but it doesn’t take a genius to recognize that this man is one of the infamous brothers.
“Kazimir.” Vin greets him with a mask of indifference. “You should try to teach your fucking guards to have some respect toward your guests.”
Kazimir’s lips curve into a calculating smile. “Apologies. We’re still in the process of weeding out any invaluable members during our transition,” he replies, his dark gaze resting on the guard, who visibly swallows. “But if you’ll follow me, my brothers are eager for your visit.”
“I’m sure they are.” Leo strides forward, and I follow closely behind, my senses heightened as we enter the building.
Kazimir points toward the front desk. “Check in your weapons.”
I quickly glance toward Vin, who nods.
Fuck, I don’t like this.
It feels like we’re walking right into a goddamn trap, unarmed.
After depositing our guns, we enter the elevator, easily filling in the small space.
Once the doors close, we ascend to the top floor.
Mauro tugs at the collar of his shirt.
“Don’t tell me the deadly Mauro Alarie is claustrophobic?” Kazimir mocks.
Mauro drops his hand and glares at him.
The doors slide open, and we step off directly into the gaudiest room I’ve ever seen. Gold covers everything, from the chandelier to the picture frames and even the wallpaper.
“Told you,” Leo remarks quietly as we follow our host toward the end of the hall.
Kazimir pushes open the double-wide doors. “Brothers, our guests have arrived.”
We step into the room, where the other four brothers are waiting for us with eager expressions.
The largest among them sits behind a desk, standing up as we enter, appearing emotionless. Tattoos cover every inch of his arms and peek out beneath the collar of his shirt, spreading up his neck. “The Alaries,” he says.
“Mikhail,” Vin acknowledges.
“It has been quite some time,” Mikhail responds.
“Some might argue it hasn’t been long enough.” Vin crosses his arms over his chest.
Mikhail studies him for a moment before looking at the rest of us and sitting down. “Please, take a seat.”
We do, the four of us positioning ourselves on one side of the desk while the five Vasiliev brothers occupy the other side, whether sitting or standing.
Mikhail steeples his fingers in front of him. “I heard you were here just a few months ago, visiting our father.”
“We were,” Leo confirms.
“What was the purpose of your visit?”
“Why don’t you ask him?” Leo asks. “Oh wait…”
One of the brothers abruptly stands. “Sit, Emil,” Mikhail orders, narrowing his eyes at Leo. “He didn’t mean anything by his words.” He leans forward. “Speaking of our father, you wouldn’t have had anything to do with his death, correct?”
“Heard he was killed in an explosion,” Vin says. “At an illegal sex club, if my memory serves me right.” Vin tsks. “Nasty business to be involved in.”
“Women were made for our pleasure,” Kazimir answers. “Their only purpose in life is to provide a hole for fucking and heirs. Nothing more. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“No, we don’t,” Leo quickly answers. “Your father was under the impression that it was okay to kidnap innocent women and then auction them off to work as sex slaves, all to make a quick buck. We had heard rumors that your views differed, but perhaps we were wrong.”
“Not wrong,” Mikhail offers, casting a sharp look at Kazimir. “But it’s not entirely accurate either.”
“Heard your wife was supposed to star in one of those auctions,” Kazimir notes with a grin. “Is it too late to bid?”
Vin’s hand slaps down on Leo’s chest before he can rise from his seat. Leo’s hands tighten around the arms of his chair as he tries to rein in his fury, his shoulders tightening by the second.
“The next time you bring Scarlett into this, I won’t stop him from defending her honor,” Vin warns, his authority clear.
Kazimir raises his hands in mock surrender. “Noted.”
“We’ve heard rumors as well—that it was you who killed our father,” another brother voices as he points an accusatory finger directly at Leo. “You, specifically.”
Leo grins, relaxing in his seat. “Got any proof?”
The brother steps away from the wall, scowling at Leo. “I don’t need any proof to kill you, motherfucker.”
Vin stands. “Make one more threat against my brother, Alik, and it will be your last words.”
One of the brothers laughs. “Jeez, you can cut the tension with a knife in here.” He crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his seat. “Maybe you four should just get to the point and tell us why you’re here.”
“Yes, Luka, I agree,” Mikhail says, his tone laced with boredom. “Why have you requested such an urgent visit with us?”
“Alastor is not marrying Madeleine,” I blurt out, causing every pair of eyes in the room to land on me.
For the first time since we arrived, Mikhail grins. “And why is that? Is the bride having cold feet?”
“We know you’re involved in this,” Vin accuses, taking his seat. “And we won’t be idly sitting back while you fuck with our sister.”
Kazimir grins wickedly. “Maybe we can just fuck her instead, then?”
I jump from my seat, repercussions be damned, as I lunge for his throat. “You fucking bastard!”
But before I have a chance to touch him, two pairs of hands grasp my shoulders. I look to see Mauro and Leo pulling me back.
Kazimir laughs. “This one’s a little temperamental.”
My chest heaves as I rock my neck from side to side, my fingers curling into fists.
“You say one more thing about my sister, and I will cover your atrociously decorated rooms with your blood,” Vin threatens, somehow keeping his cool.
“In the five minutes we’ve been here, you’ve insulted my sister-in-law, threatened my brother, and now you dare to offend my sister.
” He bangs his fist on the desk. “I consider myself to be a calm man, but you are testing my patience, and I advise you to stop.”
The temperature in the room drops a few degrees.
Mikhail taps a finger on his desk, his gaze fixed on Vin. “The wedding is between Alastor and Madeleine. So, tell me, why have you come to us about it?”
“We believe there is a contract between them,” Leo answers. “Something that Alastor is using to hold over Madeleine’s head, forcing her hand in this marriage. And we believe you are involved.”
Mikhail’s hand freezes. “Where is your proof?”