Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
MIKHAIL
Present Day
I don’t need to look at the date to know it’s been six years since our lives were ripped apart. I have the reminder every fucking day on my face.
Every year that goes past turns another part of me to stone, the evil inside me roots a bit deeper.
“Enzo, now is not a good time.” I wave him away from my desk in the hopes I have just a few more minutes to finish double checking the scheduled events at my casino.
Who knew the life of organized crime meant actually doing real work to keep up the facade?
“Mikhail. This can’t wait.” He tosses his laptop down in front of me and flips it around to face me.
There’s a black and white still image, but I have no idea what it is.
Raising my eyebrows seems to trigger him into action.
“Watch.” He reaches over the screen and hits a button.
At first, it’s just a grainy shot of a snowy alley.
But then a car skids in, slamming on its brakes as two big guys jump out and run off screen.
“Enzo—”
“Just. Watch,” he grits, his fingers nervously tapping on the oak.
He isn’t the type to get worked up, so I know this has to be big.
A moment later, the original two men, with another behind them, comes into view.
“What the fuck is he carrying?” I squint and lean closer, trying to figure out what the hefty sack is he has over his shoulder.
“Wait for it.” Enzo shifts so he’s standing next to me, his hand poised over the keyboard.
“There!” With a slam, he pauses the feed.
My lungs stop working, trapping the air in them as I recognize what I’m seeing. “Is that…?” I don’t want to put a name to the scene that I’m watching. But the curly dark hair framing her face is unmistakable.
Enzo closes the top and nods grimly. “Door cam caught the motion and triggered me. But this is the only clear shot we got. Looks like it was a break in and grab. They knew right where they were going.”
My fist bounces off the oak of my desk. “We need to get her back. What do you know about who took her?”
He sighs, pulling his computer to rest under his arm. “The worst possible option. Ivan.”
“Fuck.” It comes out in a long exhale.
Of course it was.
“I promised her father, and I failed. I’ve done my best to keep an eye on Jax, but…” My knuckles crack when I squeeze my fingers tightly.
I just can’t keep the people closest to me safe.
Niki, Lara, and now even Alexei have all been captured under my watch.
We haven’t found any sign of him for weeks.
My sister is a wreck.
It’s like as soon as I get one back, another one disappears.
And I know why.
That monster of a father of mine.
I’m sick and tired of his bullshit.
The low buzz in my pocket is the last thing I need right now.
Begrudgingly, I pull my phone out and press it to my ear.
Unknown number. Great.
“Speak.”
“Mr. Volkov. My name is Drago. I think I have something you may be interested in.” A deep voice with a heavy Russian accent croons over the speaker.
“I don’t have time for games. What do you want?” I growl into my cell.
I’ve been told my balaclava can muffle my words, so I make sure to push the volume so there’s no issue understanding me.
“I can get your friend, Alexei, back.” He lets out a soft laugh. “I like dealing with a man who gets to the point. I know where he is. The question is, how badly do you want him?”
Hitting the speaker button, I toss the device where Enzo’s laptop was just resting, and gesture for him to listen.
“How do I know you have Alexei?” I know he’s been missing for weeks, it will take more than some stranger to get me excited.
“Find out the prisoner list for Kamen Gulag.” There’s a click and the line goes dead.
I glance at Enzo, but he’s already pulling out his laptop again.
After the silent room being filled with only the noise of his keystrokes, his olive skin goes pale. “He’s there. But, look who else is.” His finger shakes as he holds his manicured nail beneath a name I thought long gone.
Vanyos Pushkrov. The Butcher of Buresk.
My hands shake as I hit redial on Drago’s number.
“Believe me now?” He doesn’t wait for formalities.
“Why did you give him to me? What do you want?” There’s always a catch in this line of work.
Drago’s deep laugh makes the small hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “I simply ask that we keep the lines of communication open. Your Alexei has repaid his debt to Tatiana, but she never intended for him to leave. I’m offering him to you with the hope we may be able to rely on each other in the future.”
I don’t believe him. “Just give me a dollar amount. I do not handle being in the debt of favors.”
It always ends in grief. My fingers find the scar beneath my balaclava, a sharp reminder of all the promises I’ve failed to uphold.
He clears his throat, and takes a long breath. “Let’s just say, I have a feeling that feathers are soon to be ruffled here in Russia, and I want to keep as many options open as possible.”
I glance up to Enzo.
His brows raise and he shrugs.
Fuck.
“Alright, Drago. What do I have to do?” I’m guessing he already knows I’d do anything to get Alexei back.
I can’t watch Lara withering away every day that he’s gone.
For both of their sake, I need him here.
“I can arrange for him to get out of his cell. I need you to land your plane outside the gate.” He pauses. “I’ll make sure there’s enough of a distraction that he can escape.”
My mind churns.
Escape.
Free and clear.
Untethered, not owing anyone. Not being pursued.
It sounds appealing.
“Very well. I can do that much. I do have just one small favor in return.” An idea brews in my head.
“Tell me.” Drago’s teeth grit.
“Once I’ve taken off, give me the count of four solid minutes to get to enough altitude, then I want you to shoot me down.” I think this will work.
Enzo chokes. “What?” He mouths, his arms going away from his head.
“Please repeat that. I think our connection is bad.” Drago makes a tapping sound through the speaker. “It sounded like you wanted me to fire on your plane?”
“Exactly. Aim for the engine. I don’t want you to accidently hit Alexei. He’s an expert skydiver, he’ll be fine.” I wave Enzo back who’s violently trying to get my attention.
Drago takes a deep breath, his exhale making the cell static. “That was a short-lived friendship. I’ll make sure Alexei knows I’m on his side.”
The click when he hangs up is audible.
“What the fuck?” Enzo smacks my shoulder.
He never gets worked up, nor touches me.
“You’re going to get yourself killed? What the hell is going on?” He doesn’t hide his concern, but jumps up to begin pacing the room.
“I need to get Anastasia back. I can’t do that if Ivan is keeping tabs on me. The best way to fall off of his radar is to die.” I shrug, clasping my fingers on the desk. “I’ll stay in the safe house with Zoya until it’s safe to come out. You already have encrypted communication there, it’ll be a good base to work out of.”
His dark eyes narrow and his lips thin. “You know this is a bad idea?”
I nod. “It’s the only one I have.”
He sighs, and pulls open his computer again. “Fine, I’ll start getting a contact system set up and new identification papers.” He stops typing and looks up. “Are you going to tell your family?”
Silence hangs heavy in the room.
“No. Keeping secrets is what kept them alive. If any of them had known the truth about Zoya, she would be dead, and my littlest sister would be back with my father.” I lift the corner of my balaclava enough to down the bourbon as I pour it. “Any of them would be dead if they had known where she was. Ivan would have discarded them like an old newspaper once he gathered the information he needed.”
“I agree. Knowledge is power.” He resumes tapping on his keyboard.
He should know. I swear he lives on intel.
It’s the entire purpose of all of his clubs, his business endeavors, his relationship with me, and even Frankie Falcone.
Contacts.
Enzo always knows more about what and who than anyone else alive.
And I’m going to need every ounce of it.