7. NIKOLAI
Chapter seven
T ate and I rolled up to the sprawling estate to find a couple of Tacoma police cruisers parked out front, their lights throwing splashes of blue and red across the front of the building. We’d barely stepped out of the car when a cop marched over to us, his face all business.
“Gentlemen, can I be of some help to you?” he asked. “This is a private home, and it’s currently being searched by the police.” He crossed his arms, as if that would somehow intimidate us.
Tate didn’t miss a beat. “I’m Harrison Tate, trustee of the estate. This property was recently transferred to a trust under my management.” He opened the back door of his car and rummaged around, snagging his briefcase. After flipping it open, he showed the cop the deed and trust documents .
The officer perused the paperwork. “I need to confirm a few details about the information you’ve provided,” he told us before pulling out his radio and speaking into it. After several minutes of back and forth with various individuals, he nodded and turned back to us. “Everything checks out. The chief says Mr. Tate was just at the station, and he knows all about the ownership change. We’re just wrapping up our search here.” He eyed me suspiciously and sighed but proceeded to run us through the morning’s chaos.
“A few hours ago, someone broke in through the service entrance and tripped the surveillance alarms we had set up in conjunction with the FBI,” he said. “Seems like she hadn’t made it far inside when our sirens spooked her. She bolted, took one of the estate’s cars, and…well, ended up wrapping it around a tree down the road—critically injuring herself.”
The cop paused as his radio crackled with chatter from another officer. “She had no ID on her and is currently listed as a Jane Doe over at St. John’s. If she pulls through, she’ll be facing charges for breaking and entering, theft, and property damage, among others.”
Tate rubbed his chin and glanced over at me, his brows pinched tight. I was taken aback by this whole situation. What were the chances that something like this would happen the day after the ownership of the estate changed hands and I was locked up? This had mafia written all over it.
“Mr. Tate,” the officer began, “this woman who broke into the estate earlier today…do you have any idea who she might be?”
“No clue,” he replied. I racked my brain for any woman that could be involved, but no one came to mind. Tate nodded, scribbling notes. “Thank you, officer. Please keep us updated on her condition and any legal steps we need to take regarding the charges.” Reaching once again into his briefcase, he pulled out a couple of business cards and handed them to the officer, who stuck them in his shirt pocket and walked away.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this situation. Tate and I went to the service entrance and surveyed the damage there. It wasn’t much, just some broken glass.
“Replace this with a metal security door and deadbolts,” I said to Tate. “Let’s get a crew out here. There are lots of changes I want to make right away. I wonder if this was a professional job or random? Looks to me like she knew the most vulnerable way in.”
“Suspicious for sure,” he said. “With Viktor, there could be any number of folks interested in seeing what they might find inside.” He pressed his lips together tightly and shook his head. “I hope your father was careful about his privacy, even at home.”
“He was, but as you know, he left unexpectedly and in a hurry.” My sixth sense told me something bad was up. I always got this feeling in my gut before I was hit with bad news.
We watched the police finish up, and the red and blue lights disappeared one by one as they cleared out, leaving us to ponder the mess that was now ours to sort out.
Once inside the house, I immediately set to work reestablishing the security measures we’d previously had in place. I needed to make sure we were protected from additional break-ins and prying eyes.
The rest of the day blurred into a frenzy of activity. We coordinated with the DarkMatter crew to sweep the house for bugs, remove and dismantle any potentially compromised devices, and install new surveillance tech. The crew had no idea who I was. They only knew the boss man had ordered the best guys from the firm to haul their asses over here, pronto, and install the highest level of security. I oversaw everything, ensuring no stone was left unturned .
It was late when things finally started to calm down. Exhausted, I flopped down onto the living room sofa and flicked on the TV, hoping to catch something mindless so I could unwind. Instead, the local news was on, and the anchor was discussing a critical accident involving an unidentified woman, who was now at St. John’s Hospital. I knew instantly from the image of the car that they were reporting on our break-in.
My heart nearly stopped when a picture of the beautiful Jane Doe flashed up on the screen. Despite all the bruises and the large cut on her head, her features resembled someone I knew far too well—Anastasia.
Just then, one of the DarkMatter crew, who had been finishing up for the night, came in, holding a cell phone.
“Excuse me, sir,” he said. “Found this in the garage, near where the stolen car was parked.” I took the phone, and my gut twisted.
He followed me into the kitchen, where I pulled out my laptop from its bag. I connected the phone to the computer and began hacking into it. Even though my laptop had been taken into police custody when they’d hauled me in from the airport, I hadn’t been worried about them accessing any of the data. I had everything locked down tight. My paranoia and skill were unmatched. Moments later, I was in, and what I saw floored me. The contacts, the photos—it was Anastasia’s phone. My mind hadn’t had time to process the images from the news, but this confirmed what I’d seen. Fuck!
It hit me like a punch to the gut. Anastasia really was the woman in the crash. How had she ended up here? I needed answers, and I needed them now. Whatever it took, I was going to find out what happened and make sure she was safe .
I slammed my laptop shut, frustrated. I told the guy from the firm to head on out and see to it that everyone else had left, giving him fifteen minutes before I set the alarm system.
I needed to be at the hospital with Anastasia, making sure she was all right, but that was exactly what I couldn’t do. Being linked to her now, with the shitstorm surrounding the Volkovi Notchi, would only drag her deeper into the sleaze I was trying to keep her out of.
Fury and worry bubbled inside me. I couldn’t risk tying her to our father’s criminal empire. With no other choice, I dialed my father in Russia.
The familiar yet always foreboding ringback tone echoed in the quiet room as I waited for him to pick up. When he finally answered, his voice was gruff and detached. “Nikolai, what is it?”
“It’s Anastasia,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite my simmering rage. “She’s been in an accident here in Tacoma and has been hospitalized. She’s in critical condition.”
There was a pause, then, “Sit tight. I’ll send some men. Do not go to her. It’s too risky. My men will handle the situation discreetly. They can ensure her safety and manage the fallout without tying her—or you—directly to the Volkovi Notchi.”
I hated how he always treated me like some idiot. “And what am I supposed to do? Just wait?” I snapped. The idea of being passive while others took action grated on my every nerve.
“Yes, Nikolai, you will wait and keep things under control on your end. We can’t afford any more surprises. And don’t forget you have a job to do. Reestablish the trades and routes we discussed before.” His voice was now a dangerous growl, putting me on edge. There was no hint of concern for my sister. God, how I fucking hated this bastard!
“What about Aunt Elena, Luca, and her friends back in New York? Should I contact them and let them know?” I asked .
“No. I’ll call Elena. She’ll ensure no one comes around looking for your sister. We can’t risk the wedding getting postponed, or worse, called off. Your job is to get that girl to the church on time, keeping the situation under wraps. You got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
The phone went dead.
As much as I loathed my father, I couldn’t let him down. If I didn’t follow his orders, not only would he question my loyalty, he might also go sniffing around my personal affairs—discover my ownership of DarkMatter. Viktor would kill me without hesitation if he thought I was a threat to him or the business ventures of the Volkovi Notchi.
With a mind full of worry, I prepared a late-night snack and retreated to my bedroom. Thoughts of Anastasia intertwined with concerns over the mafia families she was tangled up with—the Volkov, Genovese, and Moretti. How could I save her from this life? And how could I take out the Thorin brothers without jeopardizing everything I’d built?
My thoughts raced as I tried to find the answers to questions that seemed impossible to solve. I needed solutions, and fast. The stakes were too high, the game too dangerous. But for Anastasia, I’d risk it all.
5/29
I tossed and turned all night. In the early morning, I blinked away the remnants of a poor night’s sleep, cursing the restless night that had refused to grant me any peace. With a groan, I rolled out of bed. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I had to see Anastasia, even if just a glimpse, to confirm she was alive and still fighting. The thought of her lying there unconscious gnawed at me .
Throwing on my clothes, I rushed out the door, heading for the hospital.
When I arrived, it was still early, so the hallways were quiet, a hushed sanctuary of pale walls and antiseptic smells. Following the signage, I made my way to the ICU, but a nurse stopped me cold. “Only immediate family beyond this point,” she said firmly before badging through the door.
I lingered there, my frustration mounting. If I claimed to be her brother, I’d risk exposing her—and me—to all sorts of unwanted attention. Dammit, she was just beyond those doors, and there was nothing I could do.
A dark thought crossed my mind. Were the Thorin brothers around? The desire for retribution seared through me. I was in Tacoma because of them, and indirectly, so was she. It was their fault we’d been forced into this situation, their fault my sister suffered. I considered finding Dr. Atticus Thorin and ending him. That would check a box off my father’s list. But the risks were too high. It would only draw more attention to Anastasia.
With a heavy sigh, I turned away from the ICU and left the hospital, my mind made up. I would work with my father, reestablish our presence here in Tacoma, and keep my cover.
I swore to myself that I would never let Anastasia down again. Whatever it took, I would be there for her, protect her, and ensure her safety. And if the Thorin brothers dared to cross my path, they’d learn firsthand the wrath of a Volkov.