Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
DEMITRI
“At least she didn’t burn it down, right?” Mia says, trying to justify what’s happened.
“Nobody got hurt, Mia. This could have been so much worse.”
I pull her into my arms, knowing my words are really helping right now, but also remembering all the times I was forced to join the crew as they did to others what has just happened to her. And I’ve seen so much worse. Someone let her off easy, and I don’t know why.
“Do you think the alarm scared them away before they could really do some damage? That they’ll come back to finish the job?”
“They did what they wanted to do. No alarm was going to scare them, Krasotka . They wanted to send a message, and they still need this place for whatever they have working, so they aren’t going to completely destroy it. Just make your life hell for a while.”
“Until I give in.”
“Or they run you off completely and they can step in and take over.”
“They want my place as a front to launder money, don’t they?”
“And drugs, women, goods.”
“Fuck.”
She leans back, looking around me, trying to see how bad the inside is. I don’t want her to go in. Even if the damage is minimal, I want to protect her from all of it.
“Mia,” I whisper. “I’m so fucking sorry this happened. Everything bad keeps happening, and it’s all my fault.”
“How can you say that? None of this is your fault, Demitri!”
“But it is. If I weren’t here?—”
“Your father would have still slept with the maids and had children you didn’t know about. He would have still been an evil man, running an empire of illegal operations. I would have still been a target for that woman because she wants something from me. She would have done this even if you weren’t here. But you are here. I have you to lean on. You to love me.”
“I do, you know.” I shrug. “I love you. Every part.”
“I love you, too. Now, suck it up and realize this isn’t all on you, not even a little bit.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I nod.
“Good. See how easy things are when you listen to me?”
I shake my head and kiss her in a very not safe for outside in public way, but she comes willingly. No more running from me, no more avoiding my touch. No more. And this is just us. A declaration of love in its simplicity. No over-the-top antics to go with it, just us, standing in the middle of a parking lot. And her giving me shit immediately after. I love this woman.
“The guys will be here in an hour, and Sammy is sending some of his cop friends. They said to tell you they are ‘good ones’ to ease your mind.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Just because Brett was an asshole cop and his dad ran a corrupted department doesn’t mean I think all cops are bad, Demitri. I rely on them all the time with the bar, and they keep me safe. I know all the guys and gals on Rock Hill’s PD. I’d trust all of them to do me right.”
“That’s good to know for the future, I guess.”
Still smiling, she reaches into my pocket and pulls out my phone. “Go ahead and text the guys that I’m alright with cops coming. They need to anyway. Insurance.”
“Damnit, that’s what Daniel said.” I take the phone from her and text the guys that cops are alright. I hate being wrong, especially to him, but I suck it up and do it for her.
The gang pulls into the lot less than an hour later. The cops are here, talking with Mia. We’re still standing outside. None of us have gone in yet, almost as if the cops were waiting for them to get here.
“Have you gone in yet?” Daniel asks, joining our little circle.
“No, sir,” one of the officers answers. “We were getting some basic information from Ms. Alexander.”
“Good. It alright if I send a man in with you when do you finally go?”
“If Ms. Alexander is alright with it, I don’t see a problem.”
“Thanks.” Daniel nods our way and goes to talk to Joker about whatever he’s got up his sleeve.
We’re answering the last few questions when the girls show up.
“Oh, my God, Mia.” Grace walks up to us, tears in her eyes, looking at the building. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. I wasn’t here when it happened.”
“Thank goodness,” Sofie adds.
“What can we do to help?” Nola asks.
“Nothing right now. We’re getting ready to go see how bad it is.”
“Let us know what you need. We’re here for you.”
The girls all hug, and I take Mia’s hand. She’s not going in without me either. One of the officers meets us at the door, and we all step inside. I know what I’m looking for. The real damage beyond the flipped tables and chairs. Because my family doesn’t do things half-assed. But I don’t see it. I don’t see burn marks on the floors or cracks in the walls. Some of the liquor bottles are missing, but none have been broken to leave glass on the floor.
“We’ll need an inventory of what’s missing from behind the bar. And a list of any damages,” the officer tells Mia.
But she’s seeing the same thing I am. A few overturned tables and chairs, some missing booze, and not much else.
“Window guy will be here in thirty to replace this one,” Daniel says through the broken window.
“Thanks,” Mia graciously tells him. “What else do you need?” She turns to the cop.
“I think we’re good. You’ll get us a list to add to the report?”
“Sure thing. When can we open?”
“As soon as you want, I guess. I figure some kids got a little too enthusiastic.”
“Could be,” Mia replies absentmindedly.
The cop leaves, and Joker shakes his head.
“I swear. They didn’t even take prints, so convinced it’s ‘just kids’,” he says, using finger quotes. “Fuckers. Nate and Aiden are coming in to check for prints.”
“We already know who it was,” Mia replies. “Are prints really going to change our minds on that?”
I look around the room again. “Mia, I’m not sure it was them. This is too…clean.”
“What do you mean?” Daniel asks, coming in through the back with some equipment.
“I mean, Russians aren’t known for their polite destruction. They aren’t known for leaving messages without damage. I don’t see a ton of true damage.”
“He’s right,” Mia says from behind the bar. “I’ve seen bars that were broken into and busted up. Biker bars, trying to run someone out of town for competition back home. The first thing they would do is damage the actual bar.” She runs her hands over the still smooth wood. “There’s no harm to mine.”
“No bottles busted up,” Joker adds, taking a closer look. It seems all of them are noticing what I already did. “No pool cues broken. Tables and chairs just tipped on their sides.”
“Demitri,” Mia quietly calls my name, looking at something behind the bar.
I quickly go to her side, where she points to where my bottle of vodka has been for four years. It’s missing. In its place is a different bottle, one that’s dark instead of clear, and there’s no liquid in it. I lift it up and Mia gasps.
“There’s something in it.”
Mia reaches in with a pair of skinny tongs and pulls out a piece of folded paper. Joker comes over with gloves on and opens the note so we don’t touch it. All of us crowd around, all of us looking at it. Then they all look at me.
“What’s it say? Can you read it?” Mia asks.
Ты не один. Я здесь, чтобы помочь.
“You are not alone. I am here to help.” I look up at everyone, adding, “And the initials SP.”
“Your uncle?” She looks at me, and I know the hope and fear in her eyes reflect my own.
“I don’t know. I don’t know who else it would be.”
Daniel’s face hardens as he pulls out his phone. “I need to make a call.”
He walks to the far corner, bitching someone out in low tones, but we can’t make out any of the words.
“Fuck. He’s going to be in a mood all day.” Joker frowns.
“What else are you all doing before we can start straightening up in here?” Mia asks, distracting us from Daniel.
“Let me just scan the room, and then we’re good to go.”
Joker picks up the piece of equipment Daniel brought in and starts walking around the room. I don’t know what it is, but these guys have some fun tech toys.
“Let’s start making a list of the booze that’s missing?” I ask Mia.
“Grr. More inventory. I hate inventory.”
I chuckle as she walks to the back office to print out a list. Looks like we’re doing a full inventory before we can open back up. I watch her walk away, unable to help myself for admiring her ass.
“We’ve got an issue,” Daniel quietly says when he returns to the bar.
“What’s that?”
“Aunt Linda knows shit she’s been keeping from us. Big stuff, man.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, looking from him to the hallway.
“She’s on her way to explain it all. It’s time she comes clean with all of us.”
Mia returns and we get to work updating her inventory list. All the vodka is missing. Of course it is. But the gin, rum, and bourbon are also coming up in much shorter supply than there should be.
“At least they didn’t touch the kegs. Those are a pain in the ass to replace.” Mia sighs when we finally finish.
The other guys have flipped all the tables right side up, and the girls have reappeared with food for everyone from the Mexican place down the street. We’ve finished wiping everything down when the door busts open and Aunt Linda walks in.
“Welp, guess it’s time to fess up, huh?” she announces, pulling out a chair and sitting down, immediately reaching for a chip. “Can I get a drink? Got any rum left?”
Mia stares at her, frozen for a second, before standing and going behind the bar.
I stare at the older woman, seeing her in a new light. She’s not just ‘everyone’s aunt who keeps their secrets,’ but she’s an actual secret keeper. And that makes her even more dangerous. The problem is, I don’t know where the danger will land, with us or with the other side.