Room One Hundred and Seven: Catch and Claim (Club Sin: Seattle Session 2)
CHAPTER 1
WOLFE
My hands are in fisted at my sides as I stand around the warehouse where I’m meeting with the men of the Volkov bratva along with the two men who have had my six for years. It started back when we were serving in the military, but we could have only been brothers in arms and nothing more. Looking back, I’m not entirely sure why Hendrix and Dominic became more than soldiers.
While we were close to everyone in our unit, it was different with Dominic and Hendrix. We became closer, more like brothers. I knew everyone we served with had my back, but the trust was even deeper with the men who I now considering my brothers.
I wasn’t surprised when they came to me and wanted to get out. Our contracts were coming due, and we had choices to make. I was grateful as fuck to find out I wasn’t the only one ready to try my hand at civilian life.
Fuck, I knew Hendrix was thirsty for it considering he served longer than Dominic and I had. The strain from his time under the command of others was written all over his face.
The only concern I had about getting out was something I know so many of my fellow soldiers had. What the fuck were we going to do with all the knowledge and skills we gained once we went back stateside and tried to reintegrate into society?
I had heard all the horror stories, it’s not like you can really avoid them. We knew shit could hit the fan and we might never find our footing again, always hunting for the brotherhood and the purpose being in uniform gave us for years.
Hendrix must have been able to read my damn mind that night years ago as sweat poured down our backs in the sandbox. He held my stare, dropped his voice, and murmured, “I know what you’re thinking. I’ve been all about this for a long fucking time. I’ve known some guys who go into the protection racket, and we could do that, but I think we’d do better becoming mercenaries for those who are more than willing to pay for our skills.”
I narrowed my eyes, “I’m not helping some piece of shit make the world a worse place than it already is.” I swept my hand out over the shit storm we had been working in, not knowing who we could trust beyond the men who were dropped here the same as us. “What would all this be for if that’s what we did when we got out?”
Hendrix smirked and shook his head before leaning back in the chair that looked like it was seconds away from crumbling under his massive frame. “You know me better than that.”
That was it. Those were the only words he offered as an explanation for his plan.
But the truth was that I did know him better than my fears about who we would take contracts from. Hell, I had put my ass on the line right next to him and never thought twice about him protecting my ass when shit went down, just like with Dominic. Just like they could rely on me.
When we got out, it didn’t take much for jobs to come our way. We picked and chose who we backed, who we saved, and who we made disappear without anyone knowing we were ever there.
On paper, considering the history of the men I fight alongside, working for the Volkov bratva, headed by Kirill and backed by his brother, Maxim, with Huck, and Baker rounding out the inner circle, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. But I know who Kirill took down in Seattle and I’d much rather have the Volkov guys running shit in the city over Anatoly Morozov.
That man was scum.
I’m glad Kirill killed him.
But nothing good happens without a cost. Kirill might have filled the empty space he created when it comes to whoever holds power in the city, but that doesn’t mean everyone is happy about it.
Morozov was on top for a long fucking time, and he didn’t hold his power in a vacuum. Then there is his son, who I suspect is behind the rats scurrying around the city and trying to find the holes in the hold Volkov has.
“After we exterminated the rat almost a year ago, I don’t doubt that the rumors I’m hearing on the streets are true,” Kirill adjusts the cuffs of his shirt, his suit jacket long since discarded after his workday ended hours ago.
That’s what happens when your work never really stops, and you have meetings in warehouses in the darkest part of the night.
He still looks pristine and even though the subject matter leaves a fucking lot to be desired, and would cause most men to feel stressed, he looks unbothered and without a wrinkle in sight. It pays to be at the top.
Hendrix shrugs one shoulder, used to be the mouthpiece for our trio. “Of course the rumors are true. We’ve been tracking a few men. It started out with an enforcer and a corner drug dealer, but we’ve moved up at least one rung. If we watch them long enough, they’ll lead us to Mikhail and his base of operations for his petty, bullshit vendetta.”
Kirill sneers when Morozov’s name comes up. “I’m not worried about Mikhail and his hurt feelings. For some, losing a parent is tragic, but I did him a favor.”
“I’m sure he’ll be sending you a fruit basket any day now,” I tease with a smirk.
Baker looks at me and grins.
There are times when I look at my younger brother and know, without a doubt, that he found the place he was always meant to be. It could have been me just as easily as it is him. I grew up with Kirill and Maxim the same way Baker and Huck did. Life took me in another direction, one I’m glad I took. I’ve never questioned how or why Baker took his path—it was his alone to walk and I’m just glad that my skills have kept him safe.
Well, as safe as someone who stands next to one of the most powerful and dangerous men in Seattle can be.
“I get the feeling it won’t be long before Mikhail makes some sort of move,” Maxim grumbles the words, clearly not happy about them, but not holding them back either.
Dominic, the quietest amongst us, tilts his head to the side and grunts.
I know what the sounds means—he’s putting his money on Volkov, without a doubt. I smirk at him and nod my head in agreement. I’d put my money on Volkov any day of the week. We don’t back just anyone, and the work Kirill has done, while not all of it legal, means the city is safer. At least for the average citizen.
Morozov and the gritty depravity he was bringing into the city had a ripple effect that was difficult to watch. I came up against it for the first time ten years ago when we took down one of Morozov’s trafficking rings. That’s how we crossed paths with the Devil’s Saints Motorcycle Club; they’re badass in their own right, but taking down a trafficking ring was beyond their skill set.
One of their prospects, who is now a patched member with the road name Monk, had a sister who was taken. She was found the night we raided a warehouse, but she was never the same again. I can only hope that taking her own life gave her the peace she was looking for.
A pair of wide, terrified slate blue eyes of one of the women we rescued that night flash in my mind. She was 18 back then and it was clear she had been held for a while given the state she was in. I didn’t understand it then, but something broke in me when our gazes clashed.
The horrors she experienced didn’t diminish the strength I saw in her eyes though. In that moment, I knew she was a warrior. Kirby Lawsen has been a thorn in my side ever fucking since.
I’ve kept up with her, watched her from afar and tracked her movements. Keeping tabs on her is the only thing I’ve ever kept from my brothers.
I could lie and say I don’t know why I haven’t said anything to them, but there’s no reason to. She needed to heal and take back control of her life after being taken. We weren’t ready to deal with what she is to us. I wasn’t the only one captivated by Kirby that night. Hendrix and Dominic were right there with me, even if we’ve never talked about it.
I’m not sure she would have allowed us to get close to her either. And I wouldn’t have blamed her for it.
Then there are the demons we were fighting for ourselves ten years ago. While it didn’t take us long to establish ourselves as mercs for hire, it felt like we were still finding sand in very uncomfortable corners of our mind after spending so much time in the military.
I’m not sure if the demons riding on our backs will ever go away, but I do know what the itchy feeling under my skin means.
Change is coming.
With a glance at Baker, I hope that after the dust clears in Seattle, my brother is still standing tall next to the men he’s aligned himself with. I don’t resent him for it. How the hell could I, when I’ve done the same thing he has?
He’s surrounded by men he thinks of as brothers. He would take a bullet for them, and they would do the same for him. Can I ask for anything more than that? I sure as fuck can’t stand in front of my brother and tell him not to be the man he is supposed to be.
“Penance hasn’t been able to dig up any more actionable intelligence,” Maxim drawls without a hint of derision in his tone.
We knew, when Kirill asked us to come back to the city and settle in for a while, we were going to be playing the long game. Mikhail has had time to plan his rise to power. More than likely it’ll be explosive and fucking bloody.
Hendrix’s wide grin tells me he’s expecting the same damn thing. I chuckle softly, adrenaline threatening to pump through my veins with the promise of violence and victory. As much as I’ve enjoyed being in Seattle and near my brother, the almost five months we’ve spent here is the longest time we’ve been in one place for years.
Maybe I’m just itching to keep moving and that’s what this rush is.
Maybe it’s something else entirely.
Kirby flashes in my mind and I wonder what she’s doing right now. She’s spent years traveling across the globe but has stayed mostly in the states. Knowing that she’s been making a name for herself as a dominatrix makes me want to track her down, throw her over my shoulder, and then hold her in a tower where no one else can get to her.
It’s not like I can’t understand why she’s made the choices she has—I understand all too well. If being a dominatrix gives her a sense of control over her sexuality, something that was ripped away from her, then I can’t find it in me to judge her choices.
From the reports I’ve gotten, her business isn’t exactly based on sex either. It’s about control—her need to exert it and the man’s need to give it up.
One day, our paths will cross again. When it happens, I know I won’t be the only one wanting to claim her and give her the safety I have zero doubt that she’s been searching for since she was taken ten years ago.
“We’ll keep in contact with Penance and continue to work our contacts,” Hendrix assures him.
“Good.” Kirill gives a nod. “We have some big deals coming up soon. If someone want to undermine our position, it would be a good time to try some shit.”
Maxim shrugs one shoulder and smirks. “It’s what I would do,” he agrees with his older brother.
“We’ll be ready,” Huck promises.
I know he’s not just talking about Kirill, Maxim, Baker, and himself. He’s including us in the equation. Which he should because there is no fucking way that we’re going to allow Mikhail or anyone else to upset the balance Kirill has forced on the city.
“What about Amato?” Dominic throws the question out; one I’ve been thinking for a while.
Amato is the Italian Don in the city. He’s not one to be trifled with. Thankfully, he hated Morozov and was not at all upset to see him taken out.
“Angelo is not a problem,” Kirill’s voice is full of confidence. “We have an agreement and an understanding. The lines between our territories are clearly defined. He won’t step over his and I won’t step over mine.”
“Of course,” there’s a dark undercurrent in Maxim’s voice, “that could change at any moment if he decides to step over the line.”
“Obviously,” Kirill intones with a dismissive wave of his hand.
I nod, glad that we don’t have to deal with protecting Volkov’s power from two fronts. Amato is someone to fear, but he’s not without honor. Ten years ago, we looked into his family to find out if they were involved in Morozov’s dealings. They weren’t and the family wasn’t happy about it going down from what we heard.
“For now, he’s an ally and it’s better to keep it that way,” Baker sounds almost bored.
“Until our shit is dropped at his door,” Huck mutters, but doesn’t push it farther.
From the look on everyone’s faces, no one is surprised. It’s not like I would expect more. Amato would look out for his own first.
“Tomorrow I’m meeting up with Spark and a few of his brothers. I’ll update you with anything I find out,” Hendrix informs the men in front of us.
With a few nods and chin lifts in acknowledgement, we part ways. I’m more than ready to get some shut eye. Hopefully, the demons of my past won’t chase me into my dreams. However, if the angel of my future wants to join me, she’s more than welcome.