30. Astor
CHAPTER THIRTY
ASTOR
“ T ake another fucking shot and calm your dick,” Justin says, pushing the shot glass in front of me. I quickly drown it and the bartender pours me another. We’re in Reno for my bachelor party. Well, our family thinks it’s just my bachelor party, but it’s also for me and the guys to see if we can sniff out Miles. We’ve been to every fucking club he owns and he’s been nowhere to be found. It’s starting to fuck with my head. The last man we tortured said he was hiding out here and wouldn’t be back until the weekend—that’s two days away. If I could take care of him before then, that’d make the wedding a lot easier.
Not only could I tell Alessia the truth, but I could also show her his head in a bag, too.
“We’ve been to every spot, where the fuck could he be?”
“Ast, we have forty-eight hours to find him or someone that knows him. Enjoy at least one night of your bachelor party.” I let out a gruntled groan as he passes me another shot.
We have our closest friends, Teagan, Mikhail, and Jay with us. All three are just as deep into this mafia shit as we are. We all go to Redcrest together. Teagan and Mikhail are also seniors, and Jay graduated last year. He’s enjoying his year hiatus before his father makes him step up and take his spot in the mafia. Right now, he has a dark headed girl on his lap who’s licking the side of his neck as he pays her absolutely no attention. He’s scanning the dance floor and his face falls before he locks eyes with someone. He pushes the girl off him and quickly stands to his feet.
I’m to him before he can let out his breath.
“You see him?” I ask. Justin’s on my back, waiting for the answer.
“Nah, but I see a bitch that would know him.” I follow his gaze and an evil grin spreads across my face when it lands on Miles’ best friend. “Wanna turn this club into a bloodbath?” he asks, running his tongue over his teeth as Teagan punches his shoulder.
“Fuck no, Jay. We’ll just talk to him.” He starts out of the booth and towards Javi. The moment Javi sees Teagan, he tries to run. Mikhail is sitting on the couch watching, zoned in. He never was a man of many words, only with us does he speak.
A moment later, Teagan has Javi by the collar of his shirt, dragging him into our booth.
“Sit the fuck down and don’t make me kill you,” I say when he fights against Teagan’s hold. He glares at me and I push him down onto the couch.
“Well, well, Astor fucking Pavlov. What are you doing here? Wait, actually let me guess. You’re looking for Miles.” He gives me an evil grin and I look at Mikhail and give him a nod. He yanks him up and we’re out the door a moment later. I don’t have time for this shit.
Mikhail is a big fucking guy and definitely doesn’t look like he’s only twenty-four years old. He looks like he benches fucking buildings for fun, if I’m being honest. He shoves Javi into the back of our SUV that’s waiting for us at the back of the club.
“Could you be a little gentler? Fuck, you’re going to leave bruises on my arm.” He yanks his arm out of Mikhail’s hold, who withdraws his gun and presses it to Javi’s temple.
“How about I just shoot you instead? Stop fucking whining,” Mikhail says.
“Both of you, shut the fuck up. Mikhail, put the fucking gun away. It’s my bachelor party, no one is dying tonight. Javi, where the fuck is Miles?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “I don’t know, haven’t talked to him in two days.”
“And where was he when you talked to him?”
“His house that’s here.”
“Perfect, you’re his best minion, you’ll take me there. I know you know where it is.”
“I’m not taking you—you’re fucking crazy. He’d kill you, then kill me for taking you to him.”
I let out a sigh. I really didn’t want anyone to die tonight. I take my gun out and cock it.
“Two choices, take me to his house or don’t take me; I’ll shoot you, use your phone, and get to him anyway.” I scratch the side of my head with the gun and shrug. “Which one?” I ask him.
“You’ll protect me?” Justin chuckles at Javi’s question. I side eye him and he pretends that he’s coughing instead.
“Get us there. Let us worry about the rest,” I spit back at him. He nods and I sit back as he tells Justin the address.
This shit is ending tonight.
“Let’s make this quick and easy. Find him, grab him, and let’s go,” Teagan says as we inch up the driveway to Miles’ house. My phone vibrates and I look down to see a picture from Els. I smile as I’m confronted with a picture of her, Caro, and Alessia. Els has a smile on her face and Alessia is looking off with a wine glass in her hand. Caroline is pointing at something and laughing. They all look happy, but Alessia looks flawless, as always. And that alone makes me want this trip and this mission to be over tonight.
I inwardly roll my eyes as I connect the dots of what’s happening in my head.
I fucking miss her.
Elsi:
We’re having so much fun! So glad you’re making her my sister! Love you!
Me:
Be safe. Love you, too.
I chose to ignore the part about me making Alessia her sister. Because if I admit that she fits perfectly into my life, then I admit what I’ve tried to fight for so long. That I love her. Probably more now than I did six years ago.
“Ast, how do you wanna do this? Walk straight through the front door or quietly?” Mikhail asks.
“Quietly, no need to cause a scene. Kill anyone who tries to stop us from getting to him.”
“I thought you said no one dies tonight?” Teagan asks, chuckling. I look down at my phone, glaring at the picture.
“I changed my fucking mind. Let’s go.”