Chapter 30
Cullen stared at Hewett’s dead body on the ground as the name of his mother’s killer reverberated through his head. There was a chance Mitch had lied. But there was also a chance he hadn’t.
Mia’s hand slipped into his. Cullen squeezed it as he looked to his father. It had taken over twenty years, but they finally had answers.
The depth of betrayal against the entire Loughman family was staggering, but it was mainly done to Orrin—for following his conscience.
Kate was the only one who dared to approach Orrin, who still held his gun up. She lightly touched his right arm until he lowered it. Then she put her hand on his cheek.
Cullen watched as Orrin closed his eyes and turned to face Kate. There were no words between them as Kate wrapped her arms around Orrin and simply held him.
In all the years since his mother’s death, Cullen had never wondered why his father didn’t date. It never occurred to him that Orrin might be lonely. Until now.
Seeing his father with Kate brought it all to the surface. They looked good together. And despite that such a horrible thing had brought them together, Cullen hoped they could find comfort in each other’s arms.
“I like her,” Mia whispered.
Cullen smiled down at his woman. In many ways, she knew Orrin better than he did, so her opinion mattered. “I do, too.”
“You should tell him that.”
Cullen bent and gave her a kiss. “I will.”
Yuri cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “Who is Andrew Smith?”
“I’ve no idea,” Orrin said.
Cullen saw how Kate’s and his father’s hands were entwined. “I doubt that’s his real name. We should’ve gotten a picture.”
“Callie can work her magic,” Mia said.
Yuri looked to the sky. “We should get going.”
“Going where?” Cullen asked.
“Mia did ask for a plane or helicopter. I said I knew someone. They are waiting for us,” Yuri explained.
In seconds, they were on their way north of the city. In the fifteen-minute drive, no one said a word. They were all crammed into the small SUV with Mia, Kate, and Yuri in the back while Cullen drove and his father sat in the passenger seat.
There was much Cullen wanted to talk to his dad about, but Orrin was still coming to terms with how the government had killed his wife, thus destroying their family.
Cullen followed the directions that Yuri gave him as they drove until he pulled up to a private airstrip. Sitting before them was a gorgeous white and silver luxury helicopter.
He stopped the vehicle and put it in park as someone came around the chopper. Cullen recognized the black hair and walk as none other than Lev Ivanski. A moment later, Sergei Chzov appeared.
Mia was out of the SUV and walking toward the Russian don in the next second. Cullen watched as Sergei’s smile lit up his face while his head of thick, white hair blew in the wind.
Cullen waited until they were all out of the vehicle before he turned to Yuri. “I didn’t realize you knew Sergei.”
“Everyone knows Sergei,” Yuri replied and walked to the chopper.
Lev greeted Cullen with a nod. Cullen eyed the Brigadier because he knew just how dangerous a man Lev was. “So, we meet again.”
“Unfortunately,” Lev replied, his ice blue eyes watching Sergei like a hawk. As the captain in Sergei’s mafia and most trusted, Lev was always by his side.
“Suck it up, buttercup,” Cullen said and turned to Sergei.
Sergei smiled and held out his hand. “It is nice to see you and Mia again. You are healing well?”
“Very. We’ll never be able to repay all that you’ve done for us.”
Sergei waved away his words. “Bring Mia to visit me, and we will call it even.”
“Consider it done.” Cullen watched as Sergei went to Orrin.
Sergei held out his hand to Orrin. The two clasped hands, smiling. “And you did not think we would meet again.”
“I knew you would look after Mia,” Orrin said.
Sergei laughed and clasped his hands behind his back. “Our pledge to each other. I believe that promise has now passed to your son.”
Orrin glanced at Cullen and smiled. “It has. Let me introduce Dr. Kate Donnelly. Kate, this is Sergei Chzov. He has several businesses in the Dover area, and to be frank, he runs the docks.”
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Kate told him.
Sergei took her hand and kissed the back of it, his gaze moving between Kate and Orrin. “I think it is good the Loughmans have a doctor with them, no?”
Kate’s laugh lifted the mood. “Definitely,” she replied.
“I think we have spent enough time talking,” Sergei said. “Let us go.”
Mia was already inside the chopper, readying it for flight when Cullen saw a muscle twitch in Lev’s jaw. The Russian stood as still as stone as he looked with distaste at the chopper.
“Afraid of flying?” Cullen asked him.
Lev gave him a look that would’ve flayed him alive. “Of course, not.”
“Ah. Then you didn’t know Sergei wanted to join the party.”
“This isn’t a party,” Lev said, the hint of Russian accent coming through. “Sergei has no business in battle.”
Cullen moved closer to Lev. “You might’ve been born and raised here, but you know the Russian culture better than most. Did you actually think you could keep Sergei out of this?”
“I’d hoped,” Lev said tightly.
“Then we don’t tell him that the two of us are protecting him.”
Lev’s ice blue eyes jerked to Cullen before narrowing. “Is this a joke?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
After a moment, Lev released a sigh. “No.”
“Sergei did much for Mia before I arrived, and the two of you have saved our lives since then. Let me repay you in the best way I can.”
Lev gave a nod and walked to Sergei’s side.
Orrin then came up. “What was that about?”
“Sergei.”
“I’m a little surprised he’s coming.”
Cullen jerked his chin to Lev. “That’s putting it mildly compared to others.”
“We can’t land this chopper anywhere near the ranch.”
“What are you thinking?”
Orrin glanced at Kate, who was being helped into the chopper by Sergei. “Those of us who can will propel down when Mia flies us over.”
“And the others?”
“Will stay with the chopper.”
Cullen ran a hand down his face. “Mia isn’t going to like that.”
“This isn’t a jet loaded with weapons for her to aid us,” Orrin pointed out.
The one thing his father didn’t bring up was Kate. The fact that Orrin didn’t say anything proved how quickly the doctor was coming to mean to his father.
“I’ll let her know,” Cullen said.
Orrin slapped him on the arm. “Let’s get this bird in the air, son.”
Cullen took one last look at DC. They had accomplished much while there, but would it be enough? He had a feeling they’d only chipped away at a mountain instead of tearing down a hill.
The repercussions were likely to be extreme. And getting to the ranch was imperative. His brothers needed them and the skills each of them possessed.
Because this was just the beginning of a war.
Andrew Smith stood in the drizzling rain with his hands in the pockets of his trench coat as he stared down at Mitch Hewett.
“We can find nothing on any of the cameras in the area,” one of his men informed him.
Andrew turned away from the body. “You won’t. This was Orrin Loughman.”
“Are you sure, sir?”
“Without a doubt.”
Andrew didn’t relish informing his superiors of this latest incident, but he wasn’t surprised by Hewett’s death. When Orrin wasn’t killed, Andrew knew it was only a matter of time before he pieced things together and came for Mitch.
Not that it would matter for much longer. Orrin’s options were slim, and he would never make it back to Texas in time to stop the slaughter of those at the ranch.
By the time the Saints were done with the ranch, Orrin would have nothing left. He’d have no choice but to hand himself over to the Saints.
And he’d do it gladly because Orrin would think it was to save his sons.
Andrew smiled. He couldn’t wait to wipe every Loughman from the face of the earth. He’d wanted to kill the boys the same day as their mother, but he’d been stopped.
If his superiors had allowed him to get rid of the kids, none of this would be happening now. Orrin would’ve been a broken man.
But it was fine because Andrew would finally get his revenge.
He was on his way to his car when his cell phone rang. “Hello?” he answered.
“Well?” asked a deep voice.
“We found Hewett.”
“Is he dead?”
Andrew paused beside his car. “Yes, sir.”
“Just as you predicted. And was it Orrin?”
“Yes.”
There was a brief pause. “You have proof?”
Andrew ground his teeth together. “Orrin never leaves any evidence behind. But he was here, in the city, sir. Who else would go after Hewett?”
“It’s not like Hewett had a lot of friends.”
“Neither do I, but I don’t expect any of them to kill me.”
A soft chuckle came over the line. “Because they’re all afraid of you, Andrew. Your reputation precedes you.”
“My reputation has served me well when I needed it to. If that is all, sir, I’ll head to Texas.”
“Not yet.”
Andrew closed his eyes and counted to ten as he clamped down on the rage that threatened to explode. “I thought you wanted me to bring the Loughmans to justice.”
“We have something else for you to do first. The eldest son, Wyatt, just placed a call to his team. The Delta Force group is now readying to go to him. We have a member there. Make sure he’s up to date on what to do. Then, I want you to recruit another.”
“Sir, I don’t have the weeks that usually takes.”
“Then threaten a family member. I don’t care what you have to do, Andrew, but we want the Loughmans finished by dawn tomorrow. You’ve never failed us before. Don’t start now.”
Andrew opened his eyes, his mind already sorting through the various ways he could get to members of Wyatt’s Delta team. “I’m on it, sir.”
“Good. We’re expecting a grand celebration. Not just because of the Loughmans’ deaths and the destruction of everyone helping them, but because you will bring us Ragnarok.”
His task had just become harder, but failing wasn’t an option. Andrew knew what happened to those who didn’t give the Saints what they wanted, and he wouldn’t be one of them.
“Yes, sir.”
Andrew disconnected the call and hurriedly placed another as he got into his car. “I need the names and information of everyone on the Delta Force team with Wyatt Loughman. You’ve got ten minutes to get it to me.”