Chapter one
Sergi rose from his seat while issuing orders.
His security squads rushed toward the parking garage. Felix and several other security men closed and locked the doors, then took up their places around the room. They drew their weapons.
Sergi went over to the windows to watch the parking lot. Black smoke billowed out from the burning cars.
His rage grew as he watched the smoke become heavy and that’s when he heard gunshots coming from the parking structure.
A few minutes later the fire department sirens could be heard and he shook his head.
But before the fire trucks actually got there his phone chimed.
He read the text from Kirill and had to smile.
He looked over at Felix and said, “They got four prisoners and they are taking them to the cell area. They look like they might need a doctor though.”
“Da, Kirill already called the doc in.” Felix grinned. “It seems one of them was burned when he got too close to one of the cars that were on fire.”
“Serves him right.” Sergi studied the parking structure. “Hopefully there isn’t too much damage.”
“Security said there were only three cars hit and they were our personal vehicles,” Felix replied. “It seems they knew which vehicles to torch.”
Willy shook his head. “Looks like you got a whole family reunion going on here.” He looked over at Sergi.
Sergi walked over to the table and sat down. Shaking his head he asked, “Does anyone have any more surprises waiting for us?”
“I hope not. The Dmitricoffs sure make a mess when they come out of the shadows don’t they?” Willy shook his head.
Briar agreed, “They are like cockroaches, turn on a light and they all scatter only to come back out when you shut off the lights again. Creeping around in the damn dark.”
“Blin, let’s hope this is the last of them.” Sergi looked disgusted.
“The men are all on duty,” Felix told him. “So we can handle any issues that might happen.”
Misha stood from his chair and groaned. “I’m going to retire for the night. Getting beaten up has worn me out.”
“You’ll feel better in the morning. We are just glad you are alive,” Willy said.
Misha gave Willy a grin and patted him on the arm.
Nikoli stood up and told Felix, “Find this man a bed for the night. He’ll be staying here for a while.”
Willy shook his head. “I can’t, I don’t have that kind of money.”
Nikoli shook his head. “You are my guest until you wish to leave.”
Sergi narrowed his eyes at Willy and said, “I owe you for a debt I can never repay. You did nothing wrong all those years ago and it ruined your future. Today, you risked yourself to help. It’s because of you that my son came home tonight and I won’t forget that.”
Willy raised his chin and addressed this statement, “Mr. Constantine, you do not owe me anything. Not a bed, not one red penny. I did what I did and I will never regret it for the rest of my life. Misha and I were friends and someday, I hope we can be friends again. That’s all I want.”
“There is something else you don’t know yet.
” Sergi stared at the man in front of him.
“Wilhelm, your family never believed what the town was saying about you back then. They knew of the friendship between you and my son. They kept hoping you would come home and clear your name. Your parents are getting older but I think they would love just to hear your voice again.”
“You really think so?” Willy whispered in shock.
Sergi smiled. “I really think so.”
Willy just stood there quietly as he considered this. Then he nodded, “Da, maybe I will do that.”
“Good, I think they are waiting to hear from you. They never gave up on you returningto the them.”
Misha patted Willy on the back then led him from the room.
Sergi smiled as the two men walked down the hall and he heard his son laugh at something Willy told him. He looked over at Nikoli and nodded.
Nikoli nodded back.
Sergi got back up and told Felix, “Shall we go downstairs and see to our new arrivals?”
Felix snorted as he looked amused by this. He followed Sergi and Nikoli to the elevators and then down to the security room.
After they got there, Sergi and Nikoli stared at the big screen from the camera overlooking the cell area.
Greta, Berta and Pavel watched the doctor bandage the arm their brother Kaiser had burned.
Olaf, Petr, and Alos were in some cells as well. When the doctor finished his work he cleaned up the area and finally moved toward the door.
Gennadi, one of Sergi’s security men, stood on the other side of the iron bars and he opened the door. After the doctor passed through the opening he made sure the lock was engaged again.
Greta snapped her head over and stared at the cameras in each of the corners. “I curse you and your men Sergi Constantine, each and every one of them. I pray that your son dies from his wounds. You are all pigs.”
Sergi shook his head. “The woman is as dumb as a rock and blind as she can be. A killer.” He looked at Felix and said, “Bring Vitali down but don’t put in the same area. Greta might go after him and I want him alive.”
Felix nodded at him. “Da, he lived the good life while Briar had to grow up hungry and alone.”
Sergi looked a little angry at this concept.. “She wasn’t alone, Felix. She had a family. Not her own, but a family of sorts. We can’t deny this and that family didn’t fail her, not even once. We are the ones who failed her and now it’s time for us to be there for her.”
They both remembered the story Briar had told.
Greta believed Vitali was going to marry her, not Briar’s mother.
So Greta murdered her mother out of spite to kill the baby she carried.
Vitali’s baby. This left Briar as an orphan, then Vitali took her to America, he lost her in New York soon after they arrived. He made very little effort to find her.
Felix took the elevator back upstairs and found Vitalia still in the conference room. He was alone now but he was also guarded by one of Nikoli’s men.
He looked up when Felix came into the room. His eyes were dull as he asked, “Now what?”
“Now you come down to security and spend the night there. Sergi will speak to you tomorrow.”
Vitali stood up slowly and nodded. He followed Felix to the elevator and his shoulders slumped.
He always knew this would happen one day and that day had come.
He had hoped for some leniency but he also remembered how hard Sergi could be.
He’d ruined Briar’s life and he’d known it was a horrible thing he allowed to happen.
After they arrived, Felix shut the cell door with a hard clank. He glared at the man he thought was once a friend. But now they knew the whole story and even being in the same room with Vitali made him sick.