Chapter 30
JULIAN
The hospital is becoming a recurring location in my life. And that’s a problem.
Two detectives stand in front of me with skeptical energy. The taller one—Martinez—does the talking, while his partner takes notes with quick efficiency.
“Mr. Volkov, we’ve recovered a shell casing from the scene.”
“And?”
I’m tired, and the only thing on my mind is Lyra. She’s safe but scared out of her mind. And once again, I’m the one responsible for her being in the line of fire. I couldn’t give a goddamn what these two detectives want.
“Initial ballistics suggests three shooters,” Martinez goes on. “Automatic weapons, firing from a van that’s registered to a holding company in Flushing.”
That gets my attention.
Flushing—again.
“The van was reported stolen two days ago,” Martinez goes on. “You know anything about it?”
“Just what you’ve told me, Detective.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Ethan. His eyes flash when he looks at me—he’s learned something. “Now, is there anything that can’t wait until tomorrow?”
The detectives share a weary look. They both know that there’s nothing they can do if I refuse to cooperate.
“We’ll be in touch if we have any more questions,” Martinez says. “But you ought to keep a low profile, Volkov. Someone out there has you in their crosshairs—literally.”
The other detective flips his notepad shut, and they leave. I don’t give them a second thought before turning my attention to Ethan.
“What’s up?” I eagerly ask.
“Got the van’s registration. It traces back to the same company flagged in the highway incident.”
“Triad.”
“It’s really looking that way,” Ethan replies. “But I’ll investigate the connection.”
“No investigation needed,” I say. “Two attacks in three weeks, both connected to Triad infrastructure, both targeting me and the people close to me. Either someone within Yang’s organization is acting without his knowledge, or Yang himself made the call.”
Neither option is good. The first means Mrs. Lee is assuming authority, and the second means I’ve been played like a goddamn fiddle by the boss himself.
“You have to get in touch with Yang,” Ethan says. “Not sure how else we’re going to get any more info, other than by going straight to the source.”
“I know.”
“And if it’s Lee,” he goes on, “Yang needs to hear it from you before he hears it from someone else. But if Yang authorized this—”
“Then calling him lets him know that we know, and he either accelerates or retreats.” I lean against the wall, the fluorescent lights humming above.
Somewhere down the hall, Lyra is being examined. And I’m out here instead of with her, holding her hand.
I scrub my hands over my face, shaking my head in disbelief and frustration.
“Yang has a massive ego. Accusing him of hitting a charity event on American soil could collapse the entire Pacific deal—just before the goddamn council.”
Ethan nods slowly; we’re on the same wavelength.
“And if the Pacific deal falls apart, that puts the entire council in jeopardy. Not to mention that the council will see you as a leader who can’t control his own alliances.”
I clench my teeth, wishing nothing more than for the person who’s behind all of this to appear right in front of me, right now, so I can take them apart with my bare hands.
The elevator chimes, cutting through my thoughts. When the doors open, the last three people I want to see walk out.
Laura, Alexander, and Sophia.
They look disheveled and they appear worried.
“Julian.” Alexander crosses over to me in four long strides. “Where is she? Is she okay?”
He seems sincere. But it can be hard to tell with my brother.
“Lyra is being examined.”
Relief flashes across his face, then his expression turns hard.
“This is your fault.” He jabs a finger into my chest. If it were any other man on the planet, that finger would be broken. “I told you this shit would happen. You dragged her into this world and now she’s in a hospital bed because of you.”
I stay still, letting his finger remain at my chest for a moment longer.
“Back up, Alexander. Now.”
“No. You don’t get to play protector when you’re the whole goddamn reason she needs protecting. You made her a target. You put her center stage at a Bratva event with every one of our enemies watching.”
“I said, back up.”
He does. Smart man.
Sophia watches from behind Laura, her arms wrapped around herself. She’s shaking and scared.
Alexander looks like he has more to say. But before he gets a chance, Laura puts a hand on his arm.
“Not here,” she says quietly. “Not now.”
For once, she’s right. Alexander straightens his posture and adjusts his cuffs, then he steps back.
“Lyra is being taken care of,” I tell him. “When her doctors are finished, I’ll be with her. Until then, the three of you can wait here, or you can leave. I don’t give a damn either way.”
I turn and walk toward the ER. Ethan falls into step beside me.
I don’t look back. Toward Lyra is the only direction I’m moving in tonight.
“Yang first or Lee?” he asks.
“Yang. Directly. No intermediary.”
“That’s a risk.”
“Every move we make right now is a risk, at least this one has the potential for information.”