CHAPTER 21
DARIO
I sat back in my office chair with a sigh. It had been a hell of a long day between trying to run our legit business, keeping our allies and enemies alike appeased with the docks, and trying to keep Rafe from pushing too hard when he was barely able to stand on his own two feet.
He was angry, and I got it. I was angry too.
My brother had been shot and we, as a family, had done nothing in retaliation.
Gia had been killed and Cara brutalized and we had done nothing about that either.
It made us look weak, and that was the last fucking thing we needed when Rafe was getting ready to step out of the dark side of our dealings.
We had to leave looking strong and in control, or our enemies would see the chance to come for us when we were no longer allied with anyone.
But Rafe wasn’t up to doing shit, and he knew that himself.
He just didn’t want to admit it. I had worked my arse off trying to find out for sure who had shot him.
I had eyes and ears everywhere, but still no one could give me anything to go on.
Even the bodies we removed from the scene didn’t seem to be linked to Adamian in any way, so we couldn’t retaliate without proof.
And fucking Mikhail Kozlov was a ghost. No one new where he was or what he was up to.
It was pissing me the hell off. All I wanted was some justice, especially for Cara and for Gia too.
Gia had lost her life, and Cara had lost so many parts of herself, parts she couldn’t afford to lose, in that warehouse, that night.
Someone needed to pay for that and I was itching to dole out the revenge.
I rubbed at my exhausted eyes and sat up again, setting down the glass of whiskey I was nursing.
I didn’t have time to stop. I needed to arrange a female doctor to come in and check on Rafe tomorrow – someone Cara would feel safe being in our home, and who wouldn’t patronise Rafe and piss him off any further.
I had three meetings with clients I needed to prepare for, and I needed to call Kean with an update on our situation.
Of course, that update would be that we had not a fucking thing to go on, and that our enemies still roamed the street while we uselessly sat on our arses.
All I wanted to do was go upstairs and be with Cara.
I’d barely got a minute with her since we all decided to give this relationship a go.
I just wanted to hold her, to know that she was doing alright and make sure I was giving her everything she needed in my absence from her. But I didn’t have time to go to her.
I’d looked in on her, after checking on Rafe, about an hour ago, and she’d been asleep against Cal in her bed.
They’d been watching a film and she’d dropped off.
Cal assured me that she was alright, and that he would stay the night with her, but that didn’t make me feel any better about not being the one who was with her, who would hold her and keep her nightmares at bay.
Rafe had been asleep too when I checked on him.
Arran was with him, having promised Cara he wouldn’t leave her brother alone.
I knew she was worried because it was Rafe’s first night home.
I was too. The stubborn dick should have stayed in the hospital, but I understood his need to be home, and at least feigning a strong leader. Our family needed that image right now.
I opened my email, scanning through the notes, which the private hospital we dealt with had sent me, on doctors who would be available to give Rafe in home health care for the next week. The words blurred and I knew I needed to get some sleep, but it would have to wait.
***
My phone rang just after midnight, startling me awake. I must have dozed off while reading notes for my first meeting in the morning. I looked to the screen but didn’t recognise the number.
“Yeah.”
“You always answer your phone like it’s gonna be bad news?” Killian laughed.
“Yeah. I do lately,” I agreed.
“Maybe try looking on the glass half full side, manifest good shit.”
“Yeah, yeah. What have you got?” I was too exhausted to do anything but get right to the point.
“Something you’re looking for,” Killian answered. He was obviously in one of his clubs, the clinking of glass and dull music in the background.
“Go on.”
“Name came across one of our snitches. Little rat’s been feeding us scraps for weeks. Tonight, he earned his keep.”
“And? What the fuck is this? Am I supposed to guess?” I snapped.
“Kozlov,” Killian said, obviously sensing my short fuse. “Estate. Just outside the city. Big place, old money. Word is, it used to belong to one of theirs before you and Rafe started cutting the legs out from under them. Our snitch says Kozlov’s inside. Probably not alone.”
“How many?”
“Not sure, but if they stuck by him, they’ll be loyal. The kind that don’t run.”
“Send the address,” I demanded.
“Already have.”
The line went dead then, and I checked the address. I loaded it into the mapping app, and was relieved to see it was only an hour away. I didn’t want to delay. We’d been looking for this fucker for long enough. He was mine tonight.
I grabbed my jacket and the gun I kept hidden in a concealed section of the desk, checking it was loaded, then tucking it into the back of my trousers. I’d have been more discreet if Cara were around, but she had seemed settled for the night when I checked on her.
Finally. It was time to get her some revenge. A calm settled deep inside me at the thought of that bastard, Kozlov’s, blood being spilled before the night was up.
***
Arran saw my face and jumped up, ready for a fight already, as soon as I stepped into Rafe’s room.
“Tell me we’re goin’ someplace unpleasant,” he said as he pulled a knife from somewhere at his back and started to flip it between his fingers like it was a damn fidget toy.
“We are.”
“Where? What have you got?” Rafe sat up as much as he could, his eyes wide open and wide awake all of a sudden. I had thought he was asleep.
“Killian called. Estate outside the city,” I told him, not wanting to drag it out. “Kozlov’s inside with some of his men.”
“Then we go now. We’re not missing this opportunity.” Rafe swung his legs over the side of the bed immediately.
“We won’t, but you’re not coming,” I stated.
He looked up slowly and gave me the cold, hard glare that made others cower. Not me. I knew him better than I knew myself. He was my brother in every way but blood. I loved him and I would not allow him to risk himself.
“I’m not asking,” he growled.
“And I’m not giving you a choice,” I couldn’t keep the smirk from my face as I stared him down, wondering how far he would take this.
“Here we go,” Arran sighed, as he collapsed back into the chair, slouching back and lounging there like he was on holiday.
Rafe pushed himself to his feet, and nearly faltered instantly. He caught himself, grabbing the wall, but it was enough. He’d illustrated my point perfectly. I stepped closer and wrapped my arm around his back to support him.
“That’s why you’re not going, brother,” I told him.
“I can still put a bullet in his head,” Rafe snapped as he tried to move away from me, but he didn’t have the strength.
He was already gasping for breath and I could feel his body shaking as he fought to stay on his feet.
“Maybe,” I agreed. “But you won’t make it past the front door like this. I won’t risk losing you again. Cara needs you, as do we.”
Silence. But Rafe stopped fighting me at least, and seemed to lean into me a little.
“And I’d rather no’ explain to everyone how the boss bled out because he was too bull headed te see sense. Especially that wee lassie sleeping downstairs,” Arran added with a tilt of his head.
Rafe glared between us, but I could see reason finding it’s way past his rage and need for vengeance.
“He’s mine.”
“He’ll be dealt with,” I pointed out. “That’s what matters.”
Rafe’s expression hardened, grief bleeding into anger. Ever since what happened in that warehouse, revenge had been one of the only things driving Rafe to keep going.
“He took Gia.”
“I know.”
“He broke Cara. She’ll never be the same…not after what those pieces of shit….” Rafe’s tirade was cut short when he started to cough violently.
“I know, Rafe. Just sit down, you stubborn prick,” I told him as I all but forced him down to the bed. He grabbed a bottle of water and fumbled it open, taking a deep drink that seemed to calm the episode.
“He deserves a very slow, very painful and bloody end,” Rafe gasped.
“I’ll do my best,” I assured him.
“I can’t just sit here and not handle this,” he grumbled, and I saw the pain in his face. He had wanted to deal with Kozlov. Revenge was the only thing that he could give Gia, and now he was unable to do that.
“Yes, you can,” I told him flatly. “Because if you come…,” I continued, “….you risk everything for something that’s already decided.”
Rafe stared at me for a long moment, then sank back into his pillows with a sharp exhale. He rubbed a shaking hand over his pale face and finally seemed to let something go.
“Don’t make it quick, if you can help it,” he requested.
I held his gaze and gave him my word with one look. If there was anyway Mikhail Kozlov could die slowly, knowing even a fraction of the pain he caused my girl, he damn well would.
“Maybe we can bring back what’s left of him to play wi’,” Arran jovially suggested.
“I wouldn’t mine some time with him in holding,” Rafe nodded.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I assured him.
***