Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Ivan
Trumpet? She thought I played the trumpet?
It was better than her putting the pieces together, that it was definitely a gun.
I needed to be more careful. I hadn’t planned on taking my guns out of the rental, especially in broad daylight, but after what Dimitri said the other day and cops combing the city, I couldn’t be too careful.
The rental had to go back, which Benson would handle, thank goodness, and I would need to lay low for a little bit.
It was bad enough that Dimitri recognized me from the surveillance footage Benson swiped.
I was thankful for their meddling, even if it made me feel just as uncomfortable.
Thanks to Benson, the security cameras in the parking garage and the floor of my hotel were on a loop.
He’d texted me after the bridal shower to inform me that he was on Dimitri’s salary, but he didn’t mind helping out a friend, even if he didn’t understand the hit that I did.
I dropped the case on the bed and pressed my palms to my eyes.
I’m coming for you.
Her voice was still in my ears—shaking, angry, and curious.
I should have felt threatened. But instead, I felt excitement and desire.
Especially when she poked me in the chest. Everything from that night came rushing back.
Which was unfortunate because I needed to lie low.
I didn’t need her poking around and looking for things that weren’t there… Or rather that were.
All the blood in my body rushed down to my cock, and I wondered if I should take a cold shower to get it to go away or take care of my issues with my hands.
A knock on the door had me swearing under my breath. I shoved the rifle case under my bed and approached the door slowly. Ace was waiting on the other side.
The last thing I wanted was a visit from Daddy’s right-hand man. The last thing I wanted was a family reunion, but here we were, especially when I just needed to get rid of my boner. Thankfully, Ace’s presence did the trick rather quickly.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I asked as I opened the door wide enough for him to slip through.
“What kind of game are you playing at?”
Not him, too.
“I’m not so sure I know what you mean.”
He let out a breath through his nose and rubbed his temples. “You are playing with fire here.”
“Like I said, you’ll have to be a little more specific.”
In a flash, Ace had his fist in my shirt and was shoving me against the wall. “You killed a major player in father’s games, and I need to know why. I won’t play games with you. You will either tell me or I will turn you in.”
With a steely gaze, I looked up at my brother, who wasn’t much taller than me and smiled. “Are you still on father’s payroll?”
His jaw worked as he let out an even deeper breath. “Unfortunately, but not for the reasons you think. Father needs to think someone is still on his side. I don’t have many options here.”
I raised a brow. “And?”
“And Dimitri all but told me you did it, so I would like to know why.”
“The grannies paid me to do it. I wanted him to suffer—happy?”
Ace frowned. “Grandmother and Nana are involved?”
My smile only grew. “Aren’t they always?”
Ace ran a hand down his face and groaned. “ Of course.”
“It seems they have a hit list of their own,” I sat on the corner of my bed and watched as my brother paced the room. His long legs ate the space between each stride quickly.
“Father is at my neck, wondering what’s going on,” Ace planted his hands on his hips. “I don’t know what to tell him.”
“Thankfully, he isn’t anywhere near here,” I muttered.
“No one knows where he is,” he frowned and whirled on me. “Since when have you been a good shot? I’ve seen the crime scene and all the files on it. They are saying it was an impossible shot. Who are you?”
I ran my tongue over my teeth. This was why I didn’t want them to know. I didn’t want the questions. I wanted the quiet life I’d known for the last two years. Why did they have to complicate everything?
“I found my hidden talent, I guess. Plus, I don’t know why you’re even here. He was nothing in the grand scheme of things.”
Ace frowned. “What does that mean?”
“I cut off one head and two grew back in its place. His two boys are just going to begin where he left off.”
“That’s why all of this is silly, even if it’s the grannies that put you up to it.” Ace shook his head. “I can’t believe we are even having this conversation. How many have you killed?”
There was no point in giving him a real number. “A lot.”
He swore. “Ivan.” He started pacing again. “Why?”
“Why not?”
“Please be careful.”
“I always am.”
He shook his head. “This is different. This isn’t just hits. This is a whole operation.”
“The grannies wanted people acting irrationally. They want people running scared.”
Ace’s lips thinned out. “Which means they aren’t done with you.” He patted me on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
I was definitely going to need it, but not when it came to all these goons. I closed my eyes and breathed through my nose. It was supposed to be one job, but I should have known better. Nothing was ever simple when it came to my family. I knew better than to come back.