Chapter 8
Sasha
Rage.
The bouts of rage during the darkest period of my life had been as uncontrollable as they’d been unpredictable.
My behavior had often been described as manic. That’s what grief had done to me.
Over the years and perhaps with age, the anger had been tempered, although not locked away as some members of my family had hoped.
I was a hot-blooded Russian after all, taking after my father.
We’d both been called silent killers.
In our everyday lives, we used silence as a method of obtaining information, allowing others to jabber as they always did when anxious. It was amazing what you could learn by not speaking a word, including using threats.
However, my father had gone much further in his activities and in how he handled issues and turmoil.
He struck when it was least expected, avoiding exceeding the limited time he gave to solving problems.
I’d learned a thing or two from him over the years, which had allowed me to suffer through the grief and anger, turning the dark emotions into something more productive.
But not today.
Today there was a good chance all the progress I’d made in maintaining control would be shot to shit.
There was also a significant possibility that blood would be spilled, and the off chance a man would lose his life.
Many things were plausible and I just didn’t care about the consequences.
Lainey’s look of horror had been infuriating. She’d allowed herself to desire a return to a simpler life, but had been driven into another nightmare.
Innocence shattered.
That was unacceptable.
Jaxon Carmine was not only a good friend, he’d also been the single employee I’d kept in a security detail position over the years.
His promotion had come at a time when I’d been unpredictable given my extreme grief.
Since then, he’d become more of a security consultant than anything, providing tips for additions and alterations to the current systems in place throughout the various resorts owned by Dmitriyev Enterprises.
Formerly a decorated Marine with expertise in counterintelligence and weaponry, his services had proven invaluable during the recent attempts by enemies to destroy our business.
That’s why the first call I’d made after settling Lainey into a suite at Dreamscape had been to him. As part of his duties, he oversaw our illustrious computer hackers, whose skills enabled us to discover the secrets of anyone in the world.
Everyone had a footprint and no matter what lengths they’d gone to, or money spent to try to hide aspects of their lives, their activities, locations, and all information could be discovered.
That’s why it hadn’t taken any time for Jaxon to learn where Damien was holed up, a posh resort in the heart of the Vegas strip.
Not one of ours.
The asshole was so brazen after destroying the home I owned where Lainey was supposed to be protected that he’d spent the day preening in front of the cameras.
While he’d acted as if he believed the hype surrounding himself, fondling the women fawning all over him as if it was his God-given right, I’d completed research on the man and his career.
Including the contract Damien had entered with our movie production company.
There was a morals clause that he’d regularly ignored.
His personal attack on Lainey including physical violence clearly violated the terms. I’d have a conversation with my brother on terminating his contract at Nina’s party the next day.
Now he was going to learn a very valuable lesson on how to treat women and what would occur should he fail.
Jaxon had easily discovered the abusive bastard had taken over an entire bar inside the resort.
He was partying with his bootlicker friends who enjoyed every moment of sucking down expensive liquor on a tab that had yet to be paid.
Not only was he a repulsive representation of the male species, but he was also notorious for skipping out on money owed to restaurants and bars.
It was way past time the man was taken down a peg or two. With my lack of patience and rage, the act of punishment wouldn’t take long, but would leave a lasting memory.
He was lucky I had no intentions of ending his life. At least not yet. The view from the cheap seats would only place a crushing professional target on Lainey’s back. I refused to place her in the crosshairs of corporate business.
While we’d brought a dozen additional employees who often moonlighted as security guards with us and they were certainly highly trained, they’d accompanied us merely to provide a visual understanding.
He fucked with the wrong man.
The noise even before we moved inside the bar was ridiculous. Once we did, my annoyance increased. It was barely six in the evening and the crowd Damien had gathered was already rowdy.
“How do you want to handle this, boss?” Jaxon asked.
I scanned the area, counting the number of other customers before answering. “We encourage his guests to leave. That will allow me to have quality time with Mr. Kane.”
He chuckled. “I haven’t seen you this riled up in a very long time.”
“You know how I react when women are used as objects.”
“Yes, I do. God help the man.”
I buttoned my suit jacket before moving toward him. While the Dmitriyev family was highly respected in Las Vegas and elsewhere, there were those who believed we were also the most dangerous people in the city. That usually boded well in cases of this nature.
We stood on the outskirts of the ongoing party, the lighting inside the bar keeping us in the shadows. A poor waitress was serving drinks and every time she leaned over in her short skirt, she was molested.
My anger was off the charts.
Thankfully, I’d learned to control my more extreme emotions a few years before. When the waitress finally freed herself from the animals, the look on her face was exactly the one I’d seen on Lainey’s.
She noticed us and another moment of fear momentarily crossed her face. When she neared where we were standing, I pulled her aside, placing several folded hundred-dollar bills on her tray. “Take a well-deserved break.”
Her smile was her only response, but she scurried away leaving the playing field wide open.
I nodded to Jaxon and he directed our men to advance. The one thing I would always say about the people who worked for us, they were completely loyal, following orders without hesitation.
It took a few seconds for the drunks to realize they’d been surrounded by men with open jackets sporting weapons.
“What the fuck?” one of the party people finally blurted out, partially standing and even daring to puff up. Yet his eyes reflected uncertainty and even fear.
Good.
I’d remained just out of sight until they’d moved into position.
Now I walked closer, taking my time doing so.
Through the years, I’d tried to portray myself as approachable even though at six foot four, I was intimidating to most. Not today.
I’d decided to kick up the heat a notch by wearing a charcoal suit and pitch-black shirt.
That was the way so many mafia leaders were depicted. Since I was dealing with a piece of shit actor, why not look the part?
Even though his fake buddies were figuring out what was about to transpire was something they wanted no part of, Damien was still laughing at some stupid commercial on the large screen television while tossing back tequila.
Men like him disgusted me.
No control. No decency.
“Hey, man. We got company,” one of his companions finally huffed while shoving Damien’s shoulder.
“I’m busy,” he snorted, but finally something caught his attention. Very slowly he turned in his chair, his eyes opening wide.
“It’s best if the rest of you gentlemen left. I wouldn’t want to bloody your shirts.” My words were succinct and devoid of emotion.
At least they could tell I was serious, all scampering to their feet and moving away from the table.
“And don’t forget to leave a hefty tip on the bar for your servers. I’ll know if you don’t and you won’t like what will occur in your lives in the upcoming hours. Days.” I stood with my arms crossed in front of me, staring at Damien while enjoying how uncomfortable he’d become.
Once the room was cleared of his buddies, I took a deep breath and turned my head to pay attention to the football game.
Within seconds, I could smell his fear.
Perhaps now he regretted his actions.
Before I concentrated on what I’d come here for, I heard the scraping of chair legs on the tile floor. Damien thought it best to stand and face his punishment.
Good for him. Taking it like a man.
When a touchdown was made after only two minutes, I pumped my fist even though I couldn’t give a shit about the game. “Nice play. Wouldn’t you say so, Damien?” I tipped my head toward him.
The arrogance had already started to return. The asshole just didn’t understand that kind of reaction was the worst one he could give.
“Why the hell did you interrupt my party?”
Jaxon snorted behind me, which drew Damien’s attention.
“Well, that would be because you and I have something to discuss.”
“I don’t got nothing to discuss with you.”
“I don’t got nothing? Where did you go to school, Damien?”
“None of your damn business, Russian.”
At least two of my employees chuckled. Not because I’d been made fun of by an abusive talentless thug, but because they knew the fine line I had in being able to keep my patience. That moment was being reached.
I moved closer, keeping a smile on my face. “That’s where you’re wrong. Everything about Lainey Rose is my business.”
He quickly glanced toward my men. “She doesn’t belong to you. She’s mine. What’s it to you?”
Reaching out, I brushed nonexistent crumbs from his shirt.
“See, that’s where you’re wrong as it would appear you usually are.
Ms. Rose, one of the most talented and highly professional performers in the world never belonged to you.
Your relationship was a fake, established in hopes of reviving your tanking career.
A talented singer boosting a has-been actor.
The ruse almost worked too, until you decided your fantasy was a reality.
What’s wrong, Damien? Were you worried your clit bait and meal ticket had finally come to her senses after you beat it out of her? ”
His eyes opened wide. “I didn’t touch that bitch.”
Now I was standing only an inch away. I could only imagine his skin was crawling. “I know what you did and I’m going to ensure the entire world does as well. Unless of course you simply vanish and perhaps I’ll consider that decent enough repentance for your sins. If I remain in a good mood.”
“How fucking dare you.” I’d be damned if the asshole didn’t act as if he was going to use physical violence.
A bad move for the man.
“How dare I? I find that to be an interesting statement coming from a man who trashed the house she was living in and plastered ‘bitch’ on the wall. In my world, that’s not only reprehensible but grounds for… termination.”
His initial reaction was not what I’d expected. Shock. Then his typical arrogance took over.
“Are you threatening me, Mr. Dmitriyev? Don’t bother. I’m not scared of you.”
Jaxon laughed first and I merely grinned. “Maybe you should be. No one is allowed to treat a woman with disrespect.”
“That’s between me and my girlfriend.”
“So you’re saying she’s a bitch.” Why not egg him on. I wanted to see just how stupid he was.
“She just needs to understand she belongs to me.”
That was enough for me. The guy was a fool as well as an asshole. There were benefits to almost daily trips to the gym, enjoying the art of boxing. I threw a brutal punch to his nose, the sharp crack and stream of blood indicating the direct hit had provided the result I’d been going after.
Before he could fully react, I tossed two savage punches to his abdomen then tossed him onto the floor like a ragdoll.
Sighing, I yanked his arm up, twisting it awkwardly and jerking his body so he’d be able to look me directly in the eye.
I could easily either snap my wrist, breaking his arm in two places, or utilize the correct angle and pressure, pulling his arm free from his shoulder socket.
I chose the latter. That was still tame in comparison to what I would prefer doing to him.
His howls were a clear indication of how dramatic he was. “You’re hurting me, you fuck.”
“Not nearly as much as I should at this point, Damien. You’re an abusive man who believes that women are objects to be used for your benefit and nothing else. I’m simply reminding you that your way of thinking is barbaric. And won’t bode well for you in the future.”
“Fuck you.”
Mistake.
As I’d often heard from my brother and cousins, it used to be easier when there was no reflection on decisions made. You simply eliminated your enemies in the most suitable manner.
Now that we were civilized, we scrutinized the objective of what we were trying to accomplish. His mistake ripped away the last of my patience.
I yanked out my weapon, pointing the barrel toward his face.
“No. No!” His moans were increasing in volume. “Please.”
“Please? Please what, Damien? Spare your life? Maybe I should just shoot you in the balls.” I jerked his arm painfully, exposing his groin and lowering my weapon to between his legs.
I was almost certain he was going to piss in his pants.
“Just please. I won’t touch her. But I didn’t touch her house. I didn’t leave a message on her wall.”
I could tell there was some truth to his statement. Maybe he’d hired someone to trash her place. Whatever the case, the fact he’d laid a hand on her was enough for me. I didn’t move for a few seconds, allowing the terror to increase.
Finally, I let go of his arm and he flopped on his belly, taking gasping breaths.
Very slowly I knelt beside him, my gun now held between my legs.
“Damien, I’m going to give you one last reprieve, but if you as much as look in her direction or breathe her name, I will return to this moment and there will be no third chance.
You’re lucky Ms. Rose is a decent human being.
I, however, am not. Do I make myself clear? ”
“Sure, but what’s it to you?”
I thought about his question as I stood, answering him just before walking away. “Because Lainey Rose belongs to me.”