Chapter Twenty-Eight
Igor
My phone buzzed underneath the stacks of paper spread out on one of the VIP tables inside Club Omen, where I set up shop for the day.
It was still early enough that aside from a few employees the place was quiet, and I could work in peace without the confinement of my office walls.
It continued to buzz while I carefully lifted each stack until I spotted the screen with Maxim’s number blazed across it. “Maxim, what’s up?”
There was a long silence. When he finally spoke, I heard the tension in his throat. “Ivan was stabbed. He is alive but injured.”
I frowned. “How the fuck did anyone get on the compound?”
Maxim sighed. “I sent him to the market to get a few of the things April was craving.”
Craving? “Everything she needs is on the approved list.”
“These items were not on the list, and she was being rather insistent, so I sent Ivan.”
“And he was stabbed.”
“Yes. He didn’t see who it was, they stuck him from behind as he loaded the bags into the trunk of the car. One clean slice through his right side.”
Fuck! “How is he?”
“Fine. He dropped off the bags and drove himself to Doc’s office to get stitched up.”
Like most organizations we have a doctor on the payroll for just this purpose, to stitch us up without getting the law involved. “Good. Did he have any clue who it was?”
“No but he managed to see the license plate as they sped off. I’m looking into it now, but I wanted you to know.”
“Let me know as soon as you have an answer.” The fact that he managed to get the plate impressed me. The kid was more than a guy looking to make a shit ton of money and kill people, and that was exactly the type of men I needed. “And April?”
“Beating herself up about Ivan getting hurt but otherwise she is where she always is, in her room.”
His words produced the wave of guilt he intended. “That’s where she is safest,” I replied in an icy tone that told him I wasn’t having this conversation with him right now.
Suddenly there was a commotion and the front door of the club flew open and the sound of my two guards brandishing their guns tore through the air. I pushed away from the table and went to the railing to look down at the unfolding scene below to see the guns aimed at none other than Dmitry Voronov.
I smiled because I knew exactly why he was here. “I’ll call you back Maxim.” I ended the call and shoved the phone in my jacket pocket. “Dmitry, Club Omen is not yet open, so you’ll need to come back later. Dressed much sharper than you are now.”
His eyes blazed up at me, filled with fury and hatred.
My smile grew in response.
“I wouldn’t come to this shit club even if you paid me.” He spat on the floor to punctuate his point. “You’ve crossed the line Romanov.”
My brows shot up in surprise. “I was unaware that there was a line anymore.”
His brows dipped. “You went too far.”
“Interesting.” I turned away from him and made my way down the iron steps that led to the dance floor and the first floor bar, walking deliberately slowly until only a few feet separated us. “Your men pulled their signature move only it didn’t work out as well as it did with my brother.”
At the mention of Boris, his gaze widened.
“You didn’t think I would figure out that those assholes were sent by you? Had been following us?” His face paled. “You mess with what’s important to me and I’ll return that shit, Dmitry. Don’t ever fucking forget that.”
“Carla is terrified now and demanding to move,” he scrubbed a hand down his face. “A fucking pinky finger?”
I smiled. “I thought it was a nice touch. I had considered leaving a head. I even considering take your son’s head so you should be thanking me.”
His gaze narrowed. “You are an animal.”
“Wrong. You assumed that I wouldn’t sink as low as you would and that was your biggest mistake.”
“You didn’t kill my son,” he sighed. “Why?”
I smiled. “Yet, Dmitry. I didn’t kill him yet.”
His expression morphed back into anger. “I won’t let you get to him.”
“You will try. And you will fail. But what will it cost you before you’ve realized you lost?”
“I have lost nothing but a few men,” he snarled, taking a step forward so we were now toe to toe.
“Are you so sure about that?” I flashed a smug smile knowing what I have already done and what I am about to do.
“Absolutely.”
Idiot. “Then why are you here Dmitry, other than to let me know that I hurt your whore’s feelings?”
He swung on me but luckily, he was twenty years older and a hell of a lot slower, which meant I spotted the punch from a mile away. “You have no respect,” he growled when his punch missed its mark.
My fist shot up and into his side while my left hand wrapped around his neck.
“You are right about that. I do not respect you or your old ways of doing things. I will not bow down and let you come after me without repercussions. Your men and your whore? They are just the beginning.” I applied more pressure before I shoved him away.
“Now get the fuck out of my club before I put a bullet in your head.”
“You will regret this.”
I flashed another grin. “You on the other hand won’t live long enough to regret any of this.” I held up my hand in the shape of a gun aimed at his forehead. “Soon, Dmitry. Very fucking soon.”
It was a little dramatic, but it got my point across clearly.