Chapter Thirty-Four
Igor
Maxim and I parked one block over from Dmitry’s home and walked the rest of the way, surprised to find a line of cars that led up to the driveway and music wafting on the evening breeze. “Looks like fate is shining down on us,” I told Maxim with a satisfied grin.
“Let’s hope so,” his expression remained grim as we made our way onto the property before we slipped into a side door while the oblivious partygoers entered through the front. “Chances are slim we’ll get him alone,” Maxim reminded me.
“Our chances are extremely good,” I assured him with a confident smile.
“Dmitry likes to keep company with regular people who are fascinated by the rumors, but they will bore him soon enough.” I’ve kept a close eye on this man since my brother’s death, and I knew him well.
Of course, his impromptu attacks caught me off guard, but they wouldn’t ever again.
We walked down a hall, passing servers with drink trays and appetizers while a pianist offered welcome music that masked our entry. “Where do you think we should wait, unless you plan to ambush him?”
“Yes and no,” I answered. “His office or his library. Those are a man’s sanctuary and that’s where he will go when he gets tired of answering questions about being in the mob.
” I flashed a confident smile as we came upon tall double doors at the end of the hall.
“It’s just far enough away that no one else will enter accidentally. ”
“You’ve given this a lot of thought.” Maxim’s tone is part amusement and part pride.
“Been wanting to kill this fucker for a long time. Tonight is the night.” And I didn’t have to tell Maxim how important this night was.
“And it has nothing to do with you wanting to change things with April?”
My shoulders drooped at his words. “It may have a little to do with that. I am not sure how she feels. Most days I’m certain she hates me but then others I think it’s something more.
” I shook my head and thought of the way she kissed me tonight, the way she urged me to end this the way a good Bratva wife would.
“I cannot think of beginning anything real with her until I can stop worrying about Voronov.”
Maxim nodded. “Then I will take your lead.”
An hour passed and then another before finally the door to the library slid open. Dmitry entered and turned to the doors, closing them behind him. A heavy sigh escaped before he turned and leaned back with his eyes closed.
“Never take your eyes off your enemies.”
At my words, Dmitry’s eyes flew open. Shock showed first and then his body relaxed. “I never do,” he answered with a smile and pushed away from the doors. “I expected you much sooner, Igor.”
He was full of shit, I knew that. He was trying to get in my head. “Well here I am.”
His smile brightened. “You are going to kill me in a house filled with people?”
“They can’t hear what’s going on in here.” And even if they couldn’t, I no longer gave a damn. “And they’ll be thrilled to tell all of Atlanta society that they were at the big mansion when that Russian gangster was killed.”
“That is true,” he smiled and nodded. “However I am a man who plans for multiple outcomes.”
“Let me guess, you have a plan to make it out of this night alive?”
Dmitry nodded. “I do. See, I knew that you were a clever fucker. And I knew once your brother was gone that you would be a formidable opponent, which is why I needed an advantage.”
Maxim stiffened beside me visibly and for the merest fraction of a second, I doubted him.
Dmitry smiled, so fucking pleased with himself. “I’m sure you’ve been wondering how I have been one step ahead of you.”
I had, hell I still did but I would never admit that to him. Still, his relaxed demeanor set me on edge. Even a crazy fucker like Voronov would show more care, more regret when face to face with a man who’s going to end his life. Yet he seemed unbothered. Unafraid.
He glanced down at his watch, and another smile appeared.
“I have a man on my payroll inside your organization, Igor. Have you not figured it out already?” Laughter spilled from his lips and his head tilted toward the ceiling.
“I figured you would have found him already and set him to meet his maker.”
His laughter burned. It pissed me off because he was right. My focus was on too many different things lately and this one had slipped through the cracks.
“It is all right,” he replied with a friendly smile. “I will give you a choice tonight, Igor. Rush home to your woman and your traitor and leave me here to live another night. Or kill me now and risk the end of her. The end of everything Romanov.”
Ivan.
It had to be Ivan who was the traitor. He was at the compound right now with April and therefore, the only way Voronov could possibly get close to her.
My mind raced with the possibilities. He got stabbed when he went on that food run for her.
I thought he had a lucky escape, but if it was a set up to remove him from suspicion, then of course whoever stabbed him would have ensured they didn’t hit any major organs.
Damn it!
I could pull out my gun right now and put an end to Dmitry here and now. But if I did that, chances were good there was some kind of code that would force Ivan to kill April.
Make a fucking decision!
I kept calm even as my heart pounded inside my chest. I resisted the urge to ball my hands into fists, to clench my jaw or show any other signs of anger or frustration.
In the end I only had one choice. I had to save April.
I had to save my baby. “Maxim, stay here with Dmitry. If he breathes wrong, put two bullets in his head.”
Maxim nodded but the uncertainty in his gaze gave me pause.
“Fuck that,” I stopped and turned to Dmitry. “You’re coming with me.”
His smile slipped and I knew it was the right call. “You’re going to kill me on your own property?”
“Doesn’t matter where it happens,” I answered honestly. “Because your body will never be found.”
Dmitry said nothing but he also didn’t put up much of a fight as we slipped out of the library and down a dark hall before we exited the garden and made our way to the street. “You won’t get away with this,” he growled, looking over his shoulder as if there was anyone who could save him now.
“Even if I get caught mere minutes after you take your last breath, you will still be dead. That will be enough.” That was a lie, I had no plans to get caught. Ever.
We made it to the car where I quickly wrapped Dmitry’s wrists in plastic zip ties to make sure he didn’t do anything foolish before I made sure April and the baby were safe.
Maxim drove just quickly enough to get us to the compound without a police escort and the minute we arrived, I rushed inside as my heart pounded in my chest.
In that moment as I scanned the foyer and the living room, I realized what this feeling was.
Love.