With that in mind, I scoot in close to Nikolai’s desk. There are several men who can help me right now. Unfortunately, none of them are men Nikolai would approve of.
17
“Trey has arranged for a doctor,but you don’t need to worry about that right now, Maddox. I need you to focus on the documents Carmichael supplied us. If Nikolai is being held captive, he’s at one of those locations. Find which one it is.”
Maddox isn’t used to taking orders from his baby sister, but the command in my tone can’t be denied. We’ve being working on Nikolai’s disappearance for hours, meaning I’m not just tired, I’m panicked out of my mind. I know time is of the essence when it comes to matters like this.
Trey’s recollection of events was proven true during my conversation with Ryan. Except for Dimitri and two dozen deceased Russians, no members of Nikolai’s crew were discovered at Rico’s apartment. The incident is being so kept under wraps by the feds, it took Ryan over an hour just to discover Dimitri’s location.
Although unheard of—and highly illegal—members of Nikolai’s crew are in the process of extracting Dimitri. Our covert operation is likely to cost Nikolai’s entity a great sum of money, but Dimitri stepped up to the plate for Nikolai first, so it’s only fair we have his back too. Furthermore, I’d pledge an allegiance to Satan himself if it guaranteed Nikolai’s safe return.
Unfortunately, Ryan’s discovery of Dimitri’s location came with a bitter blow. His inquiries unearthed the number of men killed while trying to protect Nikolai and me. Most were the standard foot soldiers Bratva clans use for protection, but a handful of names were recognizable. The most obvious: Dok. He died on the operating table. The three bullet wounds in his chest were too extensive for his trauma surgeons to repair.
Although devastated by the high list of casualties, gratitude that neither Nikolai or Roman’s names were mentioned fills me with hope. I know deep down inside Nikolai is okay.He has to be.
I crank my head to the side when the clank of a cell phone landing on a table sounds through my ears. “What did she say?”
A sigh parts Trey’s lips. “Not much. She hasn’t seen Maxsim in over a year. She rambled some shit about his wife leaving him when he impregnated his whore. I tuned out not long after that.”
My shoulders slump. Maxsim’s extramarital affairs aren’t any concern of mine, but if his mother is out of the loop on his whereabouts, how the hell will I ever track him down?
“Get Carmichael back on the phone. If Maxsim isn’t operating on behalf of his family, perhaps he is working with someone else.”
I refuse to say Vladimir’s name, but Trey doesn’t need me to verbalize it to hear it.
“Carmichael won’t talk to—” I hold my hand out palm side up, cutting off Trey’s accurate statement that Carmichael won’t converse with anyone but me.
After dumping his pre-dialed phone into my hand, Trey moves to assist Maddox in sorting the massive stockpile of land Alexei acquired before his death. I want to pretend he’s keeping himself busy, but in reality, he’s just keeping his snooping on the downlow. His work on Nikolai’s behalf doesn’t stop at Nikolai’s crew. It extends to any man threatening him or his relationship—Carmichael included.
“Any word?”
The fact Carmichael fails to issue a greeting shows he is as intrigued by Nikolai’s disappearance as me. I’m just hoping his motives are noble.
“No.” I only say one word, but the way it was delivered says so much more. “Trey talked to Maxsim’s mother. He’s not working with them.”
“I’m not surprised. The Vasilievs have barely operated since Alexei’s death.”
My back molars are nearly ground into stubs when I grind out, “How are you aware of that? Are you working with them?”
Carmichael huffs, disappointed at my distrust but also anticipating it. “I’ve never workedwiththem, Justine. . . but I haven’trepresentedthem lately, either. You’re well aware the amount of legal work entities like theirs require each month. When things go quiet, you know it only means one thing.”
“Dissolution,” we say at the same time.
An agreeing noise vibrates Carmichael’s lips. “The Vasilievs were going under years before Alexei’s death. His death just steamrolled the process.”
“So you could say members of his entity are desperate?”
When Carmichael makes another agreeing gesture, I add on, “Desperate enough to side with Satan?”
“What are you getting at, Justine?”
I should be shocked at his bluntness, but even my short stint as his intern familiarized me with his forwardness. If Carmichael wants you to know something, he’ll tell you. Just as if he wants to keep it a secret, you’ll be left in the dark for eternity.
“IfVladimir was alive, do you think Maxsim would be desperate enough to work with him?”
For the first time in history, Carmichael is stumped. “What. . .? You can’t be serious. . . Please tell me I misheard what you said.”
Before I can repeat my inane comment, Carmichael says, “Things are tight for the Vasilievs, but I don’t see them ever beingthatdesperate. Partnering with Vladimir would be as odd as the Popovs siding with the Petrettis”
