“He’s good at keeping under the radar,” Jane acknowledged. “So it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense that he’s been so bold in the States.”
“Leaving his name behind in a dead man’s notebook makes no sense. I agree. Unless he’s having problems in-house.” Chris shook his head. “And then we have the Bednareks.”
“Who are they?”
“Well, you might know one of them as Rook.”
“Ah, yes. Rook.”Finally.Answers.
“He is—orwas—August Kaminski’s right-hand man. Rook’s cousin, Victor, is a psychotic bully who kills with brutal efficiency. Women, children, disabled, wounded. He doesn’t care. He loves torturing and always leaves behind a mess.” Her uncle grimaced. “What he once did to a pregnant woman in Kiev… He’s not human.”
“We met.”
He grimaced. “I know you did. I also know you’re still alive. That’s my girl.”
“Hey, I’m still alive too,” Raine whined then winked at Jane. “Maybe I should take a run at him.”
The fact that their uncle didn’t immediately shoot Raine down had both Jane and Raine regarding him warily.
“You’re on standby,” he told Raine. “In case your cousin needs you.”
“But I’m?—”
“Busy on something I’m not supposed to know about. Yeah. I know what you’re up to.”
“You do not.” Raine sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. “You just act like you know everything.”
“Damon Stuart.”
She gaped at him. “No way. Was it Malcolm? No, Hal. Hal’s spying on me.”
Chris simply looked at her, his expression bland.
“Whatever.” Raine flushed.
He turned back to Jane. “Now that we’veagaincemented the fact that I know everything and always will,” he aimed at Raine, “listen up. Kaminski’s one of the most dangerous men I’ve ever encountered. And I’ve met a lot of criminals in my day.”
“You mentioned the Bednareks.” Jane wanted him back on track. “You knew who Rook was and you never told me?”
“I just learned the Bednareks are involved or I’d have told youbefore. Lionel and I have been talking, and we pieced together Victor’s identity from your picture. If he’s around, his cousin is as well. Casimir Bednarek is bad news.”
“How so?”
“Let me backtrack a bit. August Kaminski has assets that make our family look tame. He’s a rational guy, not prone to outbursts, and impossible to predict. I could actually respect his work ethic if he wasn’t a homicidal narcissist out to crush everyone who doesn’t fit into whatever he considers his worldview.”
“Smart and psychotic,” Raine said and munched on her salad. “Sounds like a potential Team Ten recruit.”
“Funny.” Chris glanced at Raine. “And speaking of recruits, I’m still waiting for you to come to your senses and come work for me.” Before she could protest, he turned back to Jane. “But seriously, I want you to be extremely careful at all times. I know you think I nag you?—”
“Just a little.” Jane snorted.
“—about security, but killers are one thing. August Kaminski is danger on a different level. Victor Bednarek is a psycho killer. Casimir, his cousin, has a genius IQ and has apparently been steering August around the law and through masterful coups for years. That’s who you’re dealing with.”
“A killer and a genius. Great.” Jane sighed.
Her uncle continued, “But the good news is it seems like August is on the outs with the Bednareks. The organization has problems. At the same time, that’s not good for law enforcement. I can only imagine the chaos that’s coming.”
“What do you think will happen?” Jane genuinely wanted to know.
