Page 126 of Fractured Ties

Kolya swore he heard teeth crunch across the room.

“I was unaware—we took another man for that reason,” Saban murmured.

“Yes, my right hand’s son. Is he …?”

“Quite dead, I’m afraid.”

Vadim’s exhale echoed. “Well, then.”

“The logical explanation you’re offering to me is that Valbon is working with Alexei, then?” Saban asked.

“It is always the most obvious explanation that is usually correct,” Vadim returned.

“Valbon?” Saban asked.

“I don’t know what he’s suggesting,” Valbon muttered through gritted teeth. “Why would I do something like that?”

“Valbon,” Saban said darker, a threatening edge coating the man’s name.

“I don’t know—”

“The better question is why,” Vadim interjected quietly, “your own family would be willing to risk being caught by you for lying and likely killed for a woman … doesn’t seem reasonable to me, all things considered. Something else to sweeten the deal, perhaps? We have reason to believe there is someone else involved in this with Alexei and Valbon, only because that makes the most sense. Together, they have nothing to gain. If someone else was funding this or moving their pieces, then we could correct everything that has happened. I was hoping you might be able to help me with that, no?”

Saban was quiet for a moment, and Kolya glanced over his shoulder to find the Albanian boss was nailing Valbon to the wall with his burning gaze. “It seems you already know quite a bit, Vadim. What can I possibly help you with?”

“The other evening—when the girl was taken—a business blew up. My sons were in front of it.”

Kolya didn’t miss the narrowing of Saban’s eyes.

Vadim continued on. “Seems that shop is owned by Valbon, but he isn’t known for his bombs, is he?”

“He isn’t. And he owned that—it is no longer his, as of a few weeks ago.”

Kolya stiffened.

Like Valbon.

And Vadim.

“Who does it belong to?” Vadim asked, a genuine curiosity lighting up his tone. “I am sure you, like me, know all of your men’s business in that sense, even if they don’t know you know it. So, who?”

They figured—if they found who set the bomb, they would be one step closer to whoever was working with Valbon. It was another piece of the puzzle, that was all.

“Don’t,” Valbon uttered to his cousin, a pleading gleam in his eyes. “Saban, you don’t understand—”

“You lied to me,” Saban said back without emotion before he told Vadim, “Vasily Markovic bought the business a short while ago while in Chicago. As far as I know, the papers have not been finalized, which is why it will still be showing as Valbon’s.”

Kolya’s grip on his gun loosened slightly.

No fucking way.

Vadim, on the other hand, had turned into stone. “Is that so?”

“Yes. I was assured any deals made with Vasily would be to our benefit, according to Valbon. I’m wondering now why that is.”

“As you should,” Vadim murmured. “Please, keep Valbon alive for now. He may be useful. I would appreciate it.”

Saban was quiet for a spell before he replied, “My apologies to your men—we will rectify what has happened, Vadim.”