Page 16 of Fractured Ties

“Why?” Kolya asked, deathly still.

“I don’t know, comrade.”

Yes, he did.

Kolya could hear the lie. He didn’t think he would like the answer if he did get one, so Kolya chose not to force out whatever Anatoly was hiding.

At least, not yet.

And, fucking hell …

“I’m not your comrade,” Kolya said through thin lips.

Pushing off the stool, he jumped the bar with a quick leap. He headed for the door, and Kaz’s voice trailed behind him, as did Konstantin’s.

“It’s locked,” Kaz said.

“What do you want us to do?” Konstantin asked.

Locks never stopped me before.

“Clear the rest of the building, or make sure it is clear,” Kolya said.

“There’s animals—”

“We know about the fucking animals,” Konstantin barked at Anatoly. “Maybe I’ll get you to release them while we stay out of the way.”

Anatoly blanched.

Konstantin smiled.

“Just kill them,” Anatoly said quickly. “The mutts, and the rest.”

The rest?

Kolya had better things to do than ask what the fuck Anatoly meant.

“Keep me out of that mess, yes?” Kaz tossed Konstantin a look, adding, “I didn’t come to Chicago for any part of that. I’m not helping you dispose of animals.”

“We’re not doing that at all.”

“Then how are you going to handle that mess?” Anatoly asked.

Konstantin was now looking at Kolya and ignoring Anatoly altogether. “What are you doing?”

He heard his brother’s unspoken question.

Are you going to look for her?

Yes, and no.

Yes, he was going to look for her, as useless of an effort as that might be in the end, and despite the fact he didn’t have any particular reason why he felt like he needed to do that. Not to mention, he had zero clue about what he would do if he did find her.

What was he going to say—You caught my attention, but I don’t know why. Oh, and I killed your father because of business, but let’s ignore the last part, yeah?

Good fucking plan.

And no, he wasn’t telling Konstantin that was his intention.