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Laughing, I eased from my car, glancing around the perimeter of the house. Since the attack years before, my father had made the exterior into more of a fortress, concrete walls placed strategically along the property border. At least twelve guards remained on the property at all times, the security system equaled only in maximum security prisons. Yet there’d always been a sense of insecurity within the family.
Myself included.
Attacks were on the rise, the various foreign countries training their soldiers more like pirates and mercenaries. I thought about the knife I’d ripped from the girl’s hand, the jewels reminding me of another time, another place. Unfortunately, I couldn’t place from when or where.
I stormed into the house, slamming the door behind me.
I’d spent the better part of the morning talking with our main arms dealer. Kostya Baranov was considered the family assassin, living abroad, his location a secret even from the family. Anonymity kept him alive. Kostya was many things, including a master linguist, which enabled him to negotiate deals with the Saudis, the Colombians, and even the Germans. He also had an uncanny ability to sniff out any member of law enforcement as well as squeeze informants for impending attacks.
He’d heard nothing about the DEA’s future plans, which posed a continued problem. Without advance warning, the shit storm would grow into a fucking hurricane. That pissed me off even more than the crap I’d dealt with the night before. I went to my father’s office first, finding it empty, which was unusual. Then I heard him out by indoor pool talking on his phone. At least he tried to take care of himself, swimming several laps a day.
I stood just inside the door to the solarium, loathing the humidity inside the space. He thrived in it.
As he continued with his conversation, I allowed my thoughts to drift back to the woman. Really, she was more of a girl, a sweet angel with ravishing eyes. I laughed softly to myself. Maybe not a complete angel, but she was certainly more of an innocent creature than a man like me.
Still, it was difficult to get her out of my mind for longer than ten full minutes.
“Good. I’m glad to hear it’s settled,” my father said, drawing my attention. He suddenly shot me a look, almost one of surprise as if he didn’t know I was in the room. “I’ll call you when the first arrangements have been made.” He turned away again, his voice hushed. Why did I have the distinct feeling he was talking about me? “Just make certain you don’t double-cross me or my family. If you do, I’ll bring the wrath of your God down on you.”
Your God.
I didn’t like where this was going already.
He ended the call, taking the time to slide his phone into the pocket of his huge terrycloth robe. Then he rubbed his jaw, snickering before walking around from the other side of the pool. “You should get some exercise other than lifting weights.”
I laughed. “Am I here so you can coach me on my fitness regime?”
“You need to stay fit, especially now.”
“Meaning what?”
“Whatever the DEA has planned, I fear it’ll get physical.”
Physical. While the DEA often went off task, some of the men employed military trained, they were required to follow rules. That typically meant hands off while making arrests.
“Out with it, Pops. What do you know?”
“Nothing of value. Yet. However, there are rumblings on the street they’ve made a connection. No goddamn specifics. That’s what pisses me off.”
“Connections. To our organization?”
“Maybe. It’s possible Kostya had lost his touch.”
“I doubt that, Pops. He had no issue selling what’s left of his soul. I can handle the DEA. It’s the smaller cartels sniffing around that have me worried.” The Colombian Cartel were powerful, considered kings in several countries, but had yet to make an inroad into the eastern seaboard of the United States. It was only a matter of time. They’d upped their game with regards to weapons, their methods tactless. They couldn’t care less who they sold to, including children on the internet. I abhorred shitheads who were careless. Wars were always raging from one side of the law to the other but putting children in harm’s way was unforgivable.
“It’s something we need to watch. You may need to take a trip to Asia at some point. Talk to Kostya in person. The bottom line is that someone is trying to steal from us. That can’t happen.”
“Asia? Is that where he is?” The man certainly had an active travel schedule.
“For now. He’s doing a job for me.”
Theft was the one thing that made my father angrier than anything. Consequently, the way I handled thieves was just as savage.
“Perhaps I’ll invite Kostya to my island.” I grinned. We always met on neutral ground and Pops knew it. My fortress in the Maldives was private, although it offered several opportunities given the island’s location.
He huffed, walking closer. Something else was on his mind. “You have a spectacular place there. You made a good decision by purchasing it. I can imagine it’s very romantic.”
Romantic.
