AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Alexei was damn good with business opportunities, his usual charisma and good looks opening doors for him and adding to the family’s reputation. He also had a mind for sensing traitors, but I continued to have my doubts regarding the superintendent of the project. Being placed in a level of control, he’d been given access to almost every aspect of the business surrounding the project. I’d seen him on several others over the years. Alexei trusted him, the man’s loyalty challenged on several occasions.
However, I’d learned a long time ago that often betrayal occurred because of a personal vendetta or an inability to curb a dark proclivity. I glared at the glass, realizing breaking my own rules was the first step down that path. It was usually about liquor, women, or gambling.
I’d made enough connections over the years to develop a network of my own, able to obtain almost any information I desired on everyone from enemies to corporate moguls. If they had a footprint, I could find them, tracing their actions over a course of time.
I sat back, beginning the search. There had to be something.
When I looked at my watch, I shook my head. Two hours had gone by. During that time, what had I found of value? Nothing. Jeff Parker was clean as a whistle. That didn’t sit well with me.
I shifted to the employee files for the casino site, flipping through the names. Finding the name of the second person who’d been in the trailer would take time, including searching through the pictures of the employee files. It was time Alexei and I had a private conversation. At this point, a phone call wasn’t enough.
Before I had a chance to head into my room to change, Dimitre called.
“What?” I barked as I walked out of the room.
“You’re not going to like this,” he answered.
* * *
Light was shifting over the horizon by the time I arrived at Alexei’s residence. He’d remained in the city, his preference for the party life likely the reason. The condo was equally as secure as any other facility, no one gaining entrance without being approved.
“Can I help you, sir?” the guard asked as he moved to his feet.
“Alexei Kozlov. Now.”
“Sir. Do you know what time it is?”
I pulled out my weapon, reaching across the desk and grabbing him by the throat. “Does it look like I give a shit?”
“Na… No, sir. I’ll call him. Okay?”
Hissing, I kept my hold, squeezing until his face turned the same shade of rose that Candy’s had earlier. I wanted to hurt somebody. When I let him go, he stumbled backward, his body shaking.
But he immediately reached for his phone.
I shoved my weapon back into my jacket, trying to take several deep breaths. Getting control was important, but I wanted blood. I could hear the fucker mumbling behind me, likely tipping off Alexei that a deranged man was in the lobby. Well, it was past time Alexei knew I was done with taking his shit.
Waiting while the well-trained guard made the call increased my agitation.
When the guard finally ended the call, he merely nodded toward the bank of elevators. He knew better than to open his mouth. As I stepped inside, I shoved my hands into my pockets, thinking about Dimitre’s call.
He’d confirmed that Michael Walsh had been invited to Vladimir’s party. The Russian patriarch had always found the best way to deal with his enemies was to provide a sense of what they’d be missing if they continued in their treacherous activities.
The party was no exception.
Over the years, I’d been to two of them before growing bored. I’d witnessed several deals made and others cut to shreds, relationships ending both eloquently and brutally.
However, it was widely known that declining the invitation would mean additional difficulties. Loved ones vanishing. Business arrangements failing. Promotions stalled. It wasn’t beneath Vladimir to use whatever necessary in order to get what he wanted.
Alexei was a carbon copy of his father, his chaotic but brilliant methods of providing pain to his enemies creating a reputation that was as savage as mine.
Only we were entirely different.
The other reason for his late-night call had caused me to nearly jump off the deep end. I took several deep breaths, just as impatient for the elevator door to open.
I trusted few people in this world. That had been an early lesson taught by Vladimir. It had stayed with me, including aspects about my private life. There were four people who knew that Candy had been moved under my protection. All of them I trusted without question.
That included Dimitre. No matter his loyalty for the family or his love of the only Kozlov daughter, he would never betray my trust.
When the elevator finally pinged, I pushed the doors open myself, taking long strides as I moved down the hallway. As expected, I didn’t need to pound on the door. As soon as Alexei yanked it open, I threw a hard punch to his jaw, the force pitching him backward and to the floor. After slamming the door, I yanked my weapon into my hand, pointing it toward his head.
“It’s time for you and me to have a discussion.”
