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I suspected he’d murdered Stephanie’s parents, then her sister Sarah in his vengeance against the world for whatever horrors he’d endured over the years.
As I stared into the man’s eyes, I could tell there was no conscience left in Misha, no sense of humanity. He’d turned into a brutal killer in order to survive. Whatever reason why Misha had sought another wave of retaliation against my family no longer mattered. I had a choice to make. Either him or the woman I’d fallen in love with.
“You have one chance to drop the weapon and live. One. I don’t give second chances.”
“Neither did our father. You have everything. I was left with nothing, my life stripped away. Be careful, baby brother, that you won’t fall prey to his greed.” He had a faraway look in his eyes as if for one moment, the boy my parents had raised had breached the surface.
Then it was gone in an instant.
My father had always reminded me that blood was thicker than water and that when required to choose between the two, the answer should be easy.
Blood.
But on this day, the blood that coursed through my veins felt toxic.
The moment he shifted his hand a few centimeters, I made my choice.
Pop! Pop!
* * *
Ten days later
“Good to see you, Commissioner Worthington,” I said as I shook his hand. The smile on my face was genuine, but it had nothing to do with the police commissioner gracing me with his presence at the casino opening.
“Casino Royale. An original name,” he jested as he peered around one of several private casino rooms. The evening’s events were by invitation only, including several members of law enforcement, various politicians as well as corporate moguls and Hollywood actors.
Although of the one thousand people on the guest list, many provided with one of our luxurious hotel suites, twenty of the most prominent New York City citizens had neither confirmed nor declined.
Perhaps because they were facing criminal charges as well as attempting to quiet the firestorm that had surfaced in the press over the last few days. That included the illustrious mayor. I’d pushed back the grand opening given the required repairs as well as my need to finish rounding up the few remaining soldiers loyal to Volkov. While that didn’t mean more wouldn’t surface in the future, at least it would appear our Bratva had full control over the Big Apple.
Dozens of lives had been lost, but a war had been prevented.
Still, I knew the timebomb was still ticking.
“I believe it suits the casino’s environment, Commissioner. I do want my guests to receive the royal treatment.”
He laughed, his loud voice booming across the crowded casino floor.
He lifted his glass of scotch, the brand one I’d had flown in especially for him. Would it be considered greasing his palm? Perhaps to some, but in my mind, I was only playing him, ascertaining his plans for the future. While I knew it was only a matter of time before we were sparring again, it would take him significant time to clean up the aftermath of what Stephanie had discovered on the jump drives.
While my instincts had been right about Gregory, the man crossing the line to the other side of the law, his gut had told him to document every misdeed, every thrown prosecution case, and every act of extortion he’d been involved with.
From what Stephanie had told me, the group had been developed almost fifteen years before with the purpose of eradicating organized crime. While law abiding methods might have been used in the beginning, more recently they’d used any method necessary to rid the world of the people they called scum.
But they hadn’t stopped there, extorting money and using blackmail against other establishments. Their greed had been their undoing. Then one of them had made the mistake to get into bed with Volkov. He’d learned of the organization, using that knowledge to his benefit. Then Volkov had threatened to have them exposed. Sadly, I was forced to give them all credit for their accomplishments.
However, they’d miscalculated my family’s resolve and our power. Now everything was crumbling around them.
Perhaps in stealing the five million dollars from the organization Gregory had tagged the ‘Black Cabal,’ he’d been determined to return to the righteous side of the law. Now, we would never know, nor did I care at this point. While he hadn’t been directly responsible for the Ghost’s escape, he’d provided details to certain members of Volkov’s organization regarding the prison, enabling the Russian’s soldiers to allow the break to occur without a hitch.
“Congratulations on being exonerated from killing Gregory Hampton,” he continued. “It would seem you’re impervious to the law, my friend.”
Friend. I almost laughed. My attention was draw away as Stephanie entered the room, my cock immediately hardening. She was by far the most exquisite beauty in the entire city.
“Yes, Commissioner. But you know, truth always comes to the surface.” I gave him a polite nod as I lifted my glass. “Please enjoy your evening.” He knew he was being dismissed, the curt look on his face allowing me a few seconds of satisfaction.
As Kirill and Sevastian flanked my side, I sighed. There was always business to handle.
