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“Good. This shit needs to end quickly.” I took my time leaving the room, a few of the memories of what my father had told both Sevastian and me about the experience in Russia all those years ago. He’d never lamented or expounded other than allowing us to comprehend basic details to help us understand the importance of family. I’d seen the horror in his eyes more than once, the pain in my mother’s as well. What they’d endured had been horrific.
I’d never wasted the time to learn more. My life was here, not in a country that meant nothing to me. Had I suspected the past would return to haunt us, different decisions would have been made.
As I walked into my office, my father’s face was pensive, my brother’s as well.
Sevastian turned toward me first, shaking his head. “Word on the street is that there is a group of Russians within the city who are likely offering assistance to Sergei, providing information as to our whereabouts and businesses.”
“I thought they’d been annihilated months ago.” There were always rogue groups of individuals making an alliance with the smaller mafia organizations and cartels that continuously ran drugs and other merchandise up and down the East Coast. It had never meant anything other than an annoyance, the few uproars easily driven into the dust. Somehow, I had a feeling what we were facing had taken the threat level up a notch.
“Evidently not all of them.”
“What are the Italians saying?” I barked, still uncertain the alliance between our two families with the marriage of Sevastian and Giada Vincheti had been wise. While there’d yet to be any signs of betrayal, I didn’t trust the bastards or their treacherous methods.
“They’ve offered assistance to track down the Ghost.”
“We don’t even know for certain what he looks like.” I noticed my father shaking his head, the movement almost undetectable.
“Someone will talk,” Sevastian insisted.
“Or many will die first,” I answered. “It would seem Pavel Volkov has been resurrected from the dead, Pops. Perhaps he’s the actual Ghost.”
If I expected a shocked reaction from my father upon hearing the news, I wasn’t afforded that luxury. He huffed once, his eyes never blinking as he stared out the window into the waning light.
“The bastard who imprisoned you?” Sevastian asked him. My father nodded, as if that was enough of an answer.
“When did you know Volkov was alive?”
Our father finally turned to face us. While he still wore no expression, I was surprised at the darkness in his eyes, soulless, as if he was remembering the treachery and the anguish.
“It was suspected not long after the report was issued of his sudden demise. However, it was only confirmed a few years ago.” His answer seemed practiced, which wasn’t like my father, the man an emotional rollercoaster at times.
“And you just told us this?” Sevastian demanded.
“There was no need for you to know. I certainly didn’t anticipate the man to attempt to bring his form of savagery to the States.” Our father finally snarled with anger, his nostrils flaring.
“That’s why Viktor left Russia two years ago. Isn’t it?”
At least my question finally caused a small amount of surprise. He seemed resigned, planting his hands on my desk, leaning over. “Yes, Alexei. That is why. I refused to risk having your brother targeted just because he shares my name.”
I laughed softly as Sevastian and I stared at each other. “From what Kostya just told me, Volkov is eager to eliminate our entire family. We need to remain on high alert.”
“Including every business operating under our regime,” Sevastian added. “I’ve already dispatched my soldiers to keep the various properties surrounded. If Sergei Politoff dares show his face in New York, he will be exterminated. Do you have any idea how the bastard managed to get out?”
“Gregory Hampton,” my father said.
“How would you know?” I studied him carefully after asking the question. What the hell was the man keeping from us?
“I don’t know for certain, Alexei, but Gregory was a broken man ripe to be persuaded into doing unspeakable things. I’m not telling you something you don’t already know.”
“You’re right, Pops. I plan on handling that particular issue personally after I leave here.”
“Don’t do anything stupid, son.”
“I don’t plan on it. I’m curious, Pops, on your thoughts why Volkov wanted the Ghost freed.”
The silence and tension weren’t unusual either, but the way my father’s shoulders slumped remained troubling. “I wish I knew, Alexei,” he muttered. “He needs to be found.”
“He needs to be killed like he should have been years ago,” Sevastian huffed. I waved my hand at my brother to stop his harassment. At this point, whatever secret our father was hiding had everything to do with the torture he received long ago.
