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“Thank you for assisting me,” he says the second the door closes.
“Of course. Tell me what the problem is.” He couldn’t tell me over the phone, which meant that he was worried someonewas listening in. Although no one can hear my calls, I wonder if someone is tapping his work or his home.
He swallows roughly before taking a bottle of vodka and pouring himself a drink. He finally points the bottle to me, offering me one. I wave him off because I just want answers. “Several days ago, I had three of my girls in the club go missing, and I haven’t been able to locate them using my resources. Then, I received a ransom for them. They demanded that you deliver the money personally.”
“Me?” Since when is the heir of the Semyonov family needed to deliver a ransom? A sinking feeling hits in the pit of my stomach, and no doubt a name pops in my head of who would dare make such an outlandish request.
“Yes. I’m not sure why you, but it’s in the request.”
“Who the fuck has the balls to make such a request?” I challenge my long-time friend.
“I don’t know what the hell the Italians are doing here, but his name is Nico Fratelli. War isn’t my business, and you know I pay people to handle my problems, so I don’t know why he’s fucking with my people and involving you. He’s got brass balls for sure.”
“Fuck. That bastard again. I’ll deal with him.”
He tilts his head and sets the bottle down after pouring another drink. “You know him?”
“I sure do, and he has it out for me as well as some other Russians. Since you have dealings with many of us, you’re collateral damage in this.”
“Fuck. I don’t have time for this. I’m a businessman, and I don’t get my hands dirty.” I look around this place and think he sure as fuck gets his other parts dirty. Frankly, I’d prefer dirty hands.
“I’ll deal with him. Make the call and set up the exchange, but know this—he has other motives. He wants me dead and much more.” He wants to destroy everything around me, including the most precious thing to me.
“Should I say you were too busy to meet with me today and give it time?” It’s a sweet sentiment, but I’m not sure Anatoly is aware of how men like Fratelli or myself operate. We don’t give requests without being prepared for those to defy them. Hell, I’ll smell a trap waiting for me the second I head in to drop the ransom off.
“No, he’s probably got you tapped and scoped out.” Fucking hell, I need to get ahold of my father who will help me deal with these assholes, and I need to ensure that Drago has eyes on Natalya completely. He wants revenge on all of us Russians. “Make the call.”
My phones are untraceable, so I send my father a message.
Fratelli wants me to exchange hostages for cash.
It’s a setup, son. You shouldn’t do it.
It’s for Anatoly. We need to nail Fratelli before he comes after Natalya again.
We’ll get him. Are you at the club or his estate?
The club.
Use someone else’s phone and we’ll track it. I don’t trust this prick, but he’s not going to get you. I’ll slice him from head to toe before I let him take you.
Okay. I got it.
I send over the information and then wait for orders. Until then, we need to get to a secure location where we can hide out and plan. I send another message to tell him to alert Drago as well so that my love gets all the protection she needs.
We head outside through a private exit, believing the coast is clear, but we’ve been betrayed. Anatoly and I are on our way out to the vehicle when we’re ambushed. I don’t make it five feet before shots fly. The night is lit up with muzzle fire. My men are prepared, but it’s too late because I’ve already been hit. Still, I drag Anatoly behind me as he scrambles for cover.
Unlike me, he is a pacifist. He owns businesses with his father, and this is just one of his many companies, so he’s not prepared for this. “Fuck,” he groans, and I see that he’s been hit too.
I whip out my guns and go full bore at the bastards and unload until I drop them. We finally end the chaos, but the damage has been done. Slowly I try to stand, but the pain in my side and my leg makes it difficult. Eventually, I push past it and then survey the parking lot. There are bullet holes everywhere and bodies on the ground. There is one body that I’m looking for, but the bastard has disappeared.
Fuck. I saw him in my crosshairs, but the fucker played dirty and had someone cover for him as he darted into a running vehicle. I call my father right away, because fuck the medics. Someone else will call for them. “Pop, we didn’t even make it out of the club lot. Anatoly and I need a doctor fast.”
“We’re on our way, son. Stay fucking strong.” I hear the strength and panic in his voice. I wrap my leg, which thankfully isn’t a dangerous shot, but the one to the gut definitely did some damage. Needing to check on Anatoly, I see his men going to his aid. His arm wound looks pretty clean, but the color on his face worries me. He’s paler than usual.
“How are you, my friend?” I ask him.
“I want that motherfucker buried. Tell me he’s one of the bodies on the ground,” he says. I forget that he hasn’t seen the bastard before.
