Ultimate Vengeance (Wanted Men Book 4)(101)

Rising from his squat, he went to his desk and opened the top folder to show a photo of Kathryn and Eva’s house in Seattle. “Not a word,” he warned as he hit the speaker phone and dialed a number. “Dmitri, have Leo and Nestor move in to block the exits. They are not to let Sergei or Reynard leave unless they hear back from you personally.”

Alek shoved his chair back and got to his feet, his expression vicious. “What the fuck is this? You can’t seriously think he has anything to do with what’s been going on. You think he was planting shit in that video? Maybe they were sweeping.”

Vincente got up and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Alek. “It’s not just the warehouse he’s going on.” There was an apologetic note in his voice that made Vasily sick because it meant Vincente was already convinced of Sergei and Reynard’s guilt.

“Not a word,” he repeated, meeting his nephew’s eyes as his sister’s son picked up the call.

That’s when Vasily slid into that place of suspension he went to when having to perform unpleasant tasks. There was nothing to get in the way of what needed to be done. He merely functioned.

“Hello.”

“Sergei. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“No. I was up.”

“Good. I wanted to talk to you about Alek if you have a moment.”

There was a slight hesitation. “Sure.” Empty tone.

Vasily’s heart started to beat a little faster, and he knew then remaining detached from this one would be next to impossible. “Maksim told me you were there to offer a hand last night at Sacha’s place. Did you by any chance meet Alek’s daughter?”

“No. I was not there long enough to do much of anything. Maks sent Reynard and me to the warehouse.”

“Oh, that’s too bad. She’s quite a little beauty. It will be nice having her around to bring some light into our world.” He couldn’t hide his wince as he lowered himself into his chair. Never had he been so deliberately cruel. “Tell me your thoughts on Alek bringing his family home.”

“My honest thoughts?” Sergei asked with a noticeable difference in his tone. It was harder. Less controlled. Which had been the point of the cruelty.

“Yes, of course. Why would I be interested in bullshit?”

“He should have left them the fuck alone. That is my honest thought.”

A new tension entered the room as the boys took offense to that. “After seeing him struggle through this past year, do you not think he has the right to this happiness?” Vasily asked.

Sergei snorted. “Alek being lonely would be my choice over him bringing them into this.”

Vasily set aside the urge he felt to climb though the connection and slap the shit out of this man who had fooled them all. He made his voice even. “I’m afraid I don’t agree.”

“Of course, you don’t. You want him happy, and that’s understandable,” Sergei said unexpectedly. “But how happy will you both be when the day comes where he can put their pretty heads on his mantle? Tell me, how fucking happy will he be staring longingly at Sacha and his daughter on those cold winter nights when the nightmares make it impossible for him to sleep?”

A low sound came from Vincente, causing Vasily to look over. As his gaze quickly skipped around the faces, he saw the same thing he was feeling. Confusion. Indecision. No one knew which way to lean here. Did they keep their fingers on the trigger because Sergei was likely the one responsible for the losses they’d suffered? Or did they lower their weapons because they had no choice but to acknowledge why he may have done what he had?

But to them? To his brothers? His family? Was it possible to overlook such a betrayal?

When their criminal culture could be traced back to the Tsarist era, even though it wasn’t until the 20s and 30s that the Vory had established themselves as a distinct group, there was a lot of history. Which meant there were many cases of backstabbing sons, disloyal brothers, turncoat cousins and nephews. Why had Vasily never entertained the thought that he might one day have one in his own Bratva?

His heartbeat accelerated even more. “I also understand your view on the subject so we’ll close it. Just one more thing before we do; I’m sure there will be a wedding in our future, and on the off chance Alek doesn’t want to remain here with his family, I would like to be prepared. Would you mind accompanying me to look at some homes in the area? You’d know better what would be suitable for young children.” He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed at the ache in his chest. “If things go as planned, having something ready might be a nice wedding gift.”