Ultimate Vengeance (Wanted Men Book 4)(111)

The temperature in the room plummeted, but Alek ignored it and opened the door. All he could see was that blue ring around his daughter’s lips. He needed to replicate it around Reynard’s.

Vasily glared at him as he came over and slammed the door again. “From the beginning, Vincente.”

“Maks got a ‘tip.’ Thinks in a roundabout way it came from Sergei because it’s Reynard’s exact location. To be safe, we had a crew comb the area around the specified building to see if it’s a set up; they found nothing. Sweepers are inside now. Maks assumes Sergei is doing away with a loose end by giving us the maggot.” He turned to Alek. “He said to warn you they won’t be able to get into the apartment without alerting Reynard and causing him to bolt, so we’ll be going in blind. As of ten minutes ago, there were three women and three men inside, including Reynard.”

“That’s doable. Let’s go.”

“Who knows about this?” Vasily asked.

V made a circle with his finger to encompass them and Dmitri, who was standing off to the side, scowling like a fucker. “And Maks. He’d be here, but he was elbows deep in something with Micha—”

Vasily nodded. “I know where he is.”

V nodded and went quiet as Vasily slipped his hands into his pockets and started pacing, chin near his sternum, his brows down low. He ended up in front of Dmitri. “Tell me what you think.”

“I agree with Maksim. Sergei wants to be rid of his garbage, and he is giving him to us because deep down he knows Reynard deserves whatever it is we do to him. But I do not trust Sergei not to fuck with whoever shows up.”

“Me either. Would you consider going with them?”

Dmitri looked between Vasily and Alek a couple of times. “You know I love and respect you, Alek,” he said. “But not even for you will I leave my Pakhan open.”

Alek smiled over. “I know, brother.”

Vasily clapped his byki’s shoulder before coming back to Alek. “How badly do you want to make this personal? Because of the circumstances, I would feel better if you let me send in a torpedo.”

A torpedo was a contract killer. There were those who were known for their clean in-and-outs. Then there were others who would take their targets home and make the eventual demise something that was prayed for.

“I’ve known my daughter a week,” Alek said. “Reynard almost made it so that was all I got. That makes this so personal it’s obscene.”

Vasily gave a reluctant nod that was full of understanding, and it was he who opened the door and led them out to where Alesio was standing next to Vincente’s Kombat T98. When he saw them, Gabriel’s cousin tossed his smoke into the tin at the corner of the garage, kept there for that purpose.

Alesio, who was in his late twenties, was a Moretti right from his raven hair to his green eyes. He was closer to Stefano, Gabriel’s older brother, in height than Gabriel, which put him at a lithe six-one or two, and he’d been blessed with a rosy outlook on life that made him enjoyable to be around. That must drive Vincente crazy.

“Don’t take any souvenirs,” Vasily advised as he hugged Alek hard and pressed a kiss to each of his cheeks. “They only keep the memory fresh. Watch each other’s backs. Alesio, how are you, son?”

A round of brief hugs were exchanged. “Congratulations on the bambina. I hear she’s a beauty.”

The flame in Alek’s gut burned brighter as he nodded. “You heard correctly.”

“This is going to be an enjoyable trip.” Again, Alesio’s expression reminded Alek not of Gabriel but Stefano. “This fuckin’ guy has had it coming for a while now.”

“Couldn’t agree more.” Alek hopped into the truck with V, while Anton went up front.

Vincente tore a Velcro cover off the back of the driver’s seat and unzipped a hidden compartment. As he armed up, Alek rolled down the window.

“Call me,” Vasily repeated, proving he was anxious. “If Sergei is there, you bring him to me.”

“With a bow on his ass,” V promised as Alesio hit the gas and got them moving.



♦ ♦ ♦



Within the hour, Alek was standing in a third-floor apartment in Gravesend with two Baikov sixthes sitting at a kitchen table, their heads down, hands clasped on the back of their necks. The place reeked of weed.

It had been a near silent entry, the only sound coming when Anton had opened the door and Alesio had gone in first. The lookout had managed a “What the—” before Alesio had shut him up.

There were three women on the couch, all with their faces pressed into the back, all quiet. Alek had heard V tell them to stay on the level and they’d be free to leave in a few minutes. They’d interrupted the girls firing up their small pipes. Good thing, too, because the drugs had curbed their fear. In fact, Alek was pretty sure one of them had fallen asleep.