Ultimate Vengeance (Wanted Men Book 4)(122)

“How can I help you?” she asked, not sure what to do for him.

He said nothing. He simply took her hands and placed them together so he could press them over his heart as he’d always done. His arm slid around her waist again to pull her tight against his big body, and as his tears fell, his emotion over the loss of his friend uncontainable, he danced with her.



♦ ♦ ♦



After another sleepless night, this one so much worse than the ones of late, Vasily inhaled the comforting scent of candles and wood polish and left Dmitri just inside the doors to walk down the center aisle at St. Luke’s. Father Michael was seated in the front pew, his face turned up, shoulders square. His head came around when Vasily was a few feet away.

“Mr. Tarasov.” The kid who’d grown up with the boys and had been known as Mikey rose with a peaceful air about him only a man of God was lucky enough to have. “How are you?”

“Not very well, I’m afraid. And it’s Vasily. Please.”

He nodded. “Vasily.” He invited him to sit. “I heard what happened. Lucian came to see me last night.” They exchanged a look that said it all.

“I won’t keep you. Aside from wanting to know about the visitation and service, I was curious if Sergei Pivchenko had been to see you?”

This was a shot in the dark, but remembering the religious man Sergei used to be when he and Renee had first come from Russia, Vasily had to try. If his sister’s son was attempting to ease his guilt through Lorenzo’s brother, then all they had to do was remain in the neighborhood and intercept him the next time he dared show his face.

“The visitation is tonight at seven; the funeral tomorrow at eleven. And, no, I’m afraid your nephew has not been here.”

Vasily frowned. “Tonight and tomorrow. Lucian didn’t want the day?”

Father Michael shook his head. “No. He definitely did not want the day.”

Vasily put off thinking about that. “If Sergei turns up, and you feel the need to let someone know, I would very much appreciate if that someone was not your brother. Forgive me for coming to you with this and putting you in an awkward position, but there are exceptional circumstances that force me to disregard courtesy and invade your sanctuary.”

Vasily couldn’t imagine what secrets were revealed behind the wall in the confession chamber to their left, but the handsome kid just continued to observe him with that calm demeanor, nodding every few seconds. “You haven’t made things awkward, Vasily,” he assured.

“Thank you. And just so we’re clear,” he felt obligated to add. “I am implying no threat. I would simply like to deal with—”

“Vasily?”

He turned to find the elusive Dr. Tegan Mancuso coming up the aisle with Detective Russo at her side. Lorenzo looked as he always did; serious. Tegan looked like a different girl; troubled. Her blue eyes were no longer bright with mischief but shadowed with anxiety.

Vasily stood and came around. “Tegan. How are you?” He dropped a kiss to her forehead in the same way he’d always done even though he wasn’t sure what the protocol was for assault victims. She didn’t slug him, so he supposed the sign of affection was acceptable.

“I’m surprised to see you here.” Little flashes of alarm were going off in the back of her eyes. She assumed he was here about one of the boys.

He let her worry for a moment and greeted the priest’s brother. “Lorenzo. How are you, son?” They shook as Tegan moved around them to give Father Michael a hug.

“Getting by,” Lore said, his features tight. “You here about Markus?”

“Markus,” Tegan said, looking between them. “What about Markus?”

“He was killed yesterday. Shot in the parking garage at TarMor.” Vasily’s delivery of the news was deliberately harsh in the hopes that he would rattle her cage. She didn’t have to come to her senses today. But the sooner she realized the boys she loved could be taken from her at the drop of a hat, the better. They needed her in their lives, and she needed them.

She grasped the side of the pew, squeezing the fragrant wood. “Oh, my God,” she whispered. Then looked contritely at Father Michael. “Sorry. Oh, my gosh,” she corrected before shooting a disbelieving stare at Lore. “You knew? Why didn’t you tell me?” She didn’t wait for an answer before she was asking Vasily, “How is Lucian? Oh, my gosh…Gabriel and Alek. They must be devastated. And Eva? She and Markus were growing so close. Oh, no…”

“They’re all having a tough time. Alek especially since the police think the shooter might have been targeting him but got Markus instead.” For once, he was glad the authorities were involved, if only so he could speak freely of the incident in front of Lorenzo.