Ultimate Vengeance (Wanted Men Book 4)(17)

“I have heard this is a good way to gain the basics.”

“Then you’re halfway there.”

As pride sparked in Vasily’s chest at the man his nephew had become, they sat back so a waitress could deliver their drinks.

“Can I get you anything else?”

“We’re good, thanks.” Dmitri nodded at the pretty girl with inked arms holding the now-empty tray.

“Just wave if you change your mind. I’ll be close by.” She waited until he looked up before smiling, causing the piercing in her dimple to wink. Dmitri watched her ass go as she walked off but otherwise showed no sign of interest. She wasn’t intimidated by the harsh gray stare and ink climbing his thick neck to disappear into his dark cropped hair. Proof: When Dmitri lifted his glass, a piece of paper with a name and phone number scrawled on it fell into his lap.

Vasily was never sure how to view women like that. Good for them for taking charge and going after what they wanted? Or condemn them for not being the soft, feminine, you-do-the-chasing-because-you’re-the-man type he’d fallen so hard for all those years ago?

As they got down to business and the couple at the table was replaced by a new one four times over, the small place filled up. Which was good. It made the exchange of envelopes disappear in the hum and jostle of the crowd. Dmitri accepted a final payment from each of the men while Vasily and Alek insisted the young doctors go through their newly printed degrees and transcripts of records from a respected Ivy League college. It was equivalent to the same degrees they’d received from MSU—Moscow University—that weren’t recognized by a U. S. credential evaluation service.

After going through each of the medical researchers’ employment histories and experience, and their impressive academic accomplishments, the Tarasov’s private MD, Yuri Davidenko, had come to Vasily raging at the injustice of it. Vasily had put Maks and Alek on it. Now four gifted researchers were able to do the same work here as they’d been doing back home. Who knew, one of them might just be the man to rid the world of cancer or diabetes or muscular dystrophy. Wouldn’t it be a shame for them not to have the opportunity to try because of where they’d received their education?

By the time the fourth couple had offered their thanks for the fifth time, the muscles in Vasily’s neck had begun to tighten, and he and the boys said their goodbyes. It wasn’t a surprise to see the pretty waitress’s number left behind under an empty glass as they headed for the exit.

As they got in the car and aimed for Alek’s apartment, Vasily’s phone rang over the Bluetooth. Seeing Yuri’s number, he nodded for Dmitri to connect the call by pressing a button on the dash.

“Yuri.”

“I just saw the MD,” the gifted surgeon and Vasily’s long-time friend said in place of a greeting.

The “MD” would be Dr. Tegan Mancuso. A bright and bubbly girl who’d been a permanent fixture in Alek and his friends’ lives since their school days. Tegan had recently been drawn into their world and used to send a message to Maksim. She’d been assaulted, to an extent they still didn’t know and had refused to see anyone since. Vasily knew her loss was deeply felt. Maksim—who’d had the pleasure of taking out the degenerate who’d gone after her—was having a hell of a time with it. He would crack soon and go to her, Vasily knew. He just hoped the hothead didn’t push too hard too soon and drive the girl away for good.

“Do you mean Tegan?” Alek asked.

“Yes,” Yuri confirmed.

“Where did you see her? At the hospital?” Vasily guessed since Yuri had surgical privileges at Coney Island where Tegan worked in the Emergency Department.

“Yes. I came out of the operating room and went to the closest lounge. She was just leaving. I thought I would feel her out by making it so she could not ignore me. I stepped in front of her and asked for a moment.”

Vasily winced. “Really, Yuri? I’m sure that went over well.”

He chuckled. “After she leaped away to avoid touching me, she threatened my reproductive organs and ordered me to join my brethren around a brimstone hearth.”

They all found some humor in that, knowing Yuri had rephrased, but it didn’t last.

“Shit. That sounds so like her,” Alek murmured. “How is she?”

Yuri paused, and when he spoke, his voice was subdued. “I cannot say for sure, of course, but if you are asking for my professional opinion, I would say the girl was sexually assaulted. Her signals were not the same ones you see when dealing with Vincente’s woman. Tegan kept five feet between us, was hidden beneath a god awful disaster of a sweater, wore no makeup, had that beautiful hair of hers concealed beneath a wool hat that was much too warm to be wearing indoors. Her eyes were overly-watchful, she was jumpy, curled in around herself as though trying to hide her body. If she could have stripped herself of her gender, I am sure she would have. She simply did not want to be seen.”