Page 1 of Room One Hundred and Seven: Catch and Claim

CHAPTER 1

WOLFE

My hands are in fisted at my sides as I stand around the warehouse where I’m meeting with the men of the Volkov bratva along with the two men who have had my six for years. It started back when we were serving in the military, but we could have only been brothers in arms and nothing more. Looking back, I’m not entirely sure why Hendrix and Dominic became more than soldiers.

While we were close to everyone in our unit, it was different with Dominic and Hendrix. We became closer, more like brothers. I knew everyone we served with had my back, but the trust was even deeper with the men who I now considering my brothers.

I wasn’t surprised when they came to me and wanted to get out. Our contracts were coming due, and we had choices to make. I was grateful as fuck to find out I wasn’t the only one ready to try my hand at civilian life.

Fuck, I knew Hendrix was thirsty for it considering he served longer than Dominic and I had. The strain from his time under the command of others was written all over his face.

The only concern I had about getting out was something I know so many of my fellow soldiers had. What the fuck were wegoing to do with all the knowledge and skills we gained once we went back stateside and tried to reintegrate into society?

I had heard all the horror stories, it’s not like you can really avoid them. We knew shit could hit the fan and we might never find our footing again, always hunting for the brotherhood and the purpose being in uniform gave us for years.

Hendrix must have been able to read my damn mind that night years ago as sweat poured down our backs in the sandbox. He held my stare, dropped his voice, and murmured, “I know what you’re thinking. I’ve been all about this for a long fucking time. I’ve known some guys who go into the protection racket, and we could do that, but I think we’d do better becoming mercenaries for those who are more than willing to pay for our skills.”

I narrowed my eyes, “I’m not helping some piece of shit make the world a worse place than it already is.” I swept my hand out over the shit storm we had been working in, not knowing who we could trust beyond the men who were dropped here the same as us. “What would all this be for if that’s what we did when we got out?”

Hendrix smirked and shook his head before leaning back in the chair that looked like it was seconds away from crumbling under his massive frame. “You know me better than that.”

That was it. Those were the only words he offered as an explanation for his plan.

But the truth was that I did know him better than my fears about who we would take contracts from. Hell, I had put my ass on the line right next to him and never thought twice about him protecting my ass when shit went down, just like with Dominic. Just like they could rely on me.

When we got out, it didn’t take much for jobs to come our way. We picked and chose who we backed, who we saved, and who we made disappear without anyone knowing we were ever there.

On paper, considering the history of the men I fight alongside, working for the Volkov bratva, headed by Kirill and backed by his brother, Maxim, with Huck, and Baker rounding out the inner circle, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. But I know who Kirill took down in Seattle and I’d much rather have the Volkov guys running shit in the city over Anatoly Morozov.

That man was scum.

I’m glad Kirill killed him.

But nothing good happens without a cost. Kirill might have filled the empty space he created when it comes to whoever holds power in the city, but that doesn’t mean everyone is happy about it.

Morozov was on top for a long fucking time, and he didn’t hold his power in a vacuum. Then there is his son, who I suspect is behind the rats scurrying around the city and trying to find the holes in the hold Volkov has.

“After we exterminated the rat almost a year ago, I don’t doubt that the rumors I’m hearing on the streets are true,” Kirill adjusts the cuffs of his shirt, his suit jacket long since discarded after his workday ended hours ago.

That’s what happens when your work never really stops, and you have meetings in warehouses in the darkest part of the night.

He still looks pristine and even though the subject matter leaves a fucking lot to be desired, and would cause most mento feel stressed, he looks unbothered and without a wrinkle in sight. It pays to be at the top.

Hendrix shrugs one shoulder, used to be the mouthpiece for our trio. “Of course the rumors are true. We’ve been tracking a few men. It started out with an enforcer and a corner drug dealer, but we’ve moved up at least one rung. If we watch them long enough, they’ll lead us to Mikhail and his base of operations for his petty, bullshit vendetta.”

Kirill sneers when Morozov’s name comes up. “I’m not worried about Mikhail and his hurt feelings. For some, losing a parent is tragic, but I did him a favor.”

“I’m sure he’ll be sending you a fruit basket any day now,” I tease with a smirk.

Baker looks at me and grins.

There are times when I look at my younger brother and know, without a doubt, that he found the place he was always meant to be. It could have been me just as easily as it is him. I grew up with Kirill and Maxim the same way Baker and Huck did. Life took me in another direction, one I’m glad I took. I’ve never questioned how or why Baker took his path—it was his alone to walk and I’m just glad that my skills have kept him safe.

Well, as safe as someone who stands next to one of the most powerful and dangerous men in Seattle can be.

“I get the feeling it won’t be long before Mikhail makes some sort of move,” Maxim grumbles the words, clearly not happy about them, but not holding them back either.

Dominic, the quietest amongst us, tilts his head to the side and grunts.

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