Page 2 of Room One Hundred and Seven: Catch and Claim

I know what the sounds means—he’s putting his money on Volkov, without a doubt. I smirk at him and nod my head in agreement. I’d put my money on Volkov any day of the week. We don’t back just anyone, and the work Kirill has done, while not all of it legal, means the city is safer. At least for the average citizen.

Morozov and the gritty depravity he was bringing into the city had a ripple effect that was difficult to watch. I came up against it for the first time ten years ago when we took down one of Morozov’s trafficking rings. That’s how we crossed paths with the Devil’s Saints Motorcycle Club; they’re badass in their own right, but taking down a trafficking ring was beyond their skill set.

One of their prospects, who is now a patched member with the road name Monk, had a sister who was taken. She was found the night we raided a warehouse, but she was never the same again. I can only hope that taking her own life gave her the peace she was looking for.

A pair of wide, terrified slate blue eyes of one of the women we rescued that night flash in my mind. She was 18 back then and it was clear she had been held for a while given the state she was in. I didn’t understand it then, but something broke in me when our gazes clashed.

The horrors she experienced didn’t diminish the strength I saw in her eyes though. In that moment, I knew she was a warrior. Kirby Lawsen has been a thorn in my side ever fucking since.

I’ve kept up with her, watched her from afar and tracked her movements. Keeping tabs on her is the only thing I’ve ever kept from my brothers.

I could lie and say I don’t know why I haven’t said anything to them, but there’s no reason to. She needed to heal and take back control of her life after being taken. We weren’t ready to deal with what she is to us. I wasn’t the only one captivated by Kirby that night. Hendrix and Dominic were right there with me, even if we’ve never talked about it.

I’m not sure she would have allowed us to get close to her either. And I wouldn’t have blamed her for it.

Then there are the demons we were fighting for ourselves ten years ago. While it didn’t take us long to establish ourselves as mercs for hire, it felt like we were still finding sand in very uncomfortable corners of our mind after spending so much time in the military.

I’m not sure if the demons riding on our backs will ever go away, but I do know what the itchy feeling under my skin means.

Change is coming.

With a glance at Baker, I hope that after the dust clears in Seattle, my brother is still standing tall next to the men he’s aligned himself with. I don’t resent him for it. How the hell could I, when I’ve done the same thing he has?

He’s surrounded by men he thinks of as brothers. He would take a bullet for them, and they would do the same for him. Can I ask for anything more than that? I sure as fuck can’t stand in front of my brother and tell him not to be the man he is supposed to be.

“Penance hasn’t been able to dig up any more actionable intelligence,” Maxim drawls without a hint of derision in his tone.

We knew, when Kirill asked us to come back to the city and settle in for a while, we were going to be playing the long game. Mikhail has had time to plan his rise to power. More than likely it’ll be explosive and fucking bloody.

Hendrix’s wide grin tells me he’s expecting the same damn thing. I chuckle softly, adrenaline threatening to pump through my veins with the promise of violence and victory. As much as I’ve enjoyed being in Seattle and near my brother, the almost five months we’ve spent here is the longest time we’ve been in one place for years.

Maybe I’m just itching to keep moving and that’s what this rush is.

Maybe it’s something else entirely.

Kirby flashes in my mind and I wonder what she’s doing right now. She’s spent years traveling across the globe but has stayed mostly in the states. Knowing that she’s been making a name for herself as a dominatrix makes me want to track her down, throw her over my shoulder, and then hold her in a tower where no one else can get to her.

It’s not like I can’t understand why she’s made the choices she has—I understand all too well. If being a dominatrix gives her a sense of control over her sexuality, something that was ripped away from her, then I can’t find it in me to judge her choices.

From the reports I’ve gotten, her business isn’t exactly based on sex either. It’s about control—her need to exert it and the man’s need to give it up.

One day, our paths will cross again. When it happens, I know I won’t be the only one wanting to claim her and give her the safety I have zero doubt that she’s been searching for since she was taken ten years ago.

“We’ll keep in contact with Penance and continue to work our contacts,” Hendrix assures him.

“Good.” Kirill gives a nod. “We have some big deals coming up soon. If someone want to undermine our position, it would be a good time to try some shit.”

Maxim shrugs one shoulder and smirks. “It’s what I would do,” he agrees with his older brother.

“We’ll be ready,” Huck promises.

I know he’s not just talking about Kirill, Maxim, Baker, and himself. He’s including us in the equation. Which he should because there is no fucking way that we’re going to allow Mikhail or anyone else to upset the balance Kirill has forced on the city.

“What about Amato?” Dominic throws the question out; one I’ve been thinking for a while.

Amato is the Italian Don in the city. He’s not one to be trifled with. Thankfully, he hated Morozov and was not at all upset to see him taken out.

“Angelo is not a problem,” Kirill’s voice is full of confidence. “We have an agreement and an understanding. The lines between our territories are clearly defined. He won’t step over his and I won’t step over mine.”

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