Page 20 of Trapping His Assassin

I was fading fast, but they needed to know what our best course of action would be. I was handed the phone to type them.

“We need to apprehend the shooter, and get as much information out of them as possible before killing them. If we go in half-cocked and blind, we will fail. Benedikt, reach out to my network, I want this bastard’s name before the end of day.”

I handed the phone to Great Uncle Benedikt before lying my head back on the pillow, slightly tuning out of the conversation from the pain. I wanted to take more meds, but I needed to get ready to hunt this killer down. No one took out a Petrov, nor had they ever tried. Not in the entirety of the war.

Some things weren’t done.

“Well, now I understand why Alexie found you so important he brought you into our family.” His eyes sheened. “If I had a son, I would want him to be like you. I’m on it. I’ll get you a name.”

My eyes blinked in surprise. I was unused to getting compliments. I could see the pain stemming from Benedikt’s eyes, but it wasn’t my business to pry. If it had to do with The Brotherhood, I would know about it already. His secrets were his own, as long as they didn’t stop business.

“I’m grateful my overly cautious brother had the foresight to make sure your tracking device monitors your vitals,” Viktor said with a drawl.

Like he wasn’t as psychopathic as his brother. Rumors reached the States on the wild things he did with Tiffany. How he became such a strong influential force in Russia. No longer was he the lowest on the totem pole. His wall of faces was legendary across the globe.

I signed to my great uncle that I wanted to leave as soon as possible. The hunt was on, and time was getting away from us the longer I stayed resting. I’d been shot before. This was nothing.

Benedikt stared at me. “The doctor said to rest.”

I shrugged. A pang hit my chest at the caring way my great uncle spoke to me. It had been a long time since someone treated me like family that wasn’t Alexie. I did not need to rest. My little national empire of information couldn’t go one day without me before collapsing in on its infrastructure.

Benedict shook his head and corrected himself. “You’re right, when have we not walked around with open wounds? Roman is not a child. We leave in the morning.”

Viktor, still on the phone, doled out our orders. “You'll begin your search tomorrow, and soon enough I’ll have the foolish man who dared to come after The Brotherhood.”

Not good enough, Benedikt had his orders and he would get me that name. It was top priority. I tuned out as Benedikt and Viktor spoke in low tones for a while after that, because I was too exhausted. Instead, I rested. I didn’t fall asleep, unwilling to subject myself to the nightmares. I slowed my breathing to clear my mind, but it was in vain.

The doctor’s white coat rustled as he stepped into my hospital room, carrying a tray with a needle and medication. I winced as the prick of the needle pierced my IV line, the medication burning slightly as it entered the vein. Benedikt sat in the corner, his eyes filled with worry and fear. I met his gaze and tried to convey my message through a silent warning: If he left me here alone, there would be serious consequences.

He nodded.

When we found and tortured the assassin, I would show no mercy. Don Ricci was a crazed old man who needed to be put down, but Viktor didn’t want any further bloodshed. He truly believed that we could solve this amicably.

We could when Don Ricci croaked.

Once we got Don Ricci out of the way, and replaced him with someone who represented the values of the currentBrotherhood. Viktor had gutted the entire organization. He’d gotten rid of antiquated practices. Now, the soldiers were paid better and had stronger loyalty.

And the women were alive. Not that anyone had taken a wife or lover after the Sloane debacle except Viktor. The men relied on whores to relieve their ache, and the soldiers weren’t bothered with what the leaders of the organization did.

Which was why expanding now would be a good time. But we couldn’t do that if there was a war on the precipice. Old war versus new would fight to the death. Allies would turn traitors. Blood would run through the streets.

No, a war wasn’t something we needed. Especially one that started because of Alexie fucking Petrov’s cock. Three hours later, I received a text message with just a name like I’d ordered.

Benedikt: Valentina Ricci

CHAPTER SEVEN

Valentina

They’d found me.

I couldn’t go back to Don Ricci’s compound. He was irate enough at me as it was. I’d gotten a small motel room. It wasn’t the best, but I’d slept in worse places. I’d picked up an order of Chinese food, to wallow in my failure, when the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

Someone was following me.

I hadn’t been able to locate Roman Petrov, and neither had Don Ricci. It made the Don abusive, as he spewed more vitriol at me. He was never going to give me my freedom, and I couldn’t trust the old man. That was the only thing our meetings had taught me.

As I approached my motel room, I had a feeling that someone was waiting for me inside. The ‘do not disturb’ sign was hanging on the door handle, positioned in such a way that it would easily fall off if anyone tried to enter.

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