Page 25 of Kings of Violence

Well, well. That voice, I do recognize. Silvano Cresci, head of the Cresci Family. We’d dismissed him when he’d first taken over last year, but he’d somehow managed to absorb all of the Winters Gang—and gain the loyalty of Kyran Winters—in the subsequent months.

Of course, that was around the same time Petrov got arrested. I’m not feeling particularly friendly toward the Crescis.

There’s a pause before Cresci continues, his voice tinny as though he’s put himself on speaker as well, “Voronkov. It seems you’ve been busy while I was out of town.”

“Was I?” I shake my head in amusement, though they can’t see it. “I’ve been tying up some loose ends, but I don’t see how that’s any of your business, Cresci.”

“Give me the goddamn—” Winters’ voice, but he’s almost immediately hushed.

It’s interesting. From what I understand of Kyran Winters, he’s not the type to let himself be chastised and shushed so easily, but he stops talking immediately.

“It’s my business when you kidnap one of my family members,” Cresci says. “I won’t waste either of our time by hedging around. Tell me what you want in exchange for her.”

I burst out laughing. “You think you can get her back that easily?”

“It would be nice.” Cresci whispers something I can’t discern before continuing, “Sierra Winters is worth nothing to you. If you want weapons, contacts, territory?—”

“Fuck off,” I interrupt. I pick up my phone and send a text to Nikolai. “I am keeping Sierra Winters. My men and I, we’ve taken a liking to her. She’s a nice little spitfire.”

“Taken a liking?” Winters sputters, the rage palpable in those few words. “If you’ve so much as touched her, I will rip your fucking balls off with my bare hands, Voronkov.”

“Guess you’ll have to get ready to touch a lot of balls, Winters. Although I hear you like that,” I taunt him. “Your sister looks good with her legs spread wide.”

“You goddamn motherfucking perverted piece of shit!” Winters hollers, and I hear a small ruckus in the background.

I go back to working on the dresser while Winters and Cresci figure out what they’re actually doing. I know I wouldn’t tolerate one of my subordinates undermining me like that, even if it was regarding his sister.

Finally Cresci says, “I thought the Voronkov Bratva was above involving women and children.”

“No,” I say flatly as I brush some wood dust aside. “The ‘bratva’ does not care about your silly rules.”

As if anybody in Russia still calls it a bratva. But the Americans, they understand that term better because it means they can put us in a box.

The door to my workshop opens, and Nikolai walks in with Sierra in tow. She’s still only wearing one of my shirts, and her hands are cuffed in front of her.

I quirk my brows when I see the cuffs, and Nikolai shrugs.

“What?” Sierra asks, exasperated. “First the cuffs, now dragging me in here—” She stops when she sees the phone, eyeing it warily.

It’s too late, though. Winters has caught on. “Sierra! What are you doing to her?”

“Kyran?” Sierra says, her voice trembling.

“She’s alive,” I say. “Which you should be grateful for, Winters, after what your fucking family did to us. Petrov, he doesn’t like prison.”

“Sierra, are you okay?” Winters asks.

To my utter surprise—and satisfaction—Sierra looks to me instead of instantly responding.

“She’s fine,” I answer. “Well-fed, well-rested, and having a good time with us. Isn’t that right?”

“Fuck off,” Sierra mutters, but she doesn’t go into a tirade about what we’ve done to her.

“You’ll be returning her to us,” Cresci answers smoothly. “Petrov isn’t enjoying prison, but, and I quote you, at least he’s alive.”

I bark out another laugh. “You think your empty threats matter? No. You do anything, we kill her. Petrov dies? She dies. You try torescue her? She dies.” I smile at Sierra. “But tell you what. We can do business. As long as we are friends, your pretty little sister doesn’t have to suffer. We might even let her go back to her classes. Education shouldn’t be wasted, after all.”

“And that’s supposed to be good enough?” Winters demands. “Business isn’t more important than blood.”

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