Page 95 of Kings of Cruelty

He hangs up on us.

I look at Yuri, putting the pieces together. My heart is racing from fear and adrenaline, and I stare down at my laptop screen as I realize I have no idea what else I’m going to be useful for.

No. That’s not true.

“I hacked into the cameras at the house,” I admit to Yuri with a small wince. “A while back. I can see what’s going on from my laptop once I get internet access.”

Yuri lets out a small laugh. “Of course you did. Okay. That will help. But first… we need a doctor. Nikolai took a bullet in his arm.”

“Fuck,” I say. “I helped patch Kyran up a few times, but never from a gunshot. Don’t you have someone on pay—” I shake my head. “Never mind. Kotya’s dad probably knows about any doctors on payroll.” I hate the thought of it, but I say reluctantly, “Silvano probably has a doctor he can recommend.”

Yuri’s hands tighten on the wheel. “Yeah. That’s… that’s a good idea.” He takes another steadying breath, then says. “Call your brother. On speaker.”

It’s not really a good idea, but I can’t think of any other option. I call Kyran, waiting impatiently. If he ignores my call again…

Thankfully, he picks it up on the second ring, and I put the phone onto speaker. “Sierra? What’s wrong?”

Before all of this, I’d have teased him about assuming something’s wrong. I don’t have time for that, though, and the dire situation doesn’t make me any less pissed at him. “We need a doctor,” I say without preamble. “Nikolai got shot, Kotya’s dad is in town, and things are really, really bad. I wouldn’t ask if I had any other options.”

“Kotya?” Kyran repeats.

I make a frustrated sound. “Konstantin. You know, Voronkov?”

“You—” Whatever he’s about to say is cut off as Silvano’s voice comes over the line.

“Of course we’ll help,” Silvano says in his irritatingly calm voice. “I know a doctor. Where should we send her to?”

“No,” I say. “Give me her contact info and I’ll reach out to her myself.”

There’s no fucking way I’m telling them where we’re going.

“Sierra, don’t get stubborn,” Kyran rumbles, irritation in his voice already. “If things are that bad, you need help. We—” He cuts himself off, and I hear him mumbling something I can’t make out to Silvano.

“Anything you need.” Silvano’s voice gets muffled, then my phone buzzes. “I’ve texted you her contact information. Tell her Silvano Cresci would consider certain debts paid if she does this.”

Great, more veiled information. But I’m not going to argue.

“Sierra, please, let me—” Kyran starts, but I hang up on him.

The doctor’s information is there, as promised, and I make a quick call to her. She sounds wary at first, but as soon asI mention Silvano’s name and message, she’s suddenly falling over herself to help.

When we arrive at my father’s old office, Konstantin, Nikolai, and one of the guards are already there. Nikolai is sitting in one of the office chairs, clutching his arm while staring up at the ceiling.

“Are you okay?” I ask Nikolai immediately.

He glances at me, and I see how pale his face is. “Never better. I couldn’t let you be the only one to get shot this year,” he jokes.

I roll my eyes at him. “A doctor is on her way,” I tell them. Before Konstantin asks, I supply, “It’s Silvano Cresci’s doctor. I didn’t know who else to call. They said they’ll help however we need, but… that’s up to you, obviously.”

Konstantin starts opening up drawers. “Did the feds leave anything behind? A gun, a knife, a fucking fork?”

“I’ve got two guns in the car,” Yuri says. “And my knives.”

The guard says something in Russian. All I catch isin the car, but I guess that means there’s a few more weapons.

“Not enough to take on my father,” Konstantin mutters. “We need more men, too. How many on the inside are still loyal?”

The guard looks between me and Konstantin, then answers, in halting English, “A few. But Voronkov… I mean, Igor and Roman Voronkov will question all. They killed at least five men that I saw.”

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