Page 29 of Sypher

“Will he live?”

“I’ll know more when I get inside him.”

Turning to Rurik, Maxim held up four fingers as Rurik turned and pointed to four men to follow and guard Dmitry until the coast was clear.

“Payne, Montana is not to leave this clubhouse until he takes those antibiotics I gave him. He doesn’t take them, shove them down his throat,” Bane ordered, heading for the door.

“I’m the fucking president of this club, asshole. Not you!” Montana shouted at his retreating figure.

“Then quit being a pussy and take the pills!”

“Fucking asshole,” the grouchy president muttered when Payne walked over and slapped a bottle of pills in front of him. Montana begrudgingly reached for the bottle, popped the cap, and took two pills.

Payne grinned as he walked away.

“Don’t know about you, Maxim, but I am ready to get some answers,” Montana said, getting to his feet. “The rest of you, the bar is open. Help yourselves.”

Sometime later, all of them returned to the main room of the clubhouse, and Massacre angrily stopped Maxim getting in his face. “What the fuck was that back there?”

“What do you mean?”

“The kids. Really? Is that how you do shit in your fucked-up organization?”

“Bratva isn’t for everyone. Can’t handle it? I suggest you go back to your little motorcycle club.”

“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say after everything I’ve fucking done for you? Well, fuck you, man,” Massacre spat angrily. “Golden Skulls don’t barter kids to get what we want.”

“And neither do I, Massacre.” Maxim sighed. “Look, Massacre, I wouldn’t use those girls any more than I would my son or your nephew, for that matter. Unlike most of my brethren, there are certain lines even I won’t cross. I wanted you to go recover those girls so I could ensure they had a proper burial. The sins of their father have no bearing on them. Not in my eyes. Those girls need to be put to rest.”

“You mean it?”

“I will see to it myself, cousin,” Illyria assured, walking over to stand by her husband. “I’ll call Father Dominic and make the arrangements. I’m sure Malice will help. He has a soft spot for children. We will make certain that the girls receive a proper and dignified burial.”

“Well, it seems after our little visit to California, Angelica did a runner,” Montana said, storming into the common room. “Dakota thought something was fishy and moved Remi and the kids that night. They are now with Kansas in Diamondback country.”

“Don’t you think that’s a little obvious? I mean, Kansas is your brother. Petrovitch knows about him, and if he’s inclined, he wouldn’t think twice about using him against you.”

Montana laughed. “I’d like to see him try. Kansasisthe president of the Diamondbacks, after all. Plus, Arizona is there babysitting him, in case shit goes sideways. Add in Dakota and his military friends and I dare Petrovitch to step foot in Lawton, Oklahoma. Motherfucker won’t live to see nightfall.”

“So, who’s still left of Petrovitch’s men?” Massacre asked.

“Just one, boss. Brevin Smirnov,” Vladmir confirmed, walking slowly toward the group, holding his stomach as Massacre growled.

“What can you tell us about him?” Maxim asked.

“Fucker’s a sadist. Bastard loves beating the shit out of women. Gets off on it.”

“Well, that narrows down the establishments to search,” Montana muttered, frowning. “There are only three BDSM clubs that I know of that would allow that form of sexual torture, and one of them is in Las Vegas. Not too far from Los Angeles.”

Agreeing, Maxim added, “There is one in Seattle, Washington as well. The Cave is highly exclusive and requires extensive background checks and a full psychological workup. I highly doubt that Tony Marconi would allow someone like Smirnov into his club.”

“And neither would Carter Jefferson. The man runs a clean house. So, the Vegas club is out,” Montana added as Malice walked over with Vicious.

“That leaves the Trick Pony, in Miami, Florida.”

And just like that, I paid close attention.

Montana shook his head at his enforcer and growled, “No. Absolutely not.”

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