Page 14 of The Incubus and the Bodyguard

Yuliy Vissarion stepped out of the aircraft, his clothes whipping in the downdraft. Though in his sixties, Vlad’s uncle still exuded a formidable presence. His silver hair caught the emergency lights as his sharp gaze found them.

Gustav climbed out after him. The secretary’s usually unflappable demeanor evaporated at the sight of Vlad. He hurried over.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Vlad managed a reassuring smile. “Just a few bruises.”

It wasn’t exactly a lie. His body ached all over.

Yuliy’s scrutiny felt like a physical weight as he approached. He embraced Vlad, his arms squeezing him tightly.

Vlad knew the older man was anxious, even if he didn’t show it.

Yuliy let go and stepped back. “What happened?”

“We think it might have been a professional hit squad,” Vlad lied proficiently. “At least fifteen men. They came through the windows during the negotiations.” He glanced at Cortes over his shoulder.

Cortes nodded, poker-faced.

Yuliy dipped his head at the Colombian. “I hear you helped. You have my gratitude.”

Cortes shrugged. “You can add it to my tab.”

Yuliy’s gaze switched to Vlad. “The Lucianos and Wei Chen?”

“They’re safe. Ilya got everyone out.”

Some of the tension left Yuliy’s shoulders. “Any casualties?”

“A few of our men took hits, including Ilya and Milo,” Vlad replied. “Marco Luciano caught a bullet, but he’ll live.”

Yuliy and Gustav stared at Ilya.

“You took a bullet?” Concern laced Yuliy’s voice.

He and Ilya went back a long way.

“Missed my ass by a few inches,” Ilya grunted.

Yuliy ran a hand through his hair. “The whole point of tonight was to prove we could maintain peace between the families.” His mouth flattened to a thin line. “Looks like we failed spectacularly.”

Vlad’s jaw tightened. “I’m sorry.”

Yuliy lowered his brows. “I’m not blaming you. It’s clear this was an orchestrated attack. We need to find out who’s behind it and what their aim is before the fallout buries us.”

Vlad could feel Cortes’s and Jared’s gazes burning a hole in the back of his head.

“I’m afraid I have more bad news.”

Yuliy sighed. “Let me guess. The Lucianos and Wei Chen saw something they shouldn’t have?”

Vlad nodded. “Tarang manifested his presence during the fight. And Cortes and I used our powers.”

Yuliy rubbed his chin slowly. “We can handle the families,” he said after a moment. “It’s not ideal, but it won’t be the first time we’ve had to explain things to outsiders.”

“There’s something else.” Vlad’s nails dug into his palms. “Someone recorded the incident and posted the video online.”

Yuliy froze. He cursed viciously in Russian in the next instant.

---