Page 114 of Hunt Me
My beautiful sister had no idea her assumptions were correct.
“One last thing. Sometimes the very person or situation we think isn’t good for us ends up being exactly what we need. Follow your heart and not that big brain of yours.”
I gave her a chastising look. “Perhaps you should follow your own advice. Don’t settle for Jason just because you’ll look good together in wedding photos.”
Suddenly, she had a wistful look on her face. “You’re right, but Jason is a good man and he does love me. I’m hoping we can build on that.”
Her words startled me. Maybe I had been settling my entire life, searching and hoping for a spark of passion. I’d found more than a spark with Mikhail. I’d found an entire electric plant. My pussy throbbed from just thinking about him.
“Anyway. You now have a chance to enjoy some time alone with your man since I’ll be out of your hair.” Giggling, she moved toward the kitchen table nestled against the window to drop off her purse. When she shifted closer to the glass, peering outside, I narrowed my eyes.
“What are you seeing?”
“Maybe I’m crazy, but there’s some guy standing in front of the building across the street staring at our apartment. He doesn’t look like one of the maintenance guys either. He’s tall, dark, and handsome. I think maybe your mystery man can’t get enough of you either.”
I took a deep breath and moved closer, leaning over her shoulder to see what she was looking at.
I’d be damned. I didn’t need twenty/twenty vision to realize Mikhail was outside. He stood with his jacket open, his hands in his trouser pockets. The light breeze had tousled his hair and for a few seconds, I remained frozen, incapable of thinking clearly or even breathing.
Was I seeing things?
“I think he’s keeping an eye out for you,” Callie teased. “How delicious.”
While a tiny crinkle of fear swept through me, it was quickly replaced with a need so powerful, a desire so intense I was lost in a haze. I moved quickly, taking long strides from the kitchen into the living room. With my fingers shaking, I unlocked the back door leading to the terrace, throwing it open.
I flew toward the railing, leaning over.
Blinking, I scanned the sidewalk and street.
Mikhail had disappeared.
CHAPTER 28
Mikhail
Rage was something I was used to. I’d gotten very good at controlling every emotion over the years. The idiots who highlighted their weaknesses always managed to find themselves on the wrong end of a bullet.
Reporters were always lurking in the shadows, hungering for a story to provide the perfect backdrop for their fifteen minutes of fame. From social media to tabloids, respectable newspapers and quality television reporting, the sting of being famous while showing your ass was a lesson learned once.
I’d also learned that mere assumptions were enough to spur the rush of notoriety. Suddenly, the tabloids were filled with gang-related stories about the great Dmitriyev family. The headlines were as explosive as the accusations and most untrue. Sadly, they were also damning. Our stocks had taken a hit, reporters calling on the hour, hoping to be the lucky one to hear my side of the story. I’d even noticed an uptick in police presence in and around our resorts.
All in all, our reputation was one step away from quicksand.
Whoever was fueling the rumor mills knew how to attack us from all sides.
I’d need to handle the fallout carefully. But right now, finding the motherfucker captured in the sketch was first on the agenda.
After three long days of circulating the sketch of the unknown murderer or accomplice, I was transfixed with rage.
Enough that, as I burst into the all-glass conference room of the Dmitriyev headquarters, I had almost thirty pairs of eyes opening wide. For the first time since I’d taken over as Pakhan, there was uncertainty in several of them.
A few held fear.
They should be afraid. I’d tasked my captains to scour Las Vegas, Reno, and hundreds of miles beyond to find the goddamn asshole. Three days of nothing. I’d even enlisted Stefano’s help. Oddly enough, his connections had brought a possible lead. Not my men. Not the men I paid very well to accomplish such a simple task.
No one should ever be able to hide from me.
“I have one question for you, gentlemen,” I snarled as I slammed my hands on the table. I took a few seconds to lock eyes with every man to allow them to fully comprehend my displeasure. “Do I need to hire a tracking team of my own to hunt down this fucking son of a bitch? Three days is three days too long.”
