Page 134 of Hunt Me
“Make it worth her while.”
There were two more items on my agenda that needed to be handled. The first would be easy but pointed, a warning issued.
The second? Well, that one could be deadly depending on how the person receiving the threat handled it.
But I didn’t care.
I was finished with playing games with anyone.
I’d done my civic duty by contacting Jack, allowing him to pick up the scum who’d killed Jax Shane. Did I think Connor would be behind bars for long? In truth, no, but I’d listened to my conscience, something I’d forgone until Bristol had crashed into my life. As I walked into the building, I couldn’t help but smile. She was such a wild child, a woman finally coming into her own.
Once inside, I immediately went through a metal detector. Even though I walked through and the light turned green, the police officer pulled me aside, frisking me as if I was a common criminal. It would seem my reputation had been boosted to possible outlaw.
No, I was just the Pakhan, ruler of the city.
Casino King.
He finally waved me through, but not before giving me the evil eye. I almost told him he was lucky the city wasn’t littered with bodies.
I headed to the mayor’s office, barely giving the receptionist a glance as I walked by.
“I’m sorry. You can’t go back there. You can’t…” Her voice trailed off as I took long strides down the hallway. I knew the mayor was in his office. I didn’t care if he was busy. The man would talk to me.
Period.
By the time I made it to his office door, two more armed guards appeared. They were young and eager, their hands already on their weapons. I simply allowed them to see I was bored with their reaction.
At that moment, the door opened and Sebastian Rork appeared.
While I’d only seen his face in pictures and on the news, I was surprised that there hadn’t been a hint of recognition from twenty-two years before. Granted, it had been dark that fateful night, thick with smoke and I’d experienced double vision, but I prided myself in never forgetting a face.
Perhaps I hadn’t wanted to remember.
His eyes opened wide as if he was just recognizing me for the first time. “It’s okay, Jim, Bobby. I’ve got this.”
“You’re sure, Mayor?”
“I’m positive.” Sebastian appeared haggard, as if the last few days had taken a significant toll. He was a fool to think he could take on the O’Shaughnessy Empire without facing retaliation.
He opened the door wider, allowing me in, hesitating behind me before closing the door.
“Mikhail.”
“Mayor.”
“Please, take a seat.”
“I won’t be here long enough to get comfortable, but thank you.”
He walked around me, keeping some distance. We stood for a full minute staring at each other. “I understand you had a handin the apprehension of Connor O’Shaughnessy as well as saving my daughter’s life.”
“I was there.”
“From what she’s told me, you understate your heroic actions.”
“I did what was necessary under the circumstances.”
“Yes, I guess you did. Why are you here, Mikhail, to file a formal complaint about the special commission?”
