Page 113 of Thorns of Lust
“Why are you in Russia, Maxim?”
His dilated pupils met my gaze, but I knew even before he opened his mouth he wouldn’t answer truthfully.
“Vacation.”
He stood up and left, leaving an unsettling feeling behind him, just as my cell signaled an incoming message.
Unknown number.
Motherfucking shit. I was so sick and tired of these videos.
Another incoming message. Marchetti.
I sent him to voicemail as I dialed up another number. Nico Morrelli.
“Hello?”
“Morrelli, this is Illias Konstantin.”
A heartbeat of silence. “Fuck, I didn’t believe it when I saw the number. I was certain it was a prank.”
A sardonic breath left me. “Aren’t we a bit too old for pranks?”
“Maybe, but I have daughters who broke into my safe as a prank. So there’s that.” A smile touched my lips. I could only imagine it driving him crazy. “What can I do for you?”
Amusement instantly left me as I thought about what I needed. I fucking hated asking for favors. But so far tracing the digital footprint had proven unsuccessful. Maybe Nico with all his resources would be able to pinpoint the general area that these videos are coming from.
“I need a trace,” I said, the words bitter on my tongue. I should be able to depend on my twin for all technology matters but Maxim’s brain was so fucking fried with drugs, he had become unreliable.
“Sure, although I thought you kept it all in-house,” Nico remarked, knowing full well I did.
“This one is different,” I told him. “It is more personal, and it’s aimed at me.”
Fuck, it was aimed at all of us - Marchetti, Romero, Agosti, Leone, even the Callahans since they joined in our organization. That night at the parking lot when my old man killed Adrian’s father and my mother started this shit. The boy grew up and came for his revenge. Just as my father warned. Adrian’s old man sought help from the Thorns of Omertà. He didn’t get it. Instead Marchetti’s father slipped the tip to my father of my mother’s plans. It was how my father intercepted their rendezvous.
And now, Adrian wanted his revenge.
“What are we dealing with?” he asked.
“An untraceable recording,” I said, leaning back into my chair. “The moment it finishes playing, it disappears.” I let the words sink in. “The videos could be used as evidence.”
“Well, shit.”
That was putting it mildly. While I knew my connections could handle evidence and make it disappear if it ever made it to the legal system, it wouldn’t help me with Tatiana.
Especially if she remembered who killed Adrian.
THIRTY-FOUR
TATIANA
Illias Konstantin.
On Nikolaev turf. Well, technically all of Russia was his turf but home was sacred ground and this one belonged to us. Not him.
I waited for my three brothers to end their back and forth about who’s staying or going. Of course, Vasili and Alexei would stay. They brought their families. It was a given. Sasha should know that.
As two of my brothers dispersed, leaving me with Sasha, I finally opened my mouth to ask the only question that mattered.
