“There’s been an attack. We have to go.”
Like breadcrumbs leading Gretel to the fiery oven of the witch, droplets of blood lead up the stone stairs to the main entrance of the magnificent mansion Ivan’s taken me.
Ivan shoves open the front door and pulls me along with him into the massive foyer.
“He’s downstairs. The doc’s with him now.” A man, one I’ve seen at Obsidian dozens of times, informs us.
“What the fuck happened?” Ivan snaps but doesn’t wait for a response before he stalks down the hallway.
Unsure of what to do, I stay planted. There’s obviously a crisis, and I shouldn’t be here.
“Vivienne!” Ivan stops at the end of the hall, holding out his hand to me.
“You should go with him,” Yosef says quietly, as though he’s giving me some great life advice.
I kick out of my heels and snatch them up before hurrying down the hall. Ivan grasps my hand when I catch up to him and pulls me along with him to a door.
Thankfully, I’ve already taken my shoes off or the stairs leading down to the basement would probably have me falling onto my face. Ivan turns to the left when he steps off the wooden staircase, still tugging me along.
He shoves through another door, and then down a short corridor until he comes to a metal door. The same droplets of blood that led us up the front stairs has brought us to this place. Though there’s more of it here on the floor outside the door.
We’re in some sort of secret part of the house. Terrible things happen down here. I can feel it deep in my bones. The goose pimples crawling across my skin confirm it.
Ivan shoves the door open. The overwhelming scent of blood and death fills my nose. I step to the side, yanking my hand back from Ivan.
He’s in full dominance mode now.
“What the fuck happened?” He moves to the metal table where Kaz lays unconscious with his shirt cut open.
Blood soaks the scraps of material hanging from his body. More of it is dried and splattered on his chest. The doctor twists at the sound of Ivan’s demand, and the bullet wound comes into full view.
My stomach rolls at the sight.
Everyone starts talking at once.
“He was at dinner when two of DeAngelo’s men came into the restaurant.” Alexander’s jaw tightens as he stares down at his youngest brother.
“They shot him in a fucking restaurant?” Ivan’s hands fist at his sides. “Did you get the bullet out?”
The doctor looks between the two hulking men staring him down. Probably unsure of which question Ivan’s wanting answered first.
“Not yet. I need you all out so I can work.” He looks to Alexander.
“We’ll be in the hall.” Alexander steps around the table, giving his little brother one last look. “Nothing happens to him.”
If the doctor is intimidated by the threat underlying Alexander’s words, he does an amazing job of hiding it. He gives a curt nod, then starts going through the cart beside the table and gathering materials.
Ivan gently coaxes me from the room and into the hall.
“Maybe I should go,” I say, but Ivan’s already talking with Alexander. He doesn’t hear me.
“Do we know who it was?”
“Two low levels.” Alexander wipes his hands on his pants. Blood covers his fingers. “Gregori killed one; the other is waiting for us.”
“Kaz doesn’t go to dinner alone, who was with him?”
Alexander’s eyes wander over to me. I press myself further against the wall. If only I could disappear.
