Isat behind my desk and watched the footage of Voronov as he watched my men. It was a risky move hiring an ex-cop who worked as a private investigator, but I needed someone he didn’t know to keep eyes on him, and so far, he’d been very effective. It had only been a few days, but I could damn near map out his schedule.
My plan for revenge would be effective and brutal, but the one thing it wouldn’t be was swift. Oh no, I would take my time with him and savor the feel of his warm blood as it stained my fingers. The thought of ending him put a smile on my face.
The sight of Maxim’s face as he stepped inside my office wiped the smile from my face. Swiftly. “Igor.” I knew that tone well, had heard it many times since I rose to the top of the Bratva.
I got to my feet quickly. “What is it?”
“It’s Maria. Ivan just arrived at the estate to take the morning shift, and he found her dead. She was killed, Igor. Ivan said it was so bloody she was likely stabbed. A lot.”
“Shit.” My blood ran cold yet fire also pulsed through my veins. “We have to get to her.” Maria was the last of my family left. Sure, Maxim was like family as well, but it just wasn’t the same. Maria was like a sister to me and now she was dead.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Igor.”
“I know,” I snarled. “I’m not sure either but I have to get to her, Maxim. I can’t stay away.” The thought of Maria all alonein her last moments, choking on blood, calling out for me. “We have to go see her. And then I’m going to end Voronov.”
***
Maxim made the drive to Maria’s estate in half the time, and I rushed inside as fast as I could and fell to my knees at the sight of Maria lying on the floor in a large pool of blood. Her name fell from my lips on a whisper, over and over as I willed her to open her eyes and tell me to stop being so dramatic.
“Maria.” Fuck Voronov and his stupid need for revenge.He wants a war, he will have one.I leaned forward and pressed one final kiss to Maria’s forehead. “He will die a thousand deaths for you alone, Maria.” I gave her one last look as sadness and rage filled me. I loved Maria, not the way she wanted but I loved her all the same. I left and made my escape to Maria’s office.
“Igor?”
“I’m fine,” I growled.
“It would be understandable if you weren’t fine.”
“I know.” I whirled around and glared. “It was Voronov.”
Maxim nodded.
“I’m sure of it.” I told him about Voronov stopping us two days ago on the way from Maria’s.
“Shit,” Maxim bit out. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I meant to. That was the reason I needed you to increase security on her estate.” And in the end, it didn’t fucking matter. “Where are her cameras?”
“The footage backs up to our servers so you can view them later.” Maxim’s jaw was clenched tight and there was nothingbut barely concealed rage within his big body. He turned at the sound of more footsteps and I followed him out, watching as he turned his fury onto the men who answered to him. “Who the fuck was here last night.”
“It was me,” Mikhail answered as he strolled up the foyer looking as if he was fresh from a shower.
“What are you doing back already?” Ivan’s brows knitted into a dark look.
Mikhail shrugged nonchalantly like my best fucking friend wasn’t just murdered. “Heard what happened and wanted to see if I could help.”
Ivan folded his arms. “Heard from who?”
“Don’t remember.”
The tension was thick between my two men but now was not the time for their petty bullshit. “If you were here last night,all night,” I emphasized. “What the fuck happened?”
“Don’t know,” Mikhail shrugged again. “I didn’t hear a fucking thing.”
“Strange, huh?” My sarcasm was thick, but I was in no mood to fuck around. “You were here all night?”
“Yeah.” He looked around, his face red from being put on the spot in front of everyone. “I was here. All night.”
“Good. The surveillance should reflect that.” The little shit stood there so arrogant, and I resisted the urge to shoot him myself. “Go home and I don’t want to see your fucking face until I call you.”
