Page 52 of Trapping His Angel

I climbed the stairs and headed to Viktor’s study. I glanced at my watch. At this time of night, he was probably drinking a stiff vodka, and puffing on the gifted Cuban cigars he’d gotten from the Argentine Cartel.

They were far more welcoming, and I could see an alliance forming with them once they got their house in order. The line of succession was murky there, but it wasn’t pressing, nor did it affect my organization.

Not yet anyway.

I knocked and waited for Viktor to let me in. I stepped inside once he allowed me, and took a seat in front of his desk.

“What brings you here at this time of night?” He swirled his half-filled glass.

“I have news of the rat, and who they were reporting to.”

After a beat, Viktor said, “Well, spit it out. I don’t have all day.”

I nodded and caught him up with the information we could glean from the drug dealer. Viktor nodded along without interrupting.

“I have a plan that will attack both issues, with the Yakuza and the Venezuelans.” I outlined what would be expected, but Viktor was shaking his head no.

“That will work for the Yakuza, it’s clear that they care for that girl. Using her as leverage will cause them to heal. The Venezuelans, however, are a different beast entirely.”

“What do you know that I don’t?” My spies had been thorough in their information.

“Well, I have met her father, and he is a bitter man. Theyneed to be attacked where it hurts, and his daughter isn’t one of those things.”

“So, what do you propose?” I didn’t enjoy thinking that mymalen'kiy angelwasn’t more important to her family.

“I mean, it’s easy to see. If they cared, they would have retaliated when you married the girl. No, I think this is more about what the fiancé of hers wants.” Viktor sipped on his drink.

“And what do you think it is that he wants?” I clasped the hilt of my knife, playing with it in distraction.

“Well, to save face, for one. I think he also wants to fuck with us. He wants a beautiful woman that he perfectly tailored for himself.”

I glanced at my Pakhan sharply. “What do you mean?”

Viktor sipped his alcohol again. “I came across some notes from that piece of shit Headmaster. It would seem he wrote down a lot of notes on what kind of wives these girls were going to be. Some, like your wife, needed more hands-on training than others.”

I didn’t like what Viktor was insinuating, but it made sense. Fuck. Why hadn’t I seen it? I was torn too thin, and missing out on what was going on with my wife. I would not allow her fiancé to swoop in and kidnap her from me.

No, there must be some other plan.

“What do you propose I do?”

Viktor shrugged. “Take the fight to them.”

I rose with his permission, feeling invigorated. My Pakhan was right, I didn’t need to put any more of our people in danger. This fight was too close to the mansion, after they infiltrated and took shots at my wife.

I would hunt them down and kill every one of them. That I had permission, just meant the carnage would be overlooked. I allowed myself a savage grin as I stalked to my room to prepare.

I needed to see my wife one more time, before I went to murder the men in her nightmares. Just one more time.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Iwalked toward the rooms I shared with Benedikt, my mind weighing heavily. Maybe I was overthinking, but my future with him seemed bleak. I didn’t want to be locked in this mansion forever. However, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with myself either.

A more active role in The Zarya Academy might help.

Distracted, I walked into a hard wall. I would’ve fallen backward, had powerful arms not wrapped around my waist, holding me in place. I looked up and saw it was Benedikt. His eye smoldered as he took me in and pressed my body closer to his.

“There you are,” he rumbled.