15. Max

Smoke rises in thin plumes above the smoldering carcass of my former warehouse. Kolya stands at my side as I talk to the Fire Chief. The bodies of my men have already been removed and sent to the morgue for autopsies. A preliminary examination shows they were all shot but protocols must be followed.

"Arson," the chief says, and I smother a snort. As if it was anything else. "The fire started in numerous locations." I nod as small flakes of ash rain down on us, painting the shoulders of my black tux gray.

The cops are hovering around the site but I've already had a word with the detective in charge of the investigation. He knows not to dig too deep. Thanks to a significant sum of money recently wired into his off-shore account, he'll conduct a superficial investigation, which will be closed in a day or so, citing ‘arson; probable perpetrators, kids; not enough evidence found.'

The last thing I need is anyone poking too far into my business premises. This warehouse is just one of many, all of which contain illegal goods.

My phone rings; it's Sasha.

"The cameras picked up a white van leaving the docks shortly before the fire started. No identifying features and the plate was removed." My fist grips my phone. Kolya takes a step back, recognizing I'm close to losing my shit.

"Nothing going in?" I try to keep my voice nice and even but inside, I'm raging. I need to know who's targeting us. The fact someone has stolen what's mine, and killed my men in the process, is fucking unbelievable.

Sasha hesitates before he replies, and I tense. Whatever he's about to say, he's unhappy about. "No, the security system was shut down remotely. Everything was normal inside and out until that happened."

Time stops for a few seconds. "How was someone able to hack into your system?" How was Sasha fucking bested by some hacker-for-hire?

"I don't know, but I intend to find out. I'm going through the data now."

It's late by the time I get back to my apartment. I was going to talk to the families of the men killed this evening, but it can wait until the morning. Sasha has already arranged for death payments to be transferred to each of their accounts.

It's standard practice.

We look after our own.

If the men are willing to lay down their lives for my Bratva, ensuring their wives and kids are taken care of after their deaths is the least I can do. I may not have a family of my own, but I do understand the importance of family.

After all, the Bratva is a family.

Sasha and my guys are the closest thing to family I have. There's Vanya of course, but she's not a part of this life. Although I make sure she has a security detail surrounding her at all times, for her safety and that of her family.

My clothes stink of smoke. I strip off and drop everything into the hamper. The housekeeper will sort it all out tomorrow.

Hot water sluices down my back, washing the filth away. My eyes close and I let my mind drift, trying to come up with answers to the many questions I have.

Why would someone target the warehouse?

Hitting one of my assets is fucking stupid. There are no local crime families insane enough to do such a thing, which means it has to be a larger organization or someone from further afield.

Sasha will hopefully have some answers in the morning. Then we can put a plan into action and take down the mudaks who think they can disrupt my operations. When I find them, they will wish they'd never been born.

Eventually, the hot water does its job and some of the tension leaves my system. Then a vision of Natalya in her blue dress enters my mind. In a heartbeat, my cock is rock hard, aching for release.

I still know nothing about the woman. Where she lives, her life, even her surname. Yet our paths keep crossing. I make a mental note to ask Sasha to look into her. She was at the gala, so she had to have been on the guest list. Once I have a surname, I can find out where she works, where she lives, and get her cell number.

It's only a matter of time before she's mine.

For a night at least.

Although I'm not sure one night will be enough to slake my thirst.