Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Mikhail

I pacethe cell over and over again, waiting for a call from Anton. This must run deep. Under normal circumstances, I never would’ve seen the walls of this cold, dark cell, but here I am.

My fists are clenched with barely suppressed frustration. My worst fear in the world is being helpless, and knowing the people that I love are at risk. If I didn’t think it would break my fist, I’d slam it against this wall to help release the fury that’s cascading through me like an erupting volcano. But that won’t solve anything. When I was younger, though…

"Mikhail Romanov? Is that you?" I look into a corner of the cell. It turns out I’m not alone.

"Who is it?" I don’t recognize him from where I sit. He stands, uncoiling himself like a snake.

"Has it been that fucking long?"

“Jesus Christ.” I cross the cell and embrace my former military brother, Saul Bianchi. We were rivals for a short time but laid that to rest. Sometimes it helps to have friends, and sometimes it’s more helpful to have allies that hate your enemies alongside you.

"There was a time when I would’ve wanted to kick your ass for coming in here,” Bianchi says, and when he grins, I see he’s missing a tooth. Newly? Who knows. "But I heard how you stood up to Volkov. Fucking brilliant. You know we all want Volkov dead."

Of course they do. He runs all of New York with an iron fist, mercilessly and selfishly. He annihilates anyone in his path, after building a group so large no one has a chance to withstand him.

"He’s why I’m in here."

Bianchi swears. "Of course he is." His voice drops. "You need to get out, don’t you?"

I nod. Of course I fucking do. I tell him about Aria and the baby. His eyes shine with conviction. "We’ll bust you out of here." He lowers his voice even more and brings his mouth to my ear. “Do you see that guard over there?”

I nod.

"He’s on my payroll. I’m here voluntarily. I have connections, and I needed face-to-face interaction with a couple of the detainees. I get out tomorrow, if all goes as planned."

“Yeah?”

"You have an informant, yeah?"

I nod.

"And you’re willing to pay?"

I laugh out loud. "What do you fucking think?"

Bianchi grins at me. He reaches a fist out, and slams his knuckles to mine, a universal code of loyalty. We may have rival clans, we may be in different groups, but loyalty runs deep when it comes to the law.

"Romanov.”

The guard comes to the bars, looks at Bianchi. Bianchi nods, and the guard gestures for me. "You have a call. Let’s go."