Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

N ikolay

"No new incidents," I said as I sat back in my office chair. I had my own expansive communications room on the second floor, a room dedicated to business, but there was also another war room established that had yet to be fully broken in. The state-of-the-art satellite and communications systems, including maritime abilities had been installed as soon as the house had been purchased, one for the guest house as well.

That was just the beginning of the capabilities of what could be handled from this location, carbon copies in the second homes of both Vadim and Aleksander.

At this location, the well-hidden cameras were infrared, the capabilities to see long distance military grade. They were in three dozen locations, including several located on special poles off the main portion of the property. That also included past the dune. There was nothing but additional beach for miles, including the thick, natural mounds of sand. I was thrilled the dunes were there to provide some protection against the southern winds and additional privacy.

However, the vacant area was also perfect for allowing an enemy to plan and execute a sneak attack, even if cameras had been installed to try to prevent one. The one dangerous thing about living at a beautiful beach environment with cold weather, gales, and blowing sand was the corrosion it eventually caused the cameras. Let alone the lenses were often covered in sand.

While my office was positioned where I could see over the dune to a degree, it wasn't clearly enough in my opinion, at least not for some master masquerade artist.

Vadim had established a Zoom call with Aleksander from the Pakhan's office in what was considered more of a safehouse. While still an extraordinary location, that one had mountain views. While only one hundred miles outside the city, the Catskills offered both protection and natural beauty. And Caroline seemed to adore being there much like Chantel did with this house.

"Good to hear. There was an attack on Aleksander not long after the one at your place." Vadim was reflective, even drumming his fingers on the desk.

I glanced from Vadim to Aleksander, who was obviously pissed. "Where?"

"I'd gone to my law office to grab a few things. When I stepped out, you'd think all hell had broken loose. The entire lobby was demolished from the number of bullets flying."

"Was anyone hurt?" I asked, even putting my feet up on the desk. I could hear little feet running down the hallway and was certain Chantel wasn't far behind. I don't know why, but I remained shocked how much my kid had changed in a few short days. It was almost like a miracle.

Aleks shook his head first. "No."

"Which means they were issuing a warning with you." Which could also mean I was the intended target.

"Yeah, I would agree. However, the damage done was in the hundred plus thousand-dollar range. And there was a drive-by at the house. No shots fired but I'm fairly certain it was the same crew by what was witnessed by my men. Raphaella is already settled at the cabin. I'll head there in a few. Tomorrow we have that meeting with Luciano Bernardi. He was none too happy being pushed but I helped him understand the circumstances."

There was a gleam in Aleksander's eyes. He could be just as brutal as I was if pushed.

The various sites had been strategically chosen for the three of us, the equipment's abilities shining given the locations. We could run a goddamn country war between the three of us. Plus, we had the capability of tracking danger at every location, including those in New York City from where we were positioned.

" Così è la vita in tempo di pace e in tempo di guerra ." I said rather quietly for the level of anger I continued to feel.

"Your incredible knowledge of the Italian language could be considered treacherous," Vadim said as he laughed. "So what the hell did you say?"

"I just said that such is life in times of peace and those in war. And make no mistake. These blatant acts I consider to be the start of a war." I was dead serious.

Both men nodded. How else was there to think about the situation? Someone was gunning for us.

"We go to the meeting tomorrow and see what Luciano has to say. I honestly have my doubts he's behind this. I just don't think he'd break the alliance," Vadim said thoughtfully.

I wanted to disagree but Luciano was as calculating as anyone else. "What about the Kaskov Bratva?"

Aleksander snorted. "They are bragging they will soon be the big fish. It isn't them."

Maybe at least we were ruling out a few candidates.

There were dozens more.

"With the attacks, there's more chatter on the streets. Still, no one is taking the blame openly." Vadim suddenly jerked up from his chair, heading away from the camera.

"That could mean a number of things including an outside syndicate or cartel or someone that doesn't run in the same circles," I suggested.

"I checked with my buddies at the CIA but there's no real discussion of anyone determined to adopt the Big Apple as their new home," Aleks answered. "He's not finished checking his various darker sources."

"Speaking of which," I interjected. "Anything on the dark web?"

Vadim returned, thumping back into his chair, a drink in his hand. "Nothing terribly unusual. Sure, there's some glee that the Chernoff Empire might be destroyed but it's to be expected. Happens every time shit like this goes down."

"If only we could follow the trail of who hired the stalker," Aleks suggested.

I half laughed. "That was just a piece of the game. It was almost as if the perpetrator wanted to ensure Chantel was brought into the fold."

"Bastard. He wants easier access to the entire regime, I'm telling you." Vadim was quickly approaching the way he'd been immediately after the attack on his place.

"He wants us all rattled. He's hoping we'll make bad decisions." My reminder seemed to fall on deaf ears this time.

All three of us seemed more reflective than normal. I glanced out one of the windows myself, my jaw aching from how many times I'd clenched it. "Maybe we really are barking up the wrong tree. What if this has nothing to do with the regime and more to do with me?"

Aleks snorted. "Meaning what?"

"Why did Damien's mother just disappear?"

When the two men glanced at each other, I sat up, dropping my feet to the floor. "Hold on. Is there something you haven't told me?"

Aleks chuckled. "Nothing huge, my man. I knew you tried to find her, but I also did what I could to check on her background, finances. Anything I could find. She was an actress and from what I could piece together, she made the mistake of having an affair with a prominent leading man while she was merely a third-rate actress. She was threatened by the family. That much I discovered, the man's father some bigwig in Hollywood. Running meant getting away from their scrutiny and threats while taking some part in Bulgaria. Not a good place for a child."

I could feel I was narrowing my eyes. "Bulgaria?"

Both men laughed. "They make movies there as well," Vadim huffed. "Anyway, I doubt it has anything to do with her but maybe you have a good point. Someone from your past. Or someone you handled for me. You know, those who reacted the worst."

"I'll do that. But not right now. Besides, with the less than scrupulous clients Aleks represented, someone from the opposing side might be acting on the need for revenge." Great. Now I was thinking the exact way I'd warned Vadim that the perpetrator wanted.

"I agree with what Nik said earlier. We need to keep cool heads. We can have someone in our employ make lists of possible candidates, but that would take a long time and even combined, we don't have the manpower to hunt down every possible lead."

"Good point," I hissed.

"Any chance this has something to do with her boss?" Aleks asked. Now he was floating that same line of reaching for straws.

"None. For all the bragging Mr. Davenport has done, his family isn't that well off. No real connections." I hadn't wasted any time on the jerk, even if I wanted to snap his neck for how he'd treated Chantel.

Vadim shook his head. "Everything that we've talked about is understandable but yes, Nik is correct. We're not thinking clearly. That is a must. At this point, I suggest we all get some R & R. We all know whatever is going on will escalate further when the asshole can't locate us. Be on guard. Don't let your defenses fall. The meeting is at a Mexican joint on third at one in the afternoon. La Casitas."

"Mexican, huh?" Hell, I was in the mood for a drink. The wind was whipping up. It would be the perfect night for a fire, maybe more. Great. All three of us had been attacked and I was thinking about hot sex. What did that make me?

"Neutral ground," Aleks said, grinning even wider.

"Noted and not a bad idea." There was a Mexican cartel who'd been sniffing around for years, but the true Spaniards had yet to decide the cold weather of the north was the best place for them. However, it was a true melting pot of criminal activity just like people. "I'll be there but I won't be hanging around."

"We both understand, Nik. Take care of your family and we'll take care of ours." Vadim was already leaning forward, ready to end the meeting. "And remember what I said from before."

Don't touch her again.

"I do and I will. Tomorrow." As the screen faded to black, I thought about Aleks' claim regarding Ginger Lee. I honestly wasn't certain I bought the actress story. But at this point, she was in another country, with no affiliation to any crime syndicate found. I had to consider the last suggestion. I'd roughed up enough smaller enemies in my life, killing enough a long time ago that there could be a string of people who'd harbored a grudge. The question wasn't just about who was capable of doing such a thing but also about why. That would take time I doubted any of us had. It felt as if some unseen clock was ticking.

In my mind, the questions were piling up. If this was revenge based, why wait so long? Prison? Maybe. Why play games? Most of the burly assholes I'd crossed would never go to such lengths. Still, I would have my hackers run a check. They could do that much quicker than I could.

Right now, I wanted to be able to feel comfortable putting everything behind me. Even for a single night. It might be asking too much but the whirlwind of violence and constant activity was draining. I could only imagine how Chantel felt. She was tough but this was as raw as it came.

I pushed away from my desk, not realizing how long I'd been in my office. It seemed the sun was setting earlier and earlier. A fleeting thought about Halloween and the upcoming Christmas holidays entered my mind.

That never happened.

I'd made Christmas the best I'd been able to the year before. The timing had sucked, Damien arriving in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'd had to scramble to act like a father, including getting a tree and presents. He'd remained mostly lethargic then. Except he'd thrown his first temper tantrum on Christmas, nearly tearing apart the tree.

If only I'd been a better father, realizing he'd just needed love, not toys.

If only I'd known he existed.

If only I'd allowed myself to care about someone special.

Ah, fuck. Was the old adage true about danger creating passion? Whatever the case, not only was I hungrier for the woman than before, I also felt something else.

Something that would likely get us all killed.

The need to keep Chantel not just indefinitely but forever.