15. RADOMIR

Chapter 15

RADOMIR

I storm out of the pool area, my thoughts a chaotic mess. My skin still burns where hers brushed mine, and I can’t shake the memory of how I lost control. I never lose control— ever .

Yet Leigh— Leigh fucking Dalton —pulls strings I didn’t even know I had, and it’s pissing me off. She makes me feel things I’ve buried under a decade of blood and violence. Things I’ve never felt before or ever wanted to feel. And I know she’s fucking lying to me about knowing the Vasilikis’s. I saw recognition in her eyes when I said Nikolas’s name—I will find out why.

I shove the door to my study open and strip off my wet towel, tossing it aside. Catching my reflection in the mirror, I scowl. My fists clench. The man staring back at me looks the same on the outside, but inside, something is changing. What the fuck is that woman doing to me? I knew she was going to be trouble! I hate to admit it, but my cousin might just be right—I may have bitten off more than I can chew.

At the bar cart, I pour a double shot of vodka and down it in one go. The burn steadies me, clears the haze. Fuck that . I can’t let that auburn-haired, green-eyed seductress in the form of an angel derail me. There’s too much happening around me with the fucking Greek bitch closing in on us.

I head into the bathroom of my study, take a cold shower, and change into a suit. I’m just about to down another vodka when my phone buzzes on my desk. Reaching for it, I see that it’s Gunner.

“What is it?” I snap, my patience razor-thin.

“Another truck’s been hit. Same pattern. Shipment from the port. All our men are dead except one. He’s been shot and is banged up, but he’s alive.”

I grip the phone tighter, my knuckles whitening. “Where?”

He rattles off the location—a back road cutting through the desert to avoid the main highways. We just changed the route after the last truck was hit.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” I end the call, tossing the glass back onto the bar. It doesn’t shatter, but the sound is satisfying enough before I storm out to find Viktor and Fredrik.

Arriving at the location of the hit, the scene is worse than I expected. The sand is soaked with blood, pooling around the lifeless bodies of my men. The truck is riddled with bullet holes, its back torn open, completely stripped of its cargo. Daniil, the lone survivor, leans against a tire, his face pale as death, his shirt soaked in blood.

I crouch in front of him. “What happened?”

He blinks at me, struggling to focus. “They… left me alive to… give you a message.”

My jaw tightens. “What message?”

“The leader… dark hair, grey streaks. Green eyes—cold as death.” He winces, coughing up blood. “He… he wants journals… and a… golden key.”

Books and a key? The words swirl in my head, senseless and yet somehow dangerous.

He coughs again, forcing himself to continue. “The man spoke Greek to his men, who called him Monarch. I couldn’t make out much more.”

Fuck! Now the Matriarch has a goddamn monarch—Jesus .

“That’s his message?” My brow furrows. “He attacked my truck and left you alive to tell me he wants books and a golden fucking key? To what? The city?”

Daniil draws in a ragged gurgling breath and shakes his head. “Dalton… he wants Dalton, who has the books and key.” His head starts to loll.

“Daniil.” I take his face and steady it. “Stay with me.” His eyes are barely open. “Why come after me for Dalton?”

“They think you’re hiding… Dalt…” Daniil’s head drops forward, and his body droops.

I feel for a pulse. It’s barely there. “Fredrik. Take Gunner’s car and get Daniil to the hospital.”

My teeth grind as I stand, fury coursing through me as I glance at the empty, damaged truck. “Gunner, Temur. Clean this up and get the truck back to the warehouse.” My tone leaves no room for argument.

Viktor falls in step beside me as we head back to the SUV. My mind races, connecting dots I don’t like the shape of as, once again, they draw an image of Mark fucking Dalton !

I climb into the back of the SUV, and Viktor takes the wheel. Viktor drives in tense silence. The desert outside stretching endlessly, a calm oasis, while the tension inside the SUV coils tighter with every mile.

“What?” My eyes meet Viktors in the mirror. “You’ve got that look that says you’re skeptical and suspicious.”

“It’s Daniil.” Viktor stares straight ahead, navigating the sandy road with practiced ease.

“Let’s hope he makes it.” Three of my men will not be going home to their families today. Those Greek fuckers were going to pay for this, as will Mark Dalton when I find him. This time, our meeting won’t be held in my office.

“There’s something off with Daniil,” Viktor tells me. “I need to check the shipment logs.”

My brow creases as what Viktor is suggesting clicks into place. “You think Daniil’s the mole?”

“He was one of the only survivors in the last two attacks here in Vegas and was at the warehouse in Los Angeles when it was hit,” Viktor points out. “I’d say once—twice maybe he’d got lucky.” He glances at me in the mirror. “But this is beyond luck now, and we don’t deal in coincidences. I also think it’s very convenient that he only overheard what he told us. As one of our translators, Daniil speaks eight languages fluently, which includes Greek.”

Fuck! This is just getting better and better. Not only do I have two Daltons who have become a huge thorn in my side, but now I may have disloyal people working for me helping to conspire against my family. When these attacks started, at first, I thought it was another crime family trying to muscle in on my territory.

Even after hearing the Greek matriarch had reared her ugly head again and we captured our first Greek prisoner, I didn’t believe it was her. The whole thing just seemed too neat. Like we were handed that prisoner to turn our attention toward the Greek bitch—a diversion tactic, so we’re looking the wrong way when the real shit goes down.

But after my Greek Special Forces infiltrated my poker game, the conversation with Dalton last night, the document he gave me… I have to believe it is the Greek matriarch. What was it that Mark said? The sins of our fathers eventually catch up with future generations. Maybe Gavriil is right—the Greek bitch is back to finish what she started ten years ago.

“Look into Daniil and anyone else that may be helping him. Get hold of Fredrik, tell him not to let anyone else know about Daniil, then bring his sister in.” My eyes narrow as my fury reignites—I don’t tolerate disloyalty, and I can’t stand moles. “And Viktor, keep this between you and me— no exceptions !”

Viktor looks at me in the mirror and nods. Out of everyone, Viktor is the one I trust with my life. We’ve gone about ten miles, and a shot rings out, thwacking against the bulletproof windshield. A barrage of bullets slams into the SUV. Viktor jerks the wheel, swerving hard before the engine sputters and stalls, leaving us stranded.

“Out!” I bark, pulling my weapon.

The two of us hit the dirt, taking cover behind the vehicle as gunfire rains down. The desert is alive with the crack of rifles and the shouts of men. Six of them, dressed in black tactical gear, move in with precision.

I fire off a shot, dropping one, but the odds are against us. My head throbs, blood dripping from a cut I don’t remember getting. Viktor curses as a bullet grazes his arm but returns fire and takes another one of them out.

Then, salvation. Gunner and Temur roar onto the scene in the truck, mowing down two of the attackers with well-placed shots. The two remaining mercenaries are subdued, their hands zip-tied behind their backs.

I wipe the blood from my temple, now barely able to contain the rage simmering just below the surface. “I want them alive. Take them to the dungeon.”

I walk back to the SUV.

“What do you want me to do with those bodies?” Temur asks.

“Leave them for the scavengers.” My gaze sweeps over the fallen attackers. “Strip them of weapons and search the bodies for intel.”

Viktor and I leave Temur and Gunner. We head back to the Diamond Hotel. I storm out of the lift from the parking garage, heading to my office.

“I’ll get on the investigation and call Fredrik.” Viktor starts to break away, pulling out his phone.

“Where are you going?” I ask, seeing him turn toward the hotel staff quarters.

“To find Dalton.” He lifts the phone to his ear.

Nodding, I turn and am about to turn the corner for my office when I’m stopped by Judy.

“What is it?” I snap impatiently.

“Jesus! What happened to you?” She eyes my disheveled state and bloodied forehead.

“We had a run-in with some Greek prairie dogs,” I growl.

“Ambush?” Her eyes widen, and I nod. I can see she wants to ask about Viktor but holds back.

“What the hell did they want?” Her voice has a slight waiver. The only thing that gives away her worry and fear.

I shrug. “I’m sure Gunner and Temur will have a lot of fun getting it out of the two of the attackers we caught.” My eyes narrow. “What did you want, Judy?”

She taps the screen of her tablet and hands it to me. “This is just going to darken your already fucked up mood.”

I take it, and my knuckles turn white, anchored around the screen as I try not to hurl the device across the hallway when I see my office in the penthouse has been ransacked. “Fuck! When did this happen?”

“Twenty minutes ago. I was about to call you when I heard you,” Judy stops me before I can spin to head for the elevator. “Wait, there’s more.”

“Boss!” Viktor’s voice booms from behind Judy, interrupting us. She turns, and I see her shoulders sag with relief when she sees him. “Judy.” He smiles at her before turning back to me. His eyes are dark with concern.

“Did you find Dalton?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “His room had been ransacked, and someone was hurt. There’s blood pooled on the floor and stained on the walls.”

“That’s Dalton’s room and my penthouse office that has been ransacked!” My eyes land on Judy. “How did this happen? Where is my hotel security?”

“They were attending to the intruder in your office,” Judy informs me.

“What the fuck!” My jaw clenches. I address Judy. “Who’s in my penthouse now?”

“Gavriil and one of his men,” Judy informs him. “He came to fetch you for your meeting at the Ember Club.”

“Crap!” I hiss, running my hand through my hair and heading back toward my office with Viktor and Judy following me. “Viktor, find Dalton and get Gunner and Temur extra hands so they can start interrogating those Greek fuckers.” My jaw is so tight now I fear I might crack my molars. “The truck and ambush were just distractions to infiltrate the hotel.” My eyes narrow further. “How the fuck did they infiltrate the Diamond?”

Judy’s face is grim as she fiddles with her tablet and shows me the footage. “They were already here. It was two hotel staff.”

My eyes widen in disbelief. “Jesus. These two women have been here for what… eleven to twelve years!”

“Isn’t that Daniil’s sister?” Viktor asks, his eyes flashing with anger. “I knew it. He and his sister are working with the Greeks.”

“Fuck!” My brow creases tightly, and my head starts to spin. I hand the tablet back to Judy. “Where are they?”

“Dead!” Judy’s words make my anger erupt.

“For fuck’s sake!” Now I want to punch something or someone. “How?”

“Took their own lives when they were caught,” Judy answers. “Just before they did, they sent messages from their burner phones to an untraceable number. Both the messages said: tipota .”

“That’s not Russian.”

“No, it’s Greek,” Judy informs me. “According to a translation app, it means nothing.”

A cold feeling creeps up my spine. Daniil said the Monarch was looking for books and a gold key. That could be what these two bitches were looking for. They must think because Mark works and lives at the Diamond Hotel the items are hidden here.

“I want Dalton found. He has a lot of explaining to do!” My phone rings. I look at the number, and my heart jolts. It’s Dolph. Shit! Leigh . I hope those fucking bastards haven’t tried to hit the estate. “Dolph,” I answer. “Is everything okay?”

“I was just phoning to let you know that I’ve doubled the canine unit to patrol the grounds at the estate and secured it—we are officially in fortress mode,” Dolph reports. “I’m personally on Leigh watch.”

“Thank you.” My attention is drawn as Viktor steps into my office and sucks in his breath. “Keep me informed and get someone to watch my office at the estate.”

“Fuck me!” Viktor breathes as I hang up. He turns to me. “I’ve found Dalton.”

I walk into my office. The place is a disaster—there’s blood smeared across the floor. Books have been thrown off the shelves. All the drawers and closet doors open with the contents dumped out. My desk looks like a hurricane hit it. I step past Viktor, and my heart pounds as I see Mark slumped in a chair, a knife wound in his stomach.

“Fuck! Is he alive?” I rush over, pressing two fingers to his neck. The pulse is faint, but it’s there. “Dalton. Wake up.” I slap his face lightly, trying to try rouse him.

“Want me to get some ice water?” Viktor’s voice is unemotional.

Mark’s eyes flutter open, unfocused. “Protect… Leigh… gold key at…” His head flops, and his eyes close.

My grip tightens and I give him a shake. “What does that mean, Mark? What journals are they looking for?”

“Sabrina…” he murmurs, fighting to stay conscious. “Song… book…”

“Jesus Christ, Mark, what the fuck are you rambling on about!” I glance at Viktor. “Get the ice.”

“Radomir!” Judy hisses. “No! He needs to get to the hospital.”

I see her phone is already drawn to her ear and she turns to talk to the emergency services.

“Mark!” I shake him, and he flops around like a ragdoll.

“Attic…” he barely manages to whisper before passing out.

“Fuck!” I stand and slam my fists into the door, sending it banging closed.

“Rude!” Gavriil barks from the other side of the door, pushing it open again and storming into the office. Coming to a stop when he sees Dalton. “Did you kill him?” His eyes look at me accusingly.

“Right now, I would love to throttle the fucking bastard.” I turn to Viktor. “Get someone to go with Mark to the hospital. If he survives, put guards on him 24/7. Do the same for Daniil. I don’t care what you have to tell the hospital.”

Viktor nods.

“Holy crap!” Gavriil’s eyes scan the room. “This looks as bad as your office in the penthouse.”

“What time is Carla on tonight?” I start leaving the office.

“She’s on early tonight, so in two hours.” Gavriil follows me.

“Good. Time enough to change and grab something to eat.” I turn to Judy. “Get this cleaned up and someone into Dalton’s room. Look for anything that will give us a clue as to who did that to his room or him. There has to be a third person here at the hotel, and it’s probably a man.”

She nods, calling after us, “Get your head looked at.”

Gavriil and I head for the penthouse.

“What the fuck is going on, Rad?” Gavriil asks as we step into the elevator.

“The sins of our fathers are catching up to us, and somehow, Mark Dalton is in the middle of it all.” My jaw clenches. “If this is about him stealing another man’s wife, I swear, I’ll cut his fucking cock off”

“Love is a powerful thing.” Gavriil pats me on the back. “Wars have been fought over it. History is full of stories about it.”

“No, that was more like obsession, power struggles, and the fight for control.”

“Exactly!”

His words have my brows rising at the double meaning.