Anton
Every atom in my body is about to explode.
It’s taking a tremendous amount of energy and self-control not to let that happen. Every deep breath, every movement I make contains all the rage that I must keep from blowing outward, from obliterating everything and everyone in my path.
“He has her,” I say, my voice angry and cold as I make my way up the stairs to the second floor of the private hospital. Andrei is with me.
“He has both girls. That’s what our intel is saying so far.”
“Any traceable phone numbers?”
“Our people are combing through everything we’ve gathered so far.”
“Time isn’t on our side,” I grimly remind him.
He nods once as we reach the second floor and follow the nurse’s instructions to Room 201. We find Ian resting, his eyes closed. He looks rough but turns his head and opens his eyes when we enter.
“You look like hell,” Ian remarks upon seeing me.
He’s right. I’m not at my best. I haven’t slept or shaved in almost two days, and my clothes are wrinkled. I’m in a constant fight mode with one objective on my mind, and that’s to get my wife back, alive and unharmed.
“Pot, meet kettle,” Andrei chuckles dryly, then moves around Ian’s bed and cordially shakes his hand.
He’s pale, dark circles under his eyes. The loss of blood did more damage to his body than the actual bullets, from what his doctor told us. But he will pull through, and for that, I’m grateful. Ian has been a pillar of our family for so long, I could never replace him.
“It’s a good thing you came to when the paramedics showed up,” I tell him. “A passerby saw you on the floor, maybe a few minutes after you went down. They heard tires screeching in the back alley, but they didn’t see the car or the driver.”
“I told the paramedic to bring me to this location. I figured you’d want me here. Hell, I’d want me here,” Ian says, still groggy from the anesthesia. “Nothing beats a private hospital, especially in my condition. I told myself that if I’m to die, I might as well do it on your dime, in pristine luxury.”
I can’t help but smile. “I’m glad you’re okay, Ian. Really.”
“I’m sorry, Anton,” he says, pain darkening his gaze. “I tried to keep her safe, I tried to—”
“Let’s face it, there is only so much we can do to keep Eileen from doing something once she has her mind set on doing it, especially when it comes to her family.” I sigh deeply. “It’s not your fault, and it’s not hers either. Sergei just knew what buttons to push and how to push them. I’m still not sure what role Ciara played in all of this.”
Andrei shakes his head slowly. “I don’t know. Honestly, I’m inclined to believe Eileen when she said Ciara really did have a change of heart.”
“If that’s true, then Sergei is holding them until he finalizes the legal proceedings,” I say. “He won’t need either of them after that’s done.”
And that spells death.
Ian grunts softly as he pulls himself up, Andrei helping him get comfortable with the pillows. “They were very discreet about the whole thing,” he says. “They knew they couldn’t lure Eileen to the café without good reason, and it had to be convenient for them.”
“Location-wise, you mean,” I reply.
“Yes. It must mean they have a place somewhere outside of the Gold Coast area,” he concludes. “Something quiet, perhaps. Inconspicuous.”
“Somewhere to keep Eileen and Ciara until he gets the marriage license signed and legalized by the judge,” Andrei says, then takes out his phone. “We need to put a wire out on all the judges in Chicago.”
“That’s too many,” I reply. “Besides, anyone with a license to officiate can handle this for Sergei. People can get these off the internet nowadays.”
Ian disagrees. “Considering the legal ramifications and the sheer size of this theft that Sergei is hell-bent on, I think he’ll want to go through a judge. Likely, someone who’s pliable toward the Russian or the Irish organizations. He would need familiarity with the officiant to power through with the certificate and notarization.”
“Andrei, do it. Put a wire out,” I tell my brother.
“They’re alive,” Ian tries to comfort me. “You’d have found them by now if they weren’t.”
“That could change from one hour to the next,” I mumble.
“In the meantime, you need to gamble and go all-in,” he replies.
I give him a startled look. “What do you mean?”
“Summon all the families. Emergency council meeting. Bring all the evidence that you’ve gathered. Let Andrei speak on your behalf while you’re out there looking for Eileen. Make sure it’s a big enough circus to draw attention to Kuznetsov’s and Mattis’ movements.”
“He’s got most of the Bratva families on his side,” I remind him. “It would be moot.”
“Not if he’s looking to kill the Donovan sisters, especially a pregnant one,” Andrei says once he’s off the phone. “No, I’m with Ian on this. I will bet you a million bucks or more that most of the families siding with Kuznetsov at this point have no idea how many laws he’s breaking under our treaty. Let me do this. I’ll go in, do a whole number, slam my fist into the table, do a fucking slideshow of everything we’ve uncovered up until now. It’ll be enough to cast doubt, at the very least.”
“It might even get some of his sympathizers to change their mind and give us important information,” Ian adds.
A knock on the door causes the three of us to go quiet.
Tommy Benedetto walks in.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’ve had eyes on Ian since he was brought here,” Tommy replies with a wry smile, then gives Ian a friendly nod. “Glad to see you’re not dead yet.”
“I’m a persistent SOB, what can I say?”
“This isn’t a courtesy visit,” I mumble. “What is it, Tommy?”
He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Slow enough to get my anxiety crackling again. “I’ve got some information from my NSA contacts,” he says. “You’re not gonna like it, though.”
“About his activities?”
“And his whereabouts. I’ve got a line on him, Anton. But we need to be really careful about how we proceed here.”
“Why?”
“He moved the Donovan sisters deep into Triad territory last night. I don’t know all the details, but I do know you can’t just go in there, gung-ho, and shoot your way through,” Tommy replies.
Andrei frowns. “Can’t you find out? You Camorra boys have some favors to curry with the Lee clan, from what I recall.”
“That’s why I’m here. I’m meeting one of the Lee boys for coffee in about an hour,” Tommy says, then narrows his eyes at me. “Think you can come with me but refrain from causing a scene? We need him to tell us what he knows. I can’t get in hot water with the Triads, Anton. Regardless of our treaties and agreements, we have to be careful and play nice.”
Sergei is hiding in Triad territory precisely because he knows how hard it is for us to penetrate the Chinese web. The Russians and the Chinese are great at doing business together above the line, but when it comes to shit off the grid, we’ve had some bloody skirmishes over the years.
“Our history with the Lees doesn’t exactly work in our favor,” Andrei reminds me.
“I’ll do it,” I say. “I’ll go with Tommy. You gather the Bratva council. See who shows up. Whoever is unable to meet you at the Upton Conference Center will probably be too busy supplying Sergei with tactical and financial support.”
“That will give us a good idea if there’s anything left to salvage,” Andrei mutters.
“And, most importantly, we’ll be able to see how much damage Sergei has already done to the organization. At least I’ll know what I’ll be coming back to once I save my wife and put a bullet in that fucker’s head,” I reply.
Something will shake loose from somewhere. And when it does, it will reveal a trail for me to follow. That’s all I need. A trail, a scent. And then he’s all mine. I would’ve forgiven any attempt on my life or my businesses; competition among the families is often fierce. I understand a man’s rabid desire to succeed more than most.
Sergei isn’t playing with my life. He’s playing with my wife’s and our unborn children’s lives.
I cannot forgive that, nor can I respond with anything less than every ounce of lethal force I have at my disposal.
Howard Lee doesn’t look happy that I’m joining his coffee date with Tommy. As soon as he sees me and Tommy walk through the café door, he gets up from the table, ready to bolt.
“Tommy,” I warn my friend.
“I got this,” he replies and goes ahead of me.
I can’t hear what they’re saying to each other, but I wait with whatever shred of patience I have left. Tommy was right about one thing—I cannot burn every bridge to get to Sergei. Some of them must be crossed, and that requires paying a toll.
Looking around, I notice the place is quite busy. These people don’t have a clue about what’s going on here. Howard Lee came in with a neutral position in mind; it’s not a trap. He really is here to talk.
Finally, Tommy gets him to sit back down. I join them, but I can tell that Lee is still extremely nervous about my presence.
“Hey, Howie,” I say with a casual smile.
“Just listen to what he has to say,” Tommy tells him.
Lee nods once, then shifts his focus to me. “Mr. Karpov.”
“Anton, please,” I reply. “We’re friends here, I promise.”
“Surely, you understand the delicate situation I’m in,” he says.
Tommy and I exchange glances. Lee managed to say a lot with a few words but it’s a good thing. It gives me a clear direction forward, while worst-case scenarios of what Eileen is enduring constantly replay in the back of my mind.
“Here’s the thing, Howie. I understand Sergei’s got you doing business with him. Big business with a lot of money involved. I’m guessing he promised you’d make way more than you ever made with the Karpovs.”
“And the Fedorovs put together,” Lee mutters.
“Wow, that’s mighty ambitious coming from a man who is virtually broke.” Tommy chuckles dryly and takes out his phone, showing Lee several key screenshots. “He’s been lying to you, Howard.”
“That can’t be,” Lee says, an expression of disbelief on his face.
“Sergei Kuznetsov has been running quite the con. Promising money he doesn’t have in order to gain access to favors and market segments that he wouldn’t be able to touch otherwise. He’s been working the Donovans for a while now, and he’s this close to getting his grubby hands on their estate,” I say, squeezing my forefinger and thumb close together for emphasis. “That’s what Sergei is using to do business with you. Money that isn’t his.”
Lee gives me a hard look. “It’s still money.”
“It comes at the cost of my wife’s life. She’s pregnant with my children, twins.”
“Not to mention her stepsister,” Tommy adds. “That’s four innocent lives, Howard. If you allow that to happen, you’ll give us no choice but to reconsider our business arrangements with the Triads going forward.”
“You wouldn’t.”
The Camorras’ and the Triads’ history is about as long and fruitful as ours, minus the bloodshed. The Italians and the Chinese seem to get along okay, probably because they learned from my forefathers’ mistakes. You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. Threatening to pull your whole business out of the Triads’ reach is quite the grievous threat.
Tommy probably doesn’t have that kind of authority, but Lee doesn’t know that.
“I would. You see, there are lines we do not cross, Howard,” Tommy says. “Hurting women and children is one of them.”
“The treaty our organizations signed years ago still stands,” I add. “If Sergei hurts my wife, he’s directly attacking a Karpov, in which case, you would all be required to support us. If you don’t, every other member and co-signatory of that treaty would be entitled to cease doing any business with you. The Chinese are mighty in Chicago, I’ll give you that, but you don’t have the juice to take on the Russians and the Italians together. I know you are well aware of that.”
“I thought we were sitting down for coffee, not issuing threats.”
“Howie, it is what it is. I just need your help,” I say, sitting back in the booth and slightly raising my hands in mock defense before turning serious again. “He’s got my wife. I need to know where he is.” My raised hands turn to fists that I slowly lower onto the table, my expression one of angry determination. I can almost feel my eyes turning cold and black.
“How would I know?” he asks innocently.
I’ve been around liars my whole life. I can spot deception from a mile away.
I give him a small smile, though my eyes remain cold and unyielding. “He asked for your help. He knows I’d find him anywhere in Bratva territory. Sergei needs a safe place to hide while he obtains the legal paperwork he needs to conclude this giant con that he’s been playing. He came to you, didn’t he?”
“What if he did?”
I lean forward. “Do you have children, Howie?”
“Are you threatening my children now, Mr. Karpov?” He meets my gaze, stern and unafraid.
“No, I’m merely trying to explain that I’d very much like to have children of my own. I just told you that my wife is pregnant with twins. If anything happens to them, it will be on your head. And I will make sure that your children, that your entire family, knows it. I will also make sure your children know what their legacy is. From what I hear, patricide is quite common among the Triads.”
Tommy releases a heavy sigh. The waitress approaches our table to take our order, but he waves her away. We won’t be staying here much longer.
“I cannot betray a business associate,” Lee insists, albeit weakly. His walls are almost down. He just needs one last bit of encouragement.
“Have you received any funds from him yet?” I ask.
He shakes his head slowly. “No. They’re in escrow.”
“He’s not your business associate until money passes through your hands. If there’s been no transfer yet, then there’s no partnership. It’s the ‘yet’ that I’m banking on. Howie, I’m only asking for some information here. I need to know where to find him.”
“I need an incentive,” is his reply.
In the old days, I would’ve just pistol-whipped the shit out of him until he sang like a fucking soprano, but these aren’t the old days anymore, and there’s too much at stake.
“Whatever business deal you had with him, I’ll take over,” I tell him.
“We’re talking two hundred million dollars’ worth of merchandise that you’ll be buying from me,” he says.
“Make it three hundred.” I shrug. “Unlike Sergei, I literally have money to burn.”
“Are you serious?” Tommy gives me a troubled look.
I shrug again. “If that’s what it takes for me to get my family back in one piece.” I glance again at Lee. “So, there you go, you now have an incentive. I should add, however, that if this incentive doesn’t satisfy you, I will have no choice but to resort to less pleasant methods. I’m losing my patience here, Howie. Help me, and you will help yourself.”
He thinks about it for what feels like forever.
“Time is running out,” I add. “My wife and unborn children need me.”
“Fine,” Lee finally relents. “Sergei called me late last night. Said he needed a place to stay. A safe place that’s off the radar. He sent a courier to my door with a bunch of diamonds, payment for doing him this favor, he called it.”
“He’s selling off the Donovan family jewels,” Tommy says.
“Where did you tell him to go?” I ask Lee.
“I have a few locations throughout the city and on the outskirts. I figured he’d want easy access into the city, though.”
“Where is he?”
“East Side.”
