As soon as this shit with the Russians was over, I’d let her know.
***
We showed up twenty minutes early at the old, half-burned down high school on the outskirts of Steel City, armed to fucking hell and anxious as can be. I knew some shit was going to go down, I felt it in the way my legs and arms buzzed with that anticipation of something imminent.
We didn’t hide from whatever was coming, we were just prepared as we waited.
And waited.
Anton showed up right on time, a convoy of five black Suburbans parked in a straight line. He stepped out looking slick as fuck in a dark blue suit with a silver shirt, flanked by two brick wall looking motherfuckers dressed in black.
Two more men stepped from the vehicle beside Anton’s, carrying a bruised, bloody, and bound James St. John III.
Every atom in my fucking body went ice cold.
He looked even worse than when I last saw him, a broken nose, swollen eyes, and torn shirt now added to his list of injuries. Whatever Anton and his men had done to the asshole, it hadn’t been gentle or kind.
“Travis Marconi,” Anton began without ceremony as he approached. “Diesel, thank you for meeting with me.”
Diesel nodded politely. “You didn’t give us much of a choice.”
Anton’s lips pulled into a tight smile. “I thought it best to handle this particular part of our business in person.”
My gaze was fixed on St. John. My palms squeezed into fists and my jaw clenched tight enough to crack teeth. “What business is that?”
His grin grew brighter. “After our earlier skirmish, I understand your suspicions, but I assure you that it was a mistake based upon manipulation.”
I nodded, my jaw clenched and my anger barely contained.
“You have given me a gift,” he began, his accent smooth and slightly cultured. “To know the truth of my father’s death in his killer’s own words has allowed me to put this matter to rest.”
“So you don’t want to kill him,” I asked, my tone incredulous.
Anton grinned. “Make no mistake that I want him dead but in the spirit of what happened earlier, his attempt to have your son kidnapped and killed must not be ignored so I am offering you this, him and his life, as a thank you for the gift you have given me.” He motioned to St. John, who was shoved to his knees by two angry Russians built like refrigerators.
“What the fuck,” he growled. “You gonna pass me back and forth between your assholes?” St. John feigned strength but he was terrified because he knew there was no more running. There was no escape possible.
“Don’t worry, this is the last time you’ll get passed around for fun,” I assured him as I reached to the holster behind me. My hand wrapped around the cold steel and my heart slowed to a crawl, ready to do what I’ve been itching to since the park.
Diesel raised a hand and let it fall to my shoulder, a small gesture I took as a green light. “We appreciate this gift, Anton.”
St. John barked out a laugh. “Are you really going to do his dirty work?” He flicked a gaze at Anton. “Don’t be stupid.”
“You tried to have my son kidnapped and killed.” I could barely push the words past my lips without shaking with rage. “This is for me.”
He smiled. “So you say.”
“Before you die, I just want you to know that Viv loves me.”
His brows shot up angrily and I smiled as I aimed the barrel right at his head and pulled the trigger once, the crack of the gunshot echoed on the night air. His body tumbled to the ground with a groan. “That was for trying to take my son from me and this one is for torturing my woman for three years.” I stood tall and squeezed the trigger again, watching as the bullet cut through his throat.
Hate bubbled up, uncontainable as I watched his still body and dead eyes. I spit at him before holstering my gun and turning away.
“So we’re square,” Rocky asked, his tone more aggressive than usual. “For the man in the park?”
Anton nodded. “Da.I cannot blame a mother for protecting her son.” He smiled, shaking his head. “The things mymother has done to protect me would make you sick. It is unwise to come between a loving mother and her child.” He said the words so easily and in that moment, I understood Anton more than I ever thought possible. “I applaud your woman for keeping your son safe.”
“She’ll be happy to hear that.”
