Adrian
We're still at The Plaza. Alexei's men posted outside the conference room. My hands are still shaking from wanting to strangle him.
"Why the fuck would this Artem asshole be targeting my wife?" I demand.
Alexei rolls his eyes. "You Italians think you own the city, so much hubris, it's amazing you've managed to hold on for so long. Artem is former KGB. Went private when he got burned. Now he runs one of the most efficient mercenary operations in the world." Alexei's jaw tightens. "He collects soldiers. Trains them. Deploys them. And he's very, very good at what he does." Alexei is pacing. "At first I thought it might be federal agents who blew up your safehouse. They have the training. But it didn't make sense."
He's rambling, and I feel a shard of ice form in my stomach. Alexei is scared of Artem. It's clear.
"Artem came to Seraphina weeks ago?"
I nod. "He made mention of Gabe, which is why I assumed he was one of yours. Name didn't ring a bell, though."
"Fuck." Alexei ran a hand through his hair. "Artem hasprobably been sowing these seeds for months, even years. He likely knew about Gabe even before I approached him."
Understanding clicks into place. "You have history with him."
"You could say that." His smile is cold. "Let's just say Artem and I have a long-standing disagreement about how business should be conducted. He thinks I owe him something for some...property damage. I disagree."
"My wife is in the middle of a fucking property dispute?" I flex my fingers. They are itching to kill him. I'll deliver Alexei to this man myself if it gets Gabe off the streets.
"I can see what you're thinking," Alexei says, "and I'm going to stop you there. Artem doesn't give a fuck about the Neros."
"Which is why I should give him what he wants."
Alexei snorts. "Artem wants me to suffer. He'd likely kill your wife for taking away his fun."
"You Russians are fucking insane."
Alexei laughs. "My guess is that Gabriel needed muscle, and Artem needed a way to get to me. Your wife is just collateral damage. He's not against harming women, but he's got no reason to go after you." His voice is flat. "Gabriel probably sold it as a simple extraction job. Get paid, cause some chaos, disappear. Artem took it because it puts pressure on me."
My hands curl into fists. "So, my wife is caught in the middle of your fucking feud?"
"Essentially, yes." He doesn't flinch. "Which is why I'm telling you. Because if Artem is involved, you need to know what you're dealing with."
Rage floods through me. Hot and consuming.
I move before I can think. My fist connects with Alexei's jaw, snapping his head back. Then I'm on him, grabbing him by the throat, slamming him against the wall.
"You brought this to my door," I snarl. "Your enemy. Your problem. And now my wife is in danger because of you."
Alexei's guards move immediately, guns drawn.
But Alexei raises his hand, stopping them. Blood trickles from his split lip, but he doesn't fight back. Just looks at me with those cold, calculating eyes.
"You get this one for free," he says calmly. "Because I understand your anger. But let me be very clear, Adrian. I didn't bring Artem here. Gabriel did. Your brother-in-law. Sweet Seraphina wasn't a valuable target until you made her one."
His words make me sick. Because they're right.
I release him, stepping back.
I stare at Alexei. At the blood on his lip. At the guards with guns still half-raised.
This could go sideways fast. Turn into a bloodbath right here in The Plaza.
But my wife is out there. Pregnant. Taken.
And this Russian bastard might be the only one who can help me find her.
