“I’ve got one in my car,” Matt said immediately. “I was running an errand, so I’m only ten minutes out. Wait for me. Don’t you dare be a fucking hero.”
Seth ended the call without making promises. He’d do whatever he had to in order to rescue his loved ones from Gene.
He floored the accelerator, praying he wasn’t already too late, and hit a number on his phone he hadn’t dialed in years.
He also prayed Nikolai Volkov was feeling generous.
The big Russian answered right away. “Seth Cooper. To what do I owe pleasure?”
“This isn’t a social call. I need help. I’ll repay you in kind, whatever you want.”
“Anything?” Nik drawled. “First, you warn me away from woman and now you want help?”
He’d been pissed off that day at the hotel. Jumpy. Overprotective. Nikolai was beyond brutal, but he lived by his own code of honor. He’d never hurt Heavenly.
“Everyone I love is being held hostage,” Seth blurted past his panic. “Including her. She’s pregnant.”
“This is serious problem,” Nik conceded. “I may have time. Busy schedule, you know.”
Seth gripped the wheel, half tempted to climb through the phone and beat Nik. “Don’t fuck with me. In all the years I’ve known you, I’ve asked for one name. One. And before you gave it to me, I did your dirty work for a fucking year?—”
“Tell me what you seek.”
Nik was going to play ball. Thank fuck.
Seth let out a breath. “Weapons. Muscle who aren’t afraid to kill dirty cops. And I need them now.”
Nikolai’s voice shifted, turning more calculating. “And for me? I am businessman. Favors require…context.”
Seth’s jaw clenched. “The person holding my family hostage? Specter. I know his identity. I have proof. You help me…your turf problem goes away.”
“I am listening.”
“You would have listened anyway. You just enjoy being an asshole.”
Nik laughed. “True. But I provide assistance. You have my word. You give me name.”
“Gene Hammond, NYPD detective. I’m pretty sure he’s been running the organization for close to two decades.”
“For long time, I try to identify Specter,” Nikolai spit. “Gene Hammond fits profile well. You want him dead?”
“I do, but he’s mine. My father was his partner. He built a case against Gene before the son of a bitch murdered him. I just found the evidence this morning.”
“Ah, this is personal for you. And now personal for me, too.” A pause. “Next time, lead with that. Now I am motivated to help.”
Despite everything, Seth’s mouth twitched. “Fucker.”
That made Nik laugh. “As always. Tell me situation.”
Seth gave him the essentials. When he finished, Nikolai let out a low, dark chuckle. “Specter sent man to kill you before lunch? Very rude. Clearly, he must die.”
“That’s the plan.”
“I approve.” Nikolai’s tone shifted slightly. “What does Specter want?”
“We haven’t had contact, but my guess? The evidence. Me dead. And the leverage to disappear.”
“He will not kill hostages unless forced,” Nikolai mused aloud. “Bodies create problems. Hostages create options.”
