“I’d bet my Rolls on it,” I grumble.
“Why would he leave Dash here?” He goes on, clearly fumbling through his own attempts at making sense of things.
All these years watching me terrorize people, and he’s still so innocent.It’s cute.
“Well, he clearly knows Alexander is here, doesn’t he?” I peer at him, cocking a pointed brow. “It’s the only conceivable explanation. He knows Alexander won’t allow Dascha to come to harm.”
Yari is quiet for a moment, waiting until we’re just outside the study to ask, “And Kemper?” I face him, cocking my head. “Will he come to harm?”
“If he stays in that prison? Most definitely,” I growl, pushing open the door to the study and striding inside.
It’s odd. This room has been bustling with bodies for weeks now, a central hub of operations. Men everywhere, planning, organizing. It’s flabbergasting to me that I have a goddamn battalion of soldiers on this island, and yet we’ve managed to be evaded by a few stray fucking dogs with some guns.
This is what I was talking about. The blatant incompetence is… dazzling.
I can’t wait to replace them all with cats.
The once-crowded room now houses only one person. A man I’ve known longer than everyone on this island… All butone, that is.
I take a moment to assess Alexander Reznikov where he’s seated, on the big chair, leafing through a copy ofThus Spoke Zarathustra. He’s obviously older now than when we first met, sixteen-some-odd years ago. As am I. But he seems to have aged well, only some salt and pepper at his temples—disguised a bit by his light brown hair—and a few more lines around his eyes. Still, I’d say he looks better than many of his cohorts in Vegas.
I’m impressed. He hasn’t allowed the city of sin to take its toll on him.
However, at the moment, he is visibly more agitated than the last time I saw him face to face. I suppose I can understand why…
Slapping the book shut, he cocks his head up at me. “Have you found him?”
I purse my lips, jaw tensing. “Not yet.”
“Shame,” he hums. “I am eager to meet my future son-in-law.”
My gaze narrows in suspicion. I don’t for one second believe he hasn’t yet encountered Kellan Kemper, just like a don’t believe the mansion was hisfirst stopwhen he arrived here.
“At the rate he’s going, he won’t have a future, let alone the opportunity to become your son-in-law.” I stroll slowly around the room.
“What do you suggest?” He scoffs a bit, and I glower at him. “He clearly knows you, which means he is smart enough to know giving himself up gives you leverage against my son.”
I pause, frustrations bubbling. “Anyone choosing to side with my former protégé cannot be described assmart. Because I’m going to wipe them all out. Every last one of them. It’s only a matter of time.”
He gives me a look like he doesn’t believe me. It has my fingers twitching for my knife, until I recall that I don’t have it… which frustrates me more.
“What are you waiting for, anyway?” Alexander’s head slants. “Do not act like you could not have killed them all ten times over by now…”
My teeth are grinding together so hard, they’re practically snapping.
“Something is holding you back, Mr. Ivory.” His lips twitch. “I think I know what it is, but I would love to give you the opportunity to admit it out loud for yourself.”
“You are really testing my patience, amigo,” I snarl. “Don’t forget that I currently have your son chained up in the other room…”
His haughty arrogance slips away in an instant as he stands up. “And do notyouforget our agreement. You will not lay a hand on my son.”
“But he’s just so pretty,” I goad, leaning against the wall. “Especially when he’s sad.” I pout, and Alexander is teeming. “Broken toys are the most fun. You can be as rough as you want…” I wink.
He stomps up to me, vibrating, while I chuckle. “Fuck you, suka. Do not make me regret not killing you a year ago.”
“About that,” I hum. “Russo will be here any minute.”
Alexander’s face shifts. The rage is still there, but now it’s shifting away from me, like he’s putting it away for the time being. Saving it for someone who deserves it more.
