“Do you want me to bring Wren to you?” Valentin asked.
I glanced up at the top of the staircase that led to three guest bedrooms. “Yes. I’ll have a room ready for her.”
Valentin cleared his throat. “What about Ripp Jameson? I’m getting the impression he doesn’t want to leave Wren alone with you.”
I didn’t expect anything less from him. He was loyal to his friends, and I admired that about him . . . even if he was a dick at times.
“It’s fine,” I said. “He can stay in the guest house.”
“All right. We’ll head over soon.”
“What about Kali?” I asked before he could hang up. “Are you worried about her? She’s on my brother’s radar, just like Wren and Ripp are.”
A low growl reverberated through the phone. “More than you know. If your brother even gets within fifty feet of her, I’ll put a bullet in his head.”
“The problem with Nikolai is that if he knows you’re with her, it’ll only make it more exciting for him.”
“That’s what scares me,” he replied angrily. “I’m going to try to get Kali to stay with me, but you know how she is. I’m warning you, though, Wren is much more stubborn than her.”
I don’t know why, but that made me smile. “I look forward to meeting her.”
We hung up and my pulse raced as I called Nikolai, but I wasn’t surprised when it went straight to voicemail. If anyone had heard from him, it would be our father. I called him next, and he answered on the second ring.
“Son,” he greeted. “I was just about to call you. Your mother wanted me to remind you that she’d like to have dinner with you one day this week.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” I said. “I promise to let her know the exact date and time. It’s just something’s come up that I wasn’t expecting.”
“What is it?” he asked.
I took in a breath and exhaled it sharply. “Have you spoken to Nikolai recently?” I half expected him to say no, but my adrenaline started to spike when he said yes. “Where is he?”
My father cleared his throat. “He’s in Vegas. I’m going to tell him about my plans for the family when I see him this week. I would have waited to tell him when we were in New York, but he’s been too busy in California. Something tells me I’ll never have my sons back together at home.”
“That time is long gone, Father. And it’s probably best you don’t say anything just yet. I need to find out some information from Nikolai first.”
“What kind of information?” he inquired.
I went back to the windows and peered out. “Someone close to my fighters was murdered last night, here in Vegas. They think Nikolai did it. With him being in the city, I’m also starting to believe he’s responsible. Ripp Jameson and Wren Langston are coming here for my protection.”
“Who did Nik supposedly kill last night?” my father asked.
“It was Wren’s brother, but it’s looking like Nikolai was targeting Wren. It all happened in her hotel room when she wasn’t there.”
He blew out a frustrated breath. “I see. Okay, I won’t say anything to him yet. It will only add fuel to the already raging fire.”
I scoffed. “Honestly, I don’t know if it’ll matter either way. But right now, I could use some time before all hell breaks loose.”
We hung up and I immediately called Nikolai again. He was never one to avoid a call; if anything, he loved to provoke me. After the fifth ring, I was about to hang up, but then his voice came over the line, sinister and full of malice.
“Hello, brother. To what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call?”
“I want answers,” I demanded. “Did you kill Wren’s brother last night?”
The line went silent, but then he laughed and a burning sense of rage tore through me. “I did,” he answered. “It was supposed to be her, but I got him instead. Don’t worry. I plan on having fun with the fighter girl. She’s tough as balls; it makes for a better play time.”
“You’re not going to touch her, Nikolai,” I warned.
He burst out laughing again, which made me want to jump through the phone and break his neck. “You’re protecting that one now? She’s not even part of your group of fighters.”
