“You’renot going to take a look?” Ben asks, his voice apprehensive.
“Do I need to take a look? Would you cross us?” I level him with a glare.
“N-no, of course not. It’s just that Luka always looked inside.”
“Like I said, Luka is otherwise occupied.”
I don’t wait for a response. Dom and I lift the crate and carry it out to the car. If this dusty wooden crate ruins my Brioni suit, I swear to God I’m going to lose my fucking mind. We load the crate into the trunk, and Dom slams it shut. I shake the dust off my hands and pants, my face scrunching with disdain.
“You good, boss?” he asks as he starts the car, the corner of his lips turned up into a smirk.
“Just drive.”
He lets out a low chuckle. It’s been a while since I was on this side of the business.
Dom parks in the garage underneath the casino. The delivery of the arms we got from Ben went over smoothly. I lick my thumb, trying to rub the scratch from my shoe. It disappears underneath my thumb, and I huff a relieved breath.
My unofficial office can’t be reached directly from the garage, so Dom and I make our way through the ground floor and the back offices ofthe casino.
“Ivan will be here any minute now,” Dom says as we pass the surveillance room, but I hear his voice like I’m underwater.
On the enormous screen my security guy is scrutinizing, I recognize a silhouette that’s hard to forget. Her back is turned to the camera, but I’d know that ass anywhere. Her dress is dark green today, complementing her red hair and her stunning curves. My eyes stuck to the screen, I trail her hypnotizing movements until she turns her front to us.
My breath catches in my throat at the sight of her face, before I realize she can’t see me. Dom clears his throat, snapping me out of my trance. It’s when I notice Mike, the security guy, licking his lips and everything clicks into place. He doesn’t suspect she’s cheating. No, he’s taking his time watching her because he’s probably imagining her out of that sinful dress she has on.
A flame starts in my stomach, traveling all the way to my fists. “Is there a reason you’re focusing on this camera while ignoring all the other potential cheats?” I bite out.
Mike scrambles to switch the screen to a different camera when a voice calls from the hallway. “Boss.”
I turn to see Ivan, wearing his signature black cargo pants and combat boots. Exactly what Luka wore every day. I swallow down the fear that my brother is in danger and jerk my head to signal that he should follow me.
As soon as we enter my office, I approach the dry bar and pour myself a drink. I don’t offer him one.
I drop into my chair, shooting him a disappointed look. “Want to tell me why the first Russian we captured is dead without giving us anything?”
The black of his shirt expands to the blackout tattoo on his neck. His jaw clenches, but his eyes are devoid of emotion. “It happens.” He shrugs, and I grip the shot glass hard enough to break it.
“Does it? Here I was, thinking you’re a professional.”
“If you did the dirty work yourself, you’d know it happens,” he grits through his teeth.
“Look, I know your loyalty lies with Luka. But I’m doing my best to get him back.” My finger traces the edge of the glass in a feeble attempt to calm me down.
“And you don’t think I want him back?” He stabs a finger to his chest, his eyes now burning with rage. “He might be your blood, but I consider him a brother, too.”
I sigh, relaxing back in the chair. I get him. He’s arguably even closer to Luka than I am. “Did you at least get some intel?”
“The boy was a mess. He was wailing so hard I could hardly make out the words, and no, I don’t think he was privy to any useful intel.”
I rub a hand over my face. “Fine. Don’t let it happen again.”
He grumbles in response.
Just as he reaches the door, I add, “What about the club?”
“I’ll handle it.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. Luka bought a sex club a few months back. It was his passion project that I’ve shown little respect to. I was too deep into the family business side of things, trying to pick up where our father’s death left us, to support his endeavor. The least I can do is keep it afloat until Luka gets back.
