Page 159 of The Bratva King

“Close the door,” I say.

Roman closes it.

Pasha pulls out his phone.

“Matteo Castellano is behind it,” Pasha says.

The room falls silent.

Gabby’s words replay in my head. I watched him die.

“He’s alive,” I say, the final piece falling into place.

Sergei curses under his breath.

Pasha looks at me. “He had someone on the inside of the FBI operation. They tipped him off forty-eight hours before the takedown. The body they recovered was someone else.” He pauses. “He’s been in Italy for five years. Lying low. Letting the dust settle while his wife’s evidence put half his family away.”

“She didn’t know he was alive,” I say. “She thinks she’s been running from the family.”

“What changed?” Maksim asks.

Pasha picks up the thread. “He came to Vegas a couple of months ago. Rebuilding credibility after his wife put several members of the organization away. He wants back in, but he can’t return to the East Coast without exposing that he’s alive. So, he came here.”

I continue listening as my mind races.

“He started following her as soon as he recognized her. The mugging was an attempt to get her identification and confirm who she was. The roses were personal. He was fucking with her.”

“And then he saw Luke,” I say.

Pasha meets my eyes. “The boy looks just like him, Nik. There’s no mistaking it.”

My thumb and forefinger press together.

“Does he intend to hurt Luke?”

“Not according to the plan. He wants to present his heir to the don and secure his position in the family. Then, he plans to send him to Italy to be trained in the organization until he comes of age.”

“Fuck.” The word tears out of me. I can’t even fathom what Gabby is experiencing. I slap the desk. “Motherfucker!”

“Has he already gotten him out of the country?” Sergei asks.

My thumb and finger rub faster. My breath turns shallow. Pasha looks directly at me and slowly shakes his head. “Not yet. Your men cast a wide net. Moving that fast bought us time.”

“I have to tell her.” I push away from the desk. “Pasha, get me a fucking location.”

“You know I will.”

I look toward the ceiling, toward where Gabby is waiting upstairs.

I promised her I would bring Luke home.

Now I know who I have to kill to keep that promise.

39

Gabby

Lila’s nice. I like her. Nik told me enough about what she survived that I understand why he thought she might be the one person I could stand to have near me right now. I’d probably enjoy getting to know her even more if my world wasn’t collapsing around me. But I’m genuinely grateful she’s here.