“Get the owner on the goddamn line!” I was headed to the top of the stairs just as three of our men were half carrying the still shaken assailant from the playroom.

  “No need. She’s downstairs,” he said. “She’s very shook up. Be gentle with her, boss.”

  Gentle? Right now, I could torch the fucking world.

  I took long strides, ripping off the duct tape from the asshole’s mouth. “Who are you?” Blood was caked on his face, his eye swollen almost completely shut from where Lainey had smashed the bat against the side of his face, yet he was able to smile. That was enough for me to react.

  The hard punch went straight to the middle of his face. I threw another into his gut just because I was pissed off.

  “Enough,” Alexsey growled. “Not like this. Not when we could have prying eyes.”

  He was right. We had no idea which guests were still hiding in rooms. “Jaxon. Sweep the house and grounds for any remaining guests. If their names match to the list, let them go.”

  “What if they talk?”

  We hadn’t faced being worried about witnesses in a long time. “Let them,” Mikhail answered before I had a chance to. “We faced a home invasion. It’s happened before. That’s what we’re going to tell the police and any reporters. Go spend time with your family, Sasha. You’ve been through an ordeal.”

  “Not until I talk to the goddamn caterer.” I’d been the shy kid, the one who’d shied away from every aspect of our family for as long as possible. Hell, I’d never raised my voice to Mikhail or questioned anything he’d commanded since becoming Pakhan.

  Maybe because I’d lived as a shell of a man, the last seven years making it impossible to care enough about almost anything outside my home to keep me enraged.

  Everything changed today.

  While he didn’t try to stop me from jogging down the stairs, I knew he’d follow. I headed into the kitchen by slamming my hand on the door. All eight of the remaining caterers jumped. They were all standing as if in a lineup, uncertain what fate awaited them.

  I noticed the owner right away. Mary Tyler had catered a half-dozen events in Dreamscape over the last year, more at the other resorts over the last five years. Her food was the best in the business, her professionalism without question. While she’d been second choice based on Halle’s recommendation, I hadn’t thought twice about making a phone call and asking for a favor.

  Which was why when I noticed the terror on her face, I immediately softened.

  “I’m so sorry, Mr. Dmitriyev,” she said. “I don’t know what to say.”

  There was an ache behind my eyes, the dull throbbing making it impossible to think clearly. I was right in that Mikhail was close behind me. Since the only time he’d seen me this way was after Selena died, he had a right to be concerned.

  “Were they your regular employees?”

  “No, sir.”

  I felt the same pull toward uncontrollable violence just like before. I closed my eyes briefly, allowing Lainey’s face to push into my mind. I was also able to hear her voice as if she was singing right next to me. “What happened, Mary?”

  “You’ve always been such an amazing client so when you called, I couldn’t say no. We simply didn’t have enough regular employees for your party and another that had already been booked. My partner contacted a firm we’ve used before. They only hire fully qualified people.”

  Mikhail was suddenly right beside me, taking his time staring at the group of younger men and women in the line. I recognized at least four of them.

  “Are any of them in this group?”

  She shook her head and the look on her face indicated she’d connected the dots. “These are my regular employees. They’d never do anything like this.”

  “As you might imagine, we’ll need the names of the employees and your contact at this agency.” Mikhail’s voice was on edge, but at least he could offer her a smile.

  “Of course. Anything you need.” She was white as a sheet.

  I placed my hand on her arm. “It’s okay, Mary. It’s not your fault.” Right now, I was still at the point of destroying anyone who got in my way of discovery. I’d never been this angry. “Why don’t you and the staff collect your things and head out? I have a cleaning crew on the way. I’ll make certain your chafing dishes and anything else we find is brought back to you tomorrow. Okay?”

  “If you’re sure.”

  “I’m sure. This has been a difficult day for everyone.”

  Until we’d had a chance to check the bodies and deal with the police our way, I didn’t want anyone else on the premises taking pictures or finding additional dirty laundry for the internet. Although I was almost certain news had hit social media already. That’s how people were. They couldn’t care less about the living people involved in a tragedy.

  “I’m headed outside,” I told Mikhail, at least waiting this time until he nodded.

  Once I was standing on the pool deck surveying the carnage, I realized just how quiet it had become. Where there were screams and wails before, gunshots penetrating the beautiful afternoon sky, now there was only the light breeze and the sound of Nina’s favorite wind chime.

  The bar set up for guests was a complete disaster, bottles tossed, glasses smashed. With chairs tossed to the side, tablecloths strewn across the ground, two tables crushed from where bodies had fallen against them, and blood splattered throughout with bodies littering the ground, there was no denying what had occurred.

  What struck me harder than anything had nothing to do with the dead man in masks. It was the fact that the three present tables appeared undisturbed, as if there’d been some divine intervention in protecting them.

  I tipped my head a few seconds, finally chuckling although nothing about this was amusing in the least. “Are you going to keep following me?”

  “I will if necessary,” Mikhail said while following my gaze.

  “I’m fine.”

  “You’re anything but fine. If something happened to Bristol and my little boy, I’d be flying off the rails, but at this point it won’t do any good.”

  “Was anyone else hurt? The family? Guests?” I’d yet to ask. What the hell did that make me?

  His sigh was as heavy as the weight on my heart. “One guest was shot in the arm, another trampled, but he’ll be fine. No one in the family was hurt.”

  “Then it’s true. They wanted the two little girls, not to assassinate the family. That’s what Lainey mentioned.”

  “I wouldn’t draw any conclusions yet. Maybe they hadn’t been prepared for our calculated reaction.”

  “That’s not the behavior of any organized group of assassins, which I think they were. And I doubt Damien did this.” Although I still had the desire to beat his head into a pulp.

  Mikhail chuckled, but his voice was as strained as I felt. “I’d already heard about your interaction with Damien Kane at the bar and I did a little checking. He’s an asshole and has been for most of his life, but he’s incapable of planning something so highly organized.”

  “You knew I’d confronted him.”

  “I am the Pakhan. Plus, I know Jeremy Sutton, the owner of the hotel where Damien is staying.”

  That didn’t mean the asshole wasn’t working with someone. No, he was right. I was stretching things to find a neat and tidy fit when I knew like everyone else there wasn’t one.

  “Did you call the police?” I wasn’t certain I wanted to hear the answer. We might control the police department, the sheriff considered a good friend, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t expect hours of interrogation. I wouldn’t be able to handle it without losing my cool. There was no doubt either this had been a test or a warning.

  Something much worse was coming.

  “I haven’t authorized doing so, but my guess is that a guest did since they’re on their way. So are a couple ambulances. I’ll handle the police. You try and calm down. See to Lainey. We can’t have her blabbing to the press.”

  “You don’t know her, Mikhail. She won’t do that.”

  “You might need to ensure she doesn’t.” His look was more commanding than before. He was talking about keeping her against her will if necessary.

  That wasn’t anything I wanted a part of, but I nodded. There was no sense in making things worse than they already were.

  “I also need to talk to the surviving son of a bitch.” That much was going to happen.

  “Not now.” He tipped his head with a demanding look in his eyes when I dared question him with my expression alone. “Not a good idea until you’ve calmed down. Keeping him on ice might provide more incentive. Talk to Lainey. Try and dispel her fears.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Look, I understand what happened today likely brought back memories, but you need to try and keep control. We must keep up appearances. I know that sounds crass, but that’s the way it is. There will be sharks circling the waters hoping for chum. We’ll also need to temper what we say to reporters. Then in about five days, the news cycle will switch. That’s the way of the world. In the meantime Lainey is obviously very special to you.”

  “I—”

  “Don’t interrupt me. You can try and deny it all you want, and I can understand why. That doesn’t change what I’ve witnessed already between the two of you. That’s called undeniable chemistry.”

  “What if I can’t protect her the way I couldn’t Selena?”

  “A wise man once told me that shying away from everything I wanted for fear of losing it was nothing more than throwing my life away. The time for mourning and guilt is over. Admitting your feelings for that woman doesn’t diminish your love of Selena or her memory.”

  “But you still want to ensure she doesn’t talk badly about us.”

  “You’re such a stubborn asshole. No, we can’t allow that to happen, but I meant what I said.”

  I shoved my hands into my pockets. He was right. I’d felt a growing bond, a connection few people found even once in their lives. Lainey had experienced it, but how could she accept even taking a step forward after witnessing this horror show? “Bringing anyone into our world right now isn’t good for them. The target is too large. We need to discover who is constantly attacking us. This was a goddamn children’s birthday party, for fuck’s sake. Why would anyone put the lives of children in danger? Why? How can there be so much hatred for what we do to endanger lives?”

  “I wish I had a life-altering answer for you, but I don’t. What I do know is that sometimes hatred is as lasting as the act of love. But here’s something you should know as well or even better than I do. Love can brutalize your soul, but it can also conquer all.”

  I threw him a look. “A little sappy there, cousin.”

  “Maybe so, but also true. Now, take Lainey and Nina. Grab a suite at Ecstasy. Stay a couple days until you decide where to land at least for a week or so.”

  I knew what he was getting at. While I’d yet to see what damage had been done to the house, before I brought Nina back home, it would need to appear as if nothing had happened. The last thing I wanted was for her to be afraid in her own home. Plus, taking Lainey with me would prevent her from talking.

  “Both he and Nina already have somewhere to stay.” Hearing Lainey’s sweet voice brought another wave of angst.

  We both turned toward her and while she was able to look me in the eyes, I could tell where her line of sight had gone.

  To the carnage.

  I stepped in front of her and she seemed briefly startled. “Why aren’t you inside having a drink?”

  “Because I wanted to make certain you were alright.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Go with her. Continue celebrating Nina’s birthday,” Mikhail suggested as he started to walk by.

  “I need to be here.”

  He stopped long enough to smile at Lainey before addressing me. “I’m not suggesting or even asking. I’m telling you as your Pakhan. You’re not needed here.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Lainey

  Death.

  I’d never really thought about it before, at least not in the terms of seeing several dead bodies strewn about on a perfectly manicured lawn.

  Granted, my favorite television shows were cop dramas, but not the kind you found on the networks. Bor-ring and censored to death. I enjoyed seeing the grisly aspect of violence and the aftermath and always had.

  My mother had wondered if I’d turn out to be a serial killer one day. She’d even mentioned it flippantly during a barbeque she and my father had thrown for a few of their friends.

  It had become a standing joke in the household, but their guests had been floored, staring at her with wide eyes and open mouths because of her serious tone.

  However, since I’d never seen death up close or even from twenty yards away, I’d never had the displeasure of inhaling the stench of copper. Even now when I took a deep breath, I was still able to detect a hint.

  Maybe even worse than the lightheadedness I’d gotten from a hint of nausea had been the ugly thoughts swimming through my mind.

  Such as…

  If I hadn’t ceased taking swings of the softball bat. What would happen then if a head was hit by a woman with extreme anger a dozen times? Would it pop like a watermelon when tossed against a wall?

  Seeing the man’s weapon, I’d almost grabbed it and done target practice with his manhood. Just for spite for ruining such a fabulous day.

  Okay, that was a little extreme, but after suffering what I had from Damien and after Scott yelling at me for a full five minutes on the phone before I’d hung up on him, I’d arrived at the party with voodoo on my mind. My manager had warned me what I was getting into with raging, violent criminals.

  I could only imagine what he’d say after news broke about the attack. And I knew it would since countless photos had been taken.

  I’d yet to ask if anything like the horrific attack had ever occurred before. I honestly hadn’t come down enough from the rafters to challenge anything I was feeling.

  When I heard Sasha’s controlled but heavy breathing, I realized I’d been lost in my violent fantasies for far too long. I turned my attention to the powerful man. He’d foregone a coat and tie for the party, even wearing short sleeves and light-colored trousers that denoted the sensual side of him.

  I studied the chiseled carve of his jaw, the angle viciously sharp, and the goatee a perfect illumination of his dangerous side. With his savage frown and smoldering eyes, he was the epitome of a man embroiled in rage and hunger for retaliation.

  What had happened at the party had driven him back to the past. While his family was very protective of him, in speaking with Halle and his sister Nadia, I’d learned while Nina’s birthday was very special, the day was also a reminder of what he’d lost seven years ago.

  The day his wife had been taken off life support, two days after a horrific accident. I’d gotten no details and hadn’t asked, but at least I knew the reason for why the darkness had returned.

  Maybe it wasn’t my place, but I wished he would talk to me. Maybe I could help. Or maybe he’d just push me away.

  His need for violence was palpable. I could almost taste the rise of smoke from where I was sitting.

  How could I blame him?

  For some reason and after everything that had transpired that afternoon, the only word that came to mind was gorgeous. Even in his brooding darkness and with the knowledge that if he so desired, he could crush a man with one hand, I couldn’t remove the thought.

  I could hear all kinds of nagging voices whispering inside my head that we certainly would never be a match made in heaven. There were legitimate reasons like he’d killed a man or five. I didn’t ask, but I was curious. Call it the morbid girl dwelling inside of me.

  He’d been frantic to find us. I’d seen it in his eyes. Once he’d realized where I’d hidden, the relief on his face had been what the plotline of a dark romance novel was made of.

  Just bringing the crystal of clear liquid to his lips was hypnotizing, highlighting the strength in his hands.

  “Why can’t I open the rest of my presents?” Nina asked as she thumped down on the chair in the living room of the suite I’d been provided.

  “Because, little munchkin, I couldn’t fit all of them into the SUV. Duh,” Sasha said and made a funny face. As he did, I turned my attention toward him. He was such a good father, loving and gentle with his daughter, but I felt the strain and tension from where I was sitting.

  And the anger.

  It boiled deep within him.

  I’d tried to pretend like what I’d experienced hadn’t bothered me. I’d also acted as if seeing a half dozen or more dead bodies, blood soaking into the ground was just an everyday experience. From what I could tell, so far I’d succeeded. If so, it was only because I was numb inside and had gotten good over the years at plastering a smile on my face.

  There’d been no question about Sasha and Nina coming here. I needed to be with them. I craved to wrap my arms around the powerful Russian, burying my head into his chest so I could have a good cry. But what good would that do and in doing so, I might terrify Nina.

  At least she hadn’t mentioned hearing gunfire. Another good thing about the panic room was that it was soundproof. Other than the first two shots, which could be excused as fireworks, there was no way they could have heard the others.

  What I also wondered was whether she was immune to the danger or had been taught how to handle an attack.

  From seeing the litter of bodies on the lawn, it was obvious there’d been dozens of bullets fired. I was shocked to learn no family member had been injured. Only the assailants had been killed. That made Sasha and his entire family weapons experts.

  Nina giggled, which thankfully brought me down from the rafters. “Your father is right,” I told her. “You have like five gazillion presents. He couldn’t have seen to drive if we tried to put even a third in the SUV.”

  She shrugged, kicking out her little feet. “I guess.”