My entire body went into assassin mode as he turned the corner as expected. I followed, although I kept enough of my distance. There was a dead space coming up in about two hundred yards, an alley off to the side. That was the perfect location to strike, the dismal alleyway a good location to dump the body. That would buy me enough time to get the hell away from the shithole of a location.

  I picked up my speed, hissing since I couldn’t make a positive identification. There was a chance he was wearing earbuds, although I hadn’t seen a cord of any kind. My next move was risky, but one I felt necessary.

  “Shane. Shane Willis?” I made the sentence a question as I closed the distance. Luck must be on my side. He turned to face me, still jogging backwards. The stupid bastard had a smile on his face.

  “Yeah. I’m Shane. I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

  Slowing, I reached my hand into my jacket, offering him a bright smile. “No, and you never will. When you take your last breath, maybe you’ll lament over the fact you fucked with the wrong people.” I rarely said anything to the marks, unless they fought back. In this case, the asshole simply opened his eyes wide, the look of horror crossing his face the second he noticed the gun.

  I issued the single shot between his eyes, immediately shoving the weapon into my pocket and moving forward. I was able to catch him just as he started to crumple to the sidewalk.

  As I dragged him toward the alley, I checked his pulse. The man was a fighter, his will to live strong, but without seconds, he took that last breath. I tossed his body behind the dumpster, taking shallow breaths as the putrid odor of rotting vegetables hit me like a ton of bricks. Why the hell the man who made six figures six times over jogged in a neighborhood like this was beyond me, but it only added to my good fortune.

  Satisfied, I walked with purpose, returning to my car. The next bastard on the list wouldn’t be quite as easy, but it would be so worth the effort. I would take much more time in performing the deed with Michael Forrester. The son of a bitch would know exactly why he was going straight to hell. Any man who acted as if the child he helped produce meant nothing was a sick fuck and deserved to die.

  And the way he’d treated Hope wasn’t just despicable. It was disgusting. A bullet between his eyes wasn’t good enough.

  Michael lived in a penthouse on West 57th. His incredible views of the city were one reason the location had cost him over sixty-six million dollars. While some would be fooled into thinking that he earned his money legally, the fact was that he’d parlayed his inheritance into a fortune by extorting various corporations and rich individuals. He’d never been questioned, but that was because the police commissioner had covered up any concept of evidence any time Michael’s name had risen to the surface. By all rights, I should take out the commissioner as well, but I quite frankly didn’t want to take the time.

  The fat bastard wasn’t worth it.

  I pulled two vials as well as a syringe from my briefcase, the liquid inside the small containers not only paralyzing the victim but also creating a foggy memory. While I had no intent on using the injection on Michael, I was prepared in case he had overnight guests.

  The penthouse was secure, but I had a way of getting past security guards every time. While parking was tighter, I managed to find a spot. I pulled the fake gift I’d wrapped into my hand, planting a smile on my face as I walked across the street and inside the hefty glass doors. As I walked toward the desk, the guard immediately rose to his feet.

  “Can I help you?” he asked, giving me a onceover before smiling. Maybe he didn’t know that a man dressed in a three-thousand-dollar Armani suit should be considered the most dangerous.

  “I hope so. I was supposed to arrive last night to see my brother for his birthday. Michael is pissed as hell, but I couldn’t avoid the late night meeting.”

  “Michael?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Michael Forrester.”

  The security system in place held various pieces of information on their guests, including birthdays, names, and pictures of family members. Today, I was Gregory Forrester. I’d hacked into the system without an issue, replacing my picture for the real brother. Later, the picture would be removed with no sign there’d ever been a change. That I would do from my cellphone. What I told the guard wasn’t a complete lie. There’d been a huge birthday party that Gregory hadn’t been able to attend.

  “Oh, you’re Gregory,” the guard said as his grin widened. “Is this a surprise?”

  The poor bastard was reacting exactly as I thought he would. “Yes, and I need to atone.” I laughed as I held up the package, shaking it to draw his attention.

  He hesitated as he should have done before looking over his shoulder. “Okay. I should give him a call, but in this case, I’ll make an exception.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll make certain you don’t get into any kind of trouble.” While I knew the man could later recognize my face, I wasn’t concerned in the least given I wasn’t located on any database in the entire world. That had been scrubbed years before. I was damn good at covering my bases.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  I breezed past him, whistling as if I didn’t have a care in the world. With Michael prepared to announce his run for presidency by the end of the week, this would be the last opportunity I had before he would be inundated with members of the press forcing him to hire bodyguards.

  Given I wasn’t a man who had any kind of patience, the elevator ride pissed me off. Or maybe I was just itching to tighten my fingers around the asshole’s throat. I was seething by the time the elevator pinged, but at least I wouldn’t have to go far. I tossed the box then advanced, removing my picks. I could get through any lock with ease. The stupid bastard was an idiot not to have installed a security system, his cavalier attitude costing him his life.

  Another benefit.

  I was smiling all over again as I slipped the metal pick into the lock, twisting only three times until I was able to hear a click. I slowly opened the door, listening for any telltale signs, but all was quiet. Just the way I liked it. The building was a marvelous design, including soundproofing between the walls and floors. No one would hear what went on in the gorgeous penthouse.

  The man lived alone, although he usually spent the night with one or more sexy women that he’d never see again. To him, women were nothing more than arm candy, a way of touting not only his wealth but also his power to all those around him. The fact he’d planned on running for president made my stomach churn, but not nearly as much as the reason for my visit.

  He’d nearly destroyed a young woman’s resolve with his brazen actions and lack of integrity. He would soon learn that bad behavior deserved harsh punishment. I checked one side of the condo to confirm that he wasn’t languishing over breakfast before moving toward the master bedroom. I slowly pushed open the partially closed door, almost surprised that he was sleeping alone.

  Perhaps the man had lost his touch.

  As I eased inside, I pulled my weapon into my hand, enjoying the moment prior to the event. The sunlight streaming in the window was significant, enough light I was surprised the man had yet to awaken. I checked my watch. There was time to draw this out. Why not relax while I was waiting? I sat down on the massive leather chair positioned near the man’s king-size bed, scanning the room after doing so. While I could see no evidence of a firearm, I certainly wouldn’t take the chance he had one in his nightstand. He would face my wrath long before he had a chance to reach for it.

  There was a glass on the nightstand, the amber liquid indicating he’d likely had a heavy night of drinking. Then I noticed the scent in the room. Sex. Perhaps he hadn’t been alone the entire night. I crossed one leg over the other, resting my gun on my knee as I eased my elbow onto the arm of the chair. Sometimes the anticipation of eliminating a mark was far too delicious. Today was one of those days. I wanted the asshole completely awake before ending his life.

  It didn’t take long before he turned over, stretching then opening his eyes. While he closed them again, within seconds they flew open, the man immediately reaching for his nightstand just as I suspected.

  I leaned forward, pointing the barrel of my Beretta in his direction. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Michael.”

  While he pulled back, moving to a sitting position, I had no doubt he’d try to reach for his weapon a second time. They all did in this situation.

  “Who the fuck are you?” he demanded.

  I took a deep breath, still debating what I wanted to do to him. Once decided, I moved quickly, jerking up from the seat and wrapping my hand around his throat. While the asshole was muscular, he was no match for the brawn I’d amassed over the years. I squeezed until the pressure immediately made him gag. Then I shoved him against the wall, slamming three times in order to make my point.

  “Let’s just say I’m the man here to provide justice.” I dug my fingers into his skin, enjoying the way he flailed in his attempt to get free from my tight hold.

  “Wha… Da…” His words garbled, he continued to try to speak as his face turned beet red.

  I leaned in, shaking my head. “What are you trying to say, Michael? That you are an innocent man? That you haven’t committed enough atrocities that Satan himself is considering escorting you straight to hell?”

  I was amused by my words, lifting the gun then pressing it against his cheek. Perhaps I should have considered using a knife. The man deserved to truly understand what he’d done. Well, I had no time for second guessing at this point.

  “Now. I’m going to release you. Then you and I are going to have a talk. I’ll give you thirty seconds to convey your innocence to me before determining your sentence.” This kind of scenario was a complete luxury, something I never allowed myself to experience.

  Then again, this was entirely personal.

  When I let him go, he sagged down the wall, wheezing as he grabbed his throat. I took a few steps away, studying the bedroom before returning my full attention to him. I wasn’t entirely certain what the hell Hope had seen in the man. He had the look of a used car salesman, at least in my mind.

  “What… do… you want?” he managed.

  “I already told you that. Justice.”

  After taking labored breaths, he rose to his full height, staring at me with the same terror in his eyes. At least the naked man was starting to comprehend the kind of danger he was in. “For whom?”

  I crossed my arms, pacing the floor a few times before answering. “Do you remember a lovely woman by the name of Hope?” As soon as I snapped my head in his direction, I could easily tell he knew who I was talking about. “I can see that you do. Do you also remember that she came to you asking for your help?”

  He swallowed visibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “She never asked for my help.”

  “Interesting. Does that mean she never told you about her son? I mean your son?”

  The flash in his eyes spoke the truth while trash came out of his mouth. “That bitch likely slept with a dozen men.”

  “Oops. Wrong answer.” The second I punched him in the kidneys, he issued an anguished scream. “Now, we’re going to try that again. I suggest you give me the right answer. I think you’ll agree with me.”

  He was doubled over, sliding closer to the floor. But I had to give him credit as he tried to pull himself into a standing position, hissing to the point bubbles floated from his mouth. “You bastard.”

  “Yes, I am. However, you’re nothing but scum, a roach deserving to be eliminated. This is your last chance. Did she tell you about her son?”

  “Fine, you asshole. Yes. She confronted me.”

  “I want to make certain I was given the right information. Did you send her away, acting as if you couldn’t give a damn?”

  Sweat beaded along his forehead, several drops already sliding down both sides of his face. “I didn’t… I mean I had no reason to believe her. She just wanted money. They all do.”

  “Uh-huh.” I walked closer, cocking my head as I studied him. “Another wrong answer. It would seem you’re not doing so well, Michael. I don’t think I need to tell you just how much that pisses me off. However, since we aren’t getting anywhere, I’ll just tell you this. Her child is an incredible little boy, joyful and loving while you are nothing but a heartless bastard. You’re also a criminal, extorting from others. In my mind that makes you unworthy of redemption. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I’m going to bury you.”

  Now all I could do was laugh. The man had to be kidding me. While I wanted nothing more than to continue the experience, my thoughts continued to shift to Hope and my continued need to protect her. People like Michael Forrester were everywhere. “I’m certain that you would try; however, that’s not going to happen. And do you want to know why?”

  “Fuck you.”

  Sighing, I locked eyes with his. “Well, I’m still going to give you an answer. You could have enjoyed watching and helping that little boy grow into a fine young man. Instead, you chose the path of least resistance. For that reason alone, you deserve to die. Sentence determined.”

  The single shot seemed to flow in slow motion, allowing me to see an entirely different layer of terror in the man’s eyes. I didn’t wait for any further reaction, taking long strides out of his condominium.

  Onto the next business action.

  Only this one I would use the knife, enjoying every minute of gutting the man.

  Chapter 12

  Dominik

  I’d heard once a long time ago that entirely evil men were rare, the majority holding something decent inside of them, no matter how deeply the burning desires were imbedded. That simply wasn’t the case for Viktor Ivanov. I’d known several similar men over the years, but none as heartless and cruel as the leader of the New York mafia.

  He’d been born and raised not far from my family, although our upbringing had been worlds apart. Where he’d had the spoils of good fortune, born with a silver spoon in his mouth given his father’s prominent status, I’d been born into a poor family where often we went hungry. Even the work my father had performed over the years had meant little to the Bratva, more of a requirement than anything else just to allow our family to live. I didn’t begrudge Viktor on what he hadn’t been able to control as a boy. What did piss me off was his ability to slaughter every member of his family without blinking an eye.

  From the money he’d inherited, he’d been able to forge a new life in the United States. By the time he was twenty-five, he’d already developed enough of a following to rival the Gambini mafia family, finally knocking the powerful Don off his throne less than three years later. He owned a solid thirty percent of New York, his operations extending all the way down to Philadelphia.

  Even that didn’t bother me, but his methods of eliminating enemies certainly did. I was a bad man. There was no question about that. However, a small part of me contained… a slight conscience. Some would call that a weakness. Viktor could as easily capture and destroy a woman as he could a man. That wasn’t acceptable in my mind.

  He was also a man of rituals. From the women he collected on Friday nights to his indulgence on gambling on Saturdays, his schedule was just as easy to follow as the prosecuting attorneys. He also loved food, liquor, and cigars, his excesses gaining on him.

  On this beautiful afternoon, he would be enjoying lunch at his favorite Mexican restaurant. While the place was nothing special, the owners shut down the restaurant for him once a week. I only hoped the poor bastards were making enough money from the copious amount of food he ate to compensate for the lost business.

  I’d met him at La Cartita on one occasion, forced to watch as he’d stuffed his face with enchiladas and beans. What I appreciated about the location was that only a handful of workers spoke any kind of English. They also knew better than to talk to law enforcement given their immigration status. My guess was they wouldn’t say a word about the visit or the mess I was about to create in the restaurant.

  I donned my sunglasses as I walked down the road behind the restaurant, easily eyeing the SUV Viktor was carted around in. He always had two Capos with him but given the front door was locked, I knew they remained by the SUV that was parked in the alley.

  After rounding the corner and staying close to the wall of one of the brownstones located nearby, I pulled my weapon into my hand. They were chatting as if this was just another normal day, unprepared for what they were about to face. When I approached in silence, they didn’t react, both men discussing some recent basketball game that had been on television. What easy targets.

  I wasted no time, the only sound either one of them made when their bodies hit the cracked pavement. Then I moved inside the back door. The freaking heat was ungodly, but at least the smell coming from the kitchen didn’t turn my stomach. I walked forward carefully, pressing my finger across my mouth when one of the employees noticed me.

  I was impressed the younger man didn’t flinch or seem surprised. The four others were the same way, the majority acting as if they hadn’t seen a thing. I proceeded into the restaurant just as Viktor’s server walked close to the swinging door. The woman was the only one with a reaction, her mouth opening as if she was going to scream. All I had to do was shake my head and she remained quiet.

  When I slid into the booth, a grin on my face, Viktor provided the reaction I was looking forward to. The combination of annoyance, fury, and surprise added a boost to my adrenaline.

  “Hello, Viktor. Are you surprised to see me?” I placed my weapon on the table, studying him as he continued to scoop forkfuls of food into his mouth. The man was an utter slob, enchilada sauce staining his white shirt. God, he disgusted me.