“That two-bit accountant managed to steal a significant amount of money. Might I remind you of that?” Ivan’s face turned beet red, the embarrassment of going over his losses again not something he was used to.

  Vadim cursed, walking around his father toward the bar. “Then we eliminate everyone who might have been working with Samuel. Period. After that, we’ll have no more issues.”

  Smirking, I had a feeling I knew what Ivan was about to say. Vadim was short sighted at best, unable to think about the future within our industry. Times were changing, the need to keep a low profile while handling business vital if we wanted to stay alive. Plus, there were other methods of eliminating issues when necessary.

  “We’re not handling this like a bulldozer, Vadim. We need to tread carefully until we know what we’re dealing with. To that end, Maksim, I need you to carry out something else, but you’ll need to be careful.”

  “I will do my best,” I answered, noticing the Pakhan’s voice was strained.

  He chuckled as he came closer. “I have no doubt you will. You’ve proven to be very worthy of my trust, which is why I’m expanding your territory. It’s become clear to me that you do well with all our corporate venues while walking a fine line in ensuring our employees follow our rules. We’ll talk more about your heightened responsibilities after you finish this task for me.”

  I could tell Vadim was furious, which pleased me more than it should. The man was a pompous pig with zero moral character and no understanding of the need for detail. “I appreciate the nod.”

  Ivan walked even closer, taking another puff. “Rossi caused us too many problems, but it’s not over yet. I find it interesting that we never recovered the money. Not a penny. After everything Vadim put that man through, he continued insisting that he had nothing to do with the theft. I have to give him credit in the end. He had balls. That’s something I admire. Still, locating the cash is important to me. Given the fact he was successful in stealing from us has leaked onto the streets, the unrest continues to grow.”

  “I understand. That doesn’t bode well for keeping control. Do you have any ideas what Rossi could have done with the money?”

  “He had less than ten thousand dollars in his bank accounts when he died. There is no sign of offshore accounts or other investments. No boats. No expensive sports cars. Even though my Capo was given decent tips from a trusted informant, he ran into a dead end everywhere he looked. As you might imagine, that angers me tremendously. However,” he said as he held up his index finger, “all is not lost. I managed to find out he purchased a condominium in South Loop three months ago.”

  “South Loop?” I questioned. The area of Chicago was known for exclusive and very expensive pieces of real estate. While Samuel had been paid well for his duties, the multimillion-dollar condos alone would have been a stretch for him.

  “Fascinating given Samuel never wanted to leave the old house he once shared with his wife. It took me pulling in a favor to find that juicy piece of information since Rossi did everything in his power to hide the purchase and the transfer. So, I think it’s time for you to handle a brand new hunt, your expertise in these particular matters quite useful.”

  Ivan grinned, his gray eyes twinkling.

  “Who are we hunting this go around?”

  “It would seem that there is another person involved, some cocksucker who just moved to the city. I just found out he’s staying in Samuel’s condo. And it would seem the place was deeded over to this individual after Samuel’s death. Even if the man paid cash, there is still at least three million unaccounted for.” Ivan cursed in Russian.

  “Brazen asshole needs to be taken out. I can handle that for you, Pops,” Vadim suggested.

  Ivan threw up his hand. “This isn’t just about eliminating the man, although that might become necessary. He’ll need to be manipulated until he provides the information we need.”

  Manipulated. He meant interrogated, taken to a facility I’d designed for that specific use in mind.

  “That can be arranged,” I answered, lifting a single eyebrow as Vadim continued to fume. He and I would need to come to terms with his increased level of anger against me sooner versus later. Questions started forming in my mind. Had Samuel paid cash for the unit? Why leave it to someone?

  “Good,” Ivan huffed. “The asshole thinks he’s going to play me for a fool, using my own money against me. I need you to hunt this interloper down and find my freaking cash. Then I want you to seek revenge in any way you desire. Bespolezntt kusok ploti. Do you think you can handle that for me, Maksim?”

  A grin crossed my face as I flexed then fisted my hands. Useless piece of flesh. That’s all the son of a bitch would have left when I was finished with him. No one stole from the Bratva. “No problem.”

  “Just so you know. I had certain baggage handled beforehand, which should put the fear of God into the fucker, but I have a feeling the man doesn’t scare easily. However, do whatever is necessary. And I do mean whatever.” Ivan’s eyes narrowed, his chest heaving.

  Chuckling, I shot Vadim one last look before a slight smile crossed my face. Perhaps Vadim had been the one assigned to ‘handling’ this piece of business and had gotten hurt. “I already have a few ideas in mind.” What continued to bother me was that if another player had moved into town, the fact Ivan had allowed such a huge sum of money to disappear could mean additional trouble including bloodshed. Loyalty was something that could be bought, allowing some of our employees to be hired by whatever organization that had dared to set foot in our territory. There was far too much information to be circulated that could prove deadly to the family. The shit would need to be handled quickly, issuing the kind of warning that no one would soon forget.

  He patted my arm, giving me a nod of respect. “You will be paid handsomely for your endeavor. I’ll have my Capo provide you with the information and whatever else you need. Khoroshey okhoty.”

  Happy hunting. It would be a pleasure.

  CHAPTER 3

  Walker

  He’s dead. Jack’s dead.

  My inner voice nagged at me, my head throbbing from intense pressure. My chest ached from trying to catch my breath, another wave of adrenaline the only thing keeping me going at this point.

  “You’re really not going to call in a crime scene cleaner like the detective suggested?” Jessie asked.

  Blood. Blood. Blood.

  The single word had woven throughout my mental faculties. Why it’d bothered me more than the dozens of times I’d been in a bloody operating room was something I hadn’t been able to fully answer.

  Other than a headless man caused the pool of blood.

  There was that.

  I chewed on my inner lip, finally shaking my head. “I can do it myself.”

  “You’re a nurse, for Christ’s sake. You know as well as I do that his blood could be contaminated. You could get an infection.”

  “That’s why I purchased a few things. Remember?” I’d ceremoniously purchased every type of cleaning supply I could get my hands on.

  “Damn it. You’re hardheaded,” she snapped.

  “That’s why you love me. Stop worrying. Okay?”

  “Are you certain?”

  The question seemed rhetorical. I managed to smile even though Jessie’s face was a stark reminder of what had happened the night before. She’d dropped everything, rushing to pick me up. Then we’d spent the night huddled under blankets in front of her television. I hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep, the ugly visions continuing to ravage my mind. I glanced at the top floor of the building, swallowing hard.

  Evening had already fallen, dusk creating creatures in my mind waiting to jump out of every bush. A lump would remain in my throat for a long time.

  “I have to do this, Jess. I can’t allow the tragedy to rule my life. I feel horrible for the man and his family, but I didn’t know him.”

  “But it happened in your place.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’ll clean it and everything will be fine.”

  Her mouth twisted, her eyes flashing her disapproval. The thought of cleaning the bloodstains was revolting, but it had to be done.

  “You could sell the place. You don’t even know the man who gave it to you.”

  I snorted as I reached for the handle of her car door. She was right. I had no idea who Samuel Rossi was at all. “He was friends with my dad. Okay?”

  “You mean a father you never met?”

  Hissing, I shook my head. I didn’t need to be reminded that my father had skipped out on my mother long before I was born. “Besides, do you honestly think someone is going to buy the place once the information about the murder leaks?”

  “Maybe. It might take some time,” Jessie insisted.

  “I don’t have time. I can barely afford the condo fees, let alone the electricity. Where am I supposed to live in the meantime?”

  She wrinkled her nose, her eyes finally lighting up. “You can live with me!”

  Laughing, I shook my head. “You have a teensy tiny bedroom but it’s much larger than your kitchen. And you only have enough hot water for a ten minute or less shower. I don’t think that’s going to work.”

  Reaching out, she grabbed my hand. “I’ll stay with you if you’d like.”

  “First of all, you have a shift in about twenty minutes. And second, no. I need to do this on my own or I’ll never be able to get over it. Besides, Nurse Breckinridge was kind enough to allow me to have tomorrow off as well.” I rolled my eyes before making a face. We both worked for the same woman. While she was a talented nurse, she was a terrible people person.

  She sagged against her seat, groaning. “Okay but call me later.”

  “I will if I don’t fall asleep from exhaustion. Okay? Stop worrying about me. My mama raised one tough girl.”

  “You’re tough, but I’ve seen the marshmallow inside of you.”

  “Get out of town.” I teased, even though the tone sounded flat.

  “Okay. I’ll just a phone call away.”

  I climbed out, grabbing the cleaning supplies and closing the door behind me. I’d left the condo without taking anything but my purse. As I stood on the curb in the brisk wind, staring up at the building, a small part of me felt adrift, as if I’d lost someone important to me. I felt terrible that I hadn’t taken any time to ask Jack any decent questions other than about the building. He’d always been so kind, even helping me with groceries a couple of times. I realized I hadn’t mentioned that to the detective either the night before or when he’d called to let me know forensics had finished.

  Now was the moment I regretted not setting up the last security measure, a scan of my handprint. At least my key worked without incident. When I walked into the building, I was pleased seeing the interior for a change. Nothing had changed, the same beautiful ficus trees adorned with white lights sparkling when I walked toward the elevator. My freshly washed tennis shoes skidded across the slick marble surface as usual. The elevator button pressed the same way as it had the night before.

  No, one thing had changed. The elevator ride didn’t take nearly long enough.

  I stood in front of my door for almost two minutes before finding the courage to unlock it. At least when I went inside, the place no longer had the odor of blood. I turned on as many lights as possible, avoiding the area like the plague. For some reason, I expected there to be crime scene tape everywhere, what little furniture I had in disarray. The forensics team had done an excellent job of keeping everything intact.

  However, the crime scene itself remained. I dropped my things in the foyer, heading toward the living room, trying to remain clinical about what I was going to do. As I peered down, I realized the stain wasn’t as large as I’d remembered, the splatters on the wall contained to a small area. Still, my stomach lurched from the thought of what needed to be done. After a full five seconds I turned away.

  You can do this.

  We would see.

  I set to work cleaning and disinfecting the area, trying not to think about what I’d walked into the night before. Why would anyone want to hurt the man? How had they gotten inside the building in the first place? Why had Jack kept a gun with him given the tight security?

  The questions continued to churn in my mind, enough so that by the time I was finished, I couldn’t think clearly, and my clothes were drenched in perspiration. I tossed the garbage bag toward the front door near my purse, unable to stand another minute without taking a shower.

  After tossing the scrubs I’d been wearing the night before into the laundry basket, I changed my mind, nearly ripping the material in my forced effort to dump everything into the small trashcan. Then I started the water as hot as I could tolerate it, enjoying the burning sensations against my skin.

  As the water tumbled down over my head, I stared at the drain.

  Then I began to shake uncontrollably even though I refused to cry. I hadn’t shed a tear for as long as I could remember, always remaining tough on the outside. I would continue that effort now. Damn it.

  At least the shower soothed my aching muscles. I made a promise to myself that I’d had my last meltdown. I’d cleaned up the mess. Now I had to rely on the police to do their jobs, finding the murderer.

  If that was possible.

  After drying off, I grabbed my robe, trying to pretend like nothing bad had happened in the middle of my condo.

  But it had.

  Images continued to flash in my mind, ugly and violent. I had to get rid of the bag. I couldn’t sleep with it inside, even stashed in the foyer.

  After tying the sash, I glanced at myself in the mirror. I could swear I’d aged since yesterday. As I walked out of the bathroom, shutting off the light, my gut told me that whatever the reason Jack had been murdered would come back to haunt me.

  And I had no idea why.

  I grabbed the bag, heading for the door. At least I could dump the entire contents down the trash shoot, even though I was no longer certain who would be required to deal with the bloody mess.

  Poor Jack.

  Poor. Dead. Jack.

  Maksim

  Baggage.

  I’d learned that Jack Springer, a maintenance man for the condominium association where Samuel had purchased his condo, had been killed to send a warning to the new resident. While there didn’t seem to be a connection between Jack and Samuel, I didn’t believe in coincidences. Jack had been snooping around the only unit on the top floor when Vadim had come to have a chat with Walker Sutherland, the man taking up residence in the high-rise. The transfer still intrigued me, which is something I would chat about with the man once inside.

  From what Brick had told me, the murder of the maintenance worker had been messy, even more so than usual, the cops called. That had put Ivan in a bind, especially if any evidence had been left behind or if Walker had seen anything. Whatever the case, I had a job to do. It was probable that Mr. Sutherland knew exactly the location of the stolen funds.

  There wasn’t a building I couldn’t get into no matter how secure. While my studies at Harvard hadn’t included breaking into facilities or hacking into computers, that had been a fascinating hobby belonging to my roommate. I’d learned an entirely different trade, even though testing his knowledge had almost landed both of us behind bars more than once.

  As I headed for the back door of the expensive high-rise, I was surprised that the heavily trafficked street wasn’t busier. Then again, it was almost midnight. Maybe all the Fortune 500 superstars were safely tucked away in their beds. Snickering, I held my phone to the hand scanner. I’d researched one of the owners, obtaining his handprint for this very event. While I’d tried to find Walker’s for a bit of irony, I could find nothing on the man. I’d heard he was new to town, but as of yet, he hadn’t made an address change and my quick search of the internet didn’t answer any questions about who he was or what organization he was connected with.

  That was the other item necessary to find. Who were Walker’s associates? When the question was answered, there would be additional eliminations.

  The skill I’d perfected worked beautifully, the door clicking, allowing me entrance. The fucker lived on the thirtieth floor. While not a penthouse, he certainly had an excellent view of the city. I could only imagine the kind of cocksucker he was. Some rich dude who thought coming into our territory would be easy.

  Maybe Jack Springer’s untimely death had sent him a warning, something Ivan never did. I found that… fascinating.

  I moved toward the bank of elevators, taking my time. The asshole wasn’t going anywhere. When the elevator pinged, I checked my weapon, once again shoving it into my suit jacket. I was a crack shot, my reflexes better than anyone else in the organization. If necessary, I’d put a bullet in his leg to keep Walker from attempting escape.

  Then I’d drag his sorry ass to the facility I called the playhouse, a location designed for questioning anyone who crossed us. My methods were highly effective, my success rate hovering at ninety-two percent. In my opinion, that’s why I’d skipped the ranks, moving from soldier to leader without enduring working with Vadim directly.

  As I moved down the hall, I scanned the area, checking for possible escape routes. There was always a chance Walker was expecting a visit. I had to be prepared for anything. I rounded the final corner, moving to the end of the hall. My keen hearing allowed me to catch a few sounds coming from behind the secure door. However, I preferred the element of surprise.

  When the door was thrown open, for the first time in as long as I could remember, I was caught by surprise. The person standing in front of me wasn’t who I was expecting. A woman. She was leaning over, wrapping her hand tightly around a white trash bag, the slight transparency allowing me to see various colors of red.

  Jesus Christ.

  She’d been tasked to clean up the mess Vadim had left. Was that the reason for the sexy purple silk robe and bare feet, her long dark tresses still damp from a recent shower?