Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 96714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“Have we shown a decrease in sales here?” I asked.
Getting married had messed with my head and I didn’t like it.
“No, sir,” Vlad said.
There was no one around, which wasn’t right. Salvadoors was a great restaurant. The food was impeccable.
It was one of the legal businesses I owned that turned a good profit, and even had a great deal of love and reviews attached to it.
Opening the car door, I climb out. Two of my men take the lead, and we step into the restaurant. Enrique is at the bar, counting money. The moment he noticed me, he stood up.
“Mr. Yahontov,” he said.
“Enrique.” I offer him a smile. “Business slow?”
“No, sir, just … we had a rush, and I … I let my staff go for the day.”
He’s already sweating. Now, Enrique was a rare find indeed. A good businessman who knew how to cook and had this charm about him. I liked him from the moment I saw him, but now I see that money and power had gone to his head. He drops the wad of cash he had in his hand and I tut.
“Enrique, what have you done?”
He goes to make a run for it, but my men already knew how I liked to make these kinds of plays, and grabbed him before he even made his way through the kitchen. He tries to fight them off.
“Please, please, I didn’t mean to. They came to me. I didn’t want to, but they said it was for my best interest.” He started to whimper and cry.
How did I not realize how weak this man was? It must have been his food creating a lovely smoke screen.
“So at least I don’t have to hurt you,” I said. “You were approached by Hank and Benjamin?”
He nodded as he visibly shook.
“They … they came to my restaurant. Threatened my shop. Told me things were going to be changing around here. The Volkov Bratva was coming to an end and if I didn’t want things to get bloody, then I would have to work for them.”
“And what exactly did they want?” I asked.
Enrique looked at me then at my men and he whimpered.
“You’re going to kill me.”
I smiled. “This is the choice you have. Tell me everything you know, and I will make it a quick death. Fuck with me, make me work for the information I require, and it will be a long death.” I step up into his space. “And trust me, Enrique, I’ve got men who have chosen that option, and I still have them begging for death months later.” I wasn’t lying.
Once you swear loyalty to me, that is it, for life. You break that loyalty, you cheat, you lie, you steal from me, and I will make you rot and keep you alive while I watch you do it.
Enrique nodded. “They needed a safe place to meet. They said it was important for people to not know they were working together. If anyone ever asked, they were never here.”
“What business were they talking about?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I swear. I only did it because they said Ivan Volkov was dead and they were going to replace the Bratva. I would never have done it if I knew he wasn’t dead, Mr. Yahontov.”
Gripping the back of his neck, I pulled him in close for a hug. I liked Enrique. He’d been a good guy. He had a good palate when it came to food and flavors. I’d even been tempted to bring Charlotte down here, but that wasn’t going to happen.
I tightened my grip. “And you should have come to me the moment they left.”
In my other hand, I had the knife, and I kept my word. His death was quick as I lifted his head off my shoulder, and slammed the blade into his throat.
“You swore loyalty to me,” I tutted. “You made an oath to serve the Volkov Bratva and you failed.”
I pulled the blade out and let his body drop to the floor.
“Collect the money. Sweep the place and then burn it to the ground.”
Stepping out of Salvadoors, I know I had blood running down my arm, but I didn’t care.
“I want their clubs and all their underground businesses destroyed, tonight.”
I’d been prepared to allow this to play out, but Hank and Benjamin had struck a fire. Now it was time for them to get burned.
****
Lottie
I kept expecting the other foot to drop, or whatever the statement was.
Nibbling my lip, I glanced around the library and frowned. One month of married life and everything was … lovely. No, better than lovely. It was peaceful and fun, and I loved it.
I didn’t see my husband, ever. Since he dropped me off at home and showed me to my own room, I’d not seen him again. He told me I wasn’t allowed to leave the grounds, but I could do everything else. This was insane.