Crave (Beneath The Secrets #3)

18. Alexei

CHAPTER 18

ALEXEI

Me

Any news?

Enzo

This is the hundredth time you asked me today.

Me

But something might have changed.

Enzo

Well, you’re right.

Me

I’ll be there in ten minutes.

I blow through two stoplights on the way to Enzo’s club. I don’t even care. I’m not stopping when there could be news about Lara.

Skidding my motorcycle to a stop in front of the discrete blacked out entrance of his club, Ashes, I run through the main doors.

“Hiya, honey. Where can I direct you?” A scantily clad brunette with a bustier tries to saddle up to me.

“I need to talk to Enzo.” Grabbing a hold of the inside glass door, it doesn’t open.

“Sweetie, this is a member’s only club.” Her bottom lip sticks out in a pronounced pout. “Do you have an appointment?”

I try the handle again, just in case it unlocked in the last thirty seconds. “No. But he knows me.”

“I bet he does, a handsome man like you. Can I get your name?” Her fingers trail down my chest.

I don’t have time for this. Anger ignites in my belly and boils into my chest.

“Open. The. Door.” My breathing comes in deep heaves.

“Just give me your name, hun. I’ll make sure he gets the?—”

A chair with steel legs makes a great way to shatter a window.

Another swing, and the slivers splinter away enough I can reach through and open the latch from the inside.

The glass crunches under my boots before I stride inside the dim foyer.

“You can’t go in there!” she screams after me.

Two big, burly guys come running from the office and leap at me.

One drops when I connect my helmet with his face.

Beast number two wraps me in a bear hug.

Fuck, I can barely breathe.

Lashing my head back, I connect with his broad nose. There’s a crack and a rush of hot fluid that runs down my neck.

He drops me with a grunt.

Running, I dodge another guard until I find Enzo’s name on a placard.

Just as I’m about to grab the handle, the door flies open.

Enzo’s eyes are wide, but they narrow quickly into a glower when he sees me.

“Why am I not surprised that all that bullshit was you?” He points towards the front hall and the lumbering men working their way closer. “You’re paying for the glass.” Turning on his heel, he gestures for me to follow.

“I need to know what you found about Lara.” Giving the closest guard a smirk, I shut the office in his face.

“Not enough to warrant destroying my fucking club, Alexei. Next time, just give Bambi your damn name.” Enzo sits in his leather chair with a sigh and glances up at the wall of monitors next to him. “I knew it was you.” He waves at the camera feed above him. “You’re on the fucking roster to come in.” His palm runs over his face.

“What did you find out?” I’ll worry about all of that other shit later.

Enzo blinks at me. “I already told you through a message.” He holds up his phone and flashes the screen at me. “I found a flight to Russia booked under a known alias for Kirill. They’re still here.”

I dig out my cell and read the text, word for word what he just said.

“Oh.”

My mind races. I still have a chance to find her.

“Did you look at their warehouse?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“The Reaper hangout?”

“Yes, Alexei.”

“What about the hotel they run near the airport?” I press him.

Enzo sighs again. “You think I don’t know about those places? I’m the one that showed them to you in Mikhail’s office.”

“I came all the way down here just to know she’s so close, but out of reach?” Frustration has me slumping against the wall.

I need to think. When Nikolai and Mila were taken, how did I find them?

Wait.

“I didn’t tell you to,” he growls, turning to his keyboard. “If you want me to keep you updated, stop being such a jackass.” The back of his fingers wave me away.

“Fine. But please, tell me if you find out anything new?” I’m desperate.

“Go apologize to Bambi, and I’ll think about it.” He doesn’t look at me, but I know it’s time for me to leave.

The three big guards glare at me as I walk past. One has tissues stuffed up his nostrils and blood drying on his white shirt.

They follow me closely as I dodge the housekeeper vacuuming up the glass.

Bambi’s eyes widen when I get closer.

“I apologize. My name is Alexei, so you know for next time.” Pushing out into the hot sun, I don’t wait for a reply.

I have an idea.

That woman in Russia, she would know how to get Lara back. She knew what to do to get Nikolai and Mila free from Ivan.

The real question is how do I find her?

Pulling out my phone, I scroll through my contacts until I find a name I haven’t called in a very long time.

“Max? It’s me, Alexei. I have a favor.”

There’s a grunt from the other end as I fill him in.

“Wait. You want me to find Tatiana Novik? ” he groans. “She’s a fucking dragon.”

“Yea. I know. I need her fire to save my friend.” I miss Lara like I miss breathing. Her being gone makes me feel like I’m suffocating.

“No, no, no. You must have gotten more crazy. No one is worth going into debt with Tatiana.” Max makes a swallowing sound.

Knowing him, it was probably a long pull from a bottle of cheap vodka.

“Lara’s worth it.” I’d do anything to get her back.

Max laughs wryly. “There is no pussy in this world worth dealing with that vulture of death.”

That makes me pause. I’ve never fucked Lara. It was always something I thought was against the rules.

Would I want to? Yes.

But do I want to risk losing her over it? No.

I’d stay celibate forever for her.

“She’s worth it.” I’m firm with my answer.

Max chuckles. “It’s your funeral, friend. We had some wild times, it’s too bad they’ll all be in the past.”

“Please, Max?” I hate to beg.

But I would crawl on my belly through the slivers of Enzo’s shattered door if it meant I got to see Lara again.

“Fine, fine. I’ll get word out. Be ready. Rest in peace, fucker.” The line goes dead when he hangs up.

I’ll be okay. I’ve been practically face to face with Tatiana before, and walked away.

Thirty-six hours and twelve minutes later, and I’m standing on a secluded corner in an alley off eighth street under a broken street lamp at four am.

Who the hell wakes up this early?

Las Vegas is a strange town. The street sweepers are the only ones working, cleaning up discarded fliers and cups. It’s like the entire city revolves around the Strip.

I’m glad I’m away from prying eyes.

Well, maybe having a witness would be in my best interest.

Fuck. Of all the luck in the world, two Reapers are actually here when I am? I’d recognize their leather vests and heavy beards anywhere.

One is thick and tall, the other lean and shorter than me.

Shit.

All I have is a knife.

I try to press myself against the brick wall. Maybe they won’t recognize me?

As they get closer, I catch them staring at me.

Slowly, I pull the knife from where it’s hidden at my lower back. I won’t go down without a fight.

“No need for that, Alexei.” A woman’s voice comes from the smaller man.

What?

When they are only a few feet away, I can see the dark eyes of Tatiana behind the beard.

“You beckoned?” she asks, a smile tugging up the thick fake fur covering her face.

“You’re crazy, you know? Pretending to be one of them?” I glance up at the bigger guy.

He winks at me, then cracks his knuckles.

She shrugs. “I have insiders in every faction. It lets me go where I please.” She crosses her arms over the vest. “My patience is wearing thin. Talk.”

“Lara was taken and Mikhail thinks it was by one of Ivan’s men.” The words tumble out of me.

They make a knot in the back of my throat.

It’s been over a week since I’ve seen her.

“So?” She raises one eyebrow.

I wonder if it’s her real one. How detailed is that makeup?

When I lean closer, she bats me away. “I’m going to ask Damon to break your neck if you do that again.” One long manicured nail bounces off of my chest. “Time’s up.”

“Wait, no.” I reach out and grab her arm.

The big guy backhands me hard enough I bounce off the bricks. “No touching.” He spits in a thick accent.

“I need her back. I need her here, with me.” I can’t stop the whine from lilting through.

Her mouth twists the hairs around it. “This is Nikolai’s sister? Ivan’s daughter?”

I nod.

“You know what it means, asking for my help?” Her fingers tap her chin as she watches me.

“Yes. I’ll do anything.” I look at her with the most sincerity I can muster.

“Max told me you have no limits. That can be handy. You’ll work for me until I deem the debt paid. Khorosho ?” She holds out her palm.

“Okay.” I agree to her terms. I extend my arm to shake hands.

“No, fool. The knife. You’re swearing a blood oath.” She snaps her fingers and points to my back.

My blood runs cold. I could be signing over my life.

Shit.

Flipping the handle towards her, she takes it and hovers it over my open hand.

With a single slice, she marks me as hers.