Page 27 of Working Out West

“I will kill them,” Papa clipped, banging the table with his fist.

Leaning forward, I placed my elbows on the table and rubbed a hand over my face. “I am fine. There is nothing to worry about.”

“So there isn’t anyone?”

“No.”

My phone, thankfully, picked that moment to ring. I held up a finger and took it out of my pocket. When I saw Leonid’s name, I said, “I have to take this.”

“Of course,” Mama replied.

“Da?”

“The guard Ben had is here. He needs to speak with you.”

My gut dropped. Something has happened. “Send him up,” I ordered, and then hung up, only to press in another number and place it back to my ear as I stood and started pacing.

“Dimitri, where is he?”

“I was about to call you. We don’t know.”

My blood seized in my veins. “What do you mean?” I snarled.

“I had Pavel on West at college. When he didn’t call in, I rang him, but there was no answer.” He took a breath. “Fuck, Adrik, I’m here now. Pavel was knocked out; looks like a drug was used because I see no wound. He hasn’t woken in the time I got here.How did you know something had happened?”

“The guard from his work is here. I’ll call you back. Check his car is there.”

“I will.”

“Adrik, what is it?” Papa asked as soon as I hung up.

“Wait, please,” I said, and made my way out to the elevator. I knew my parents were following, but I had no care what they heard. I only needed information on what was going on.

I stepped around the corner as the doors slid open.

“Is Ben here?” the man demanded.

“Westis not here—”

“How do you know his fuckin’ name?” He stepped off the elevator.

I pulled the gun from my back holster and raised it. “Do not move again. I know his name like you probably know things about me. Research. Tell me what you know of his whereabouts and also your name.”

“Death.”

“Death? What is this?” Papa called.

“My name.” He didn’t look away from me as he spoke. “West’s friend said he should be home, but he’s not. He got worried when West didn’t answer his phone. I was in the area. I had to check if he was here.”

“Why would he be here?”

Death glared. “A hunch.”

I lowered my gun and put it away. “I had a man on him, but that man is unconscious. West was taken from college.”

“Jesus motherfuckin’ Christ,” he bellowed and pulled his phone from his pocket. With jerky movements, he then put it to his ear. “Wreck, he’s not here. Hail had a man on him…. I don’t fuckin’ know why…. Yeah, said the guy’s unconscious, and West was taken from college. Get the brothers on it—”

“I have a man at the college. He will help—”

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